“We need a massive shift in outdoor culture, in the mindset of people, and the way we think about the outdoors and really challenging the ableism and colonialism that is inherent in outdoor culture.”
Join Syren Nagakyrie, founder of Disabled Hikers, in a discussion about their experience in navigating the natural world through the lens of disability. They have found both exclusion and comfort in outdoor spaces, noting that even though “the outdoors has been a place that I can retreat to,” there are many barriers for disabled folks in getting outside. Access issues, lack of reliable information, and gatekeeping are all consistent problems.
Disabled Hikers is an entirely Disabled-led organization. They celebrate disabled people’s experiences in the outdoors and help facilitate those experiences with information, resources, and events, including trail guides and group hikes. They are also committed advocates for justice, access, and inclusion and work with parks, organizations, brands, and more. Disabled Hikers challenge the dominant narrative of who is considered to be valid and which experiences matter in the outdoors.
About Syren
Syren (they/them) is an activist, writer, community organizer and outdoor enthusiast. They have become a leading advocate and expert voice in making the outdoors more inclusive and accessible for the disabled community and others that are underrepresented. Syren grew up with multiple disabilities and chronic illnesses, including Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. They also live with depression, anxiety, and CPTSD. In their mid-twenties, when Syren started hiking and exploring what their body could and couldn’t do in the outdoors, they found a lack of infrastructure, support, and resources for the disabled community. It’s not enough to know whether or not a trail is wheelchair/ADA accessible. How exposed is it? What’s the grade? Are there crossings? How slick is it? Is there cell service in case of emergency?
Syren founded Disabled Hikers in 2018 with four main goals: organizing group hikes, celebrating disabled people’s experiences, facilitating those experiences by making specific information available, and advocating for change in the outdoors. Syren is now working on hiking guidebooks for disabled hikers with Falcon Guides, a leading publisher of guidebooks.
To learn more about group hikes and additional programming, be sure to follow Disabled Hikers on Instagram and check out their website