Disabled Hikers follows the important movement of folks from marginalized communities challenging the stereotypes that are consistently reinforced on billboards, TV, movies, and magazines: that hikers are white, straight, thin, young, affluent, and able bodied. Groups like Unlikely Hikers, Wild Diversity, Latino Outdoors, Outdoor Afro, and Disabled Hikers are working to dispel that myth and showcase the diverse groups of people who access the outdoors like BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), LGBTQ folks, people of all body sizes, and disabled people. And, just as importantly, call attention to the barriers these communities face that make the outdoors less inclusive.

Disabled Hikers, led by Syren, offers group hikes (both private and public) for disabled folks, and detailed trail information on their website that examines hiking destinations, centering the needs of disabled and neurodiverse people.

Syren wanted to create a safe space for disabled folks to experience the outdoors. Hiking with able bodied people can be challenging. Both because of the pace, and because it can be uncomfortable and frustrating to have to remind the group that they have different physical abilities. A Disabled Hikers outing removes those barriers and takes into consideration everyone’s different needs.

How does Syren do it? Before any group hike, they ask participants privately about access needs and if they have any concerns or questions. This gives the person privacy if they choose it. Then each group hike starts with a check in, allowing space for people to say what their access needs are, their expectations for the hike, and what they are and aren’t comfortable with. The group pace matches the pace of the participants. If one person needs a break, the whole group stops.