Disability Allyship and Universal Design: Strategies Used at Bellevue Botanical Gardens
Wednesday, April 22 | 2:45pm - 4:00pm
Session Description: All people deserve to enjoy, explore and experience recreation programming and outdoor spaces. Often people with disabilities do not have this freedom without reasonable accommodation. This session will explore the inequities people with disabilities experience and how the concepts of disability allyship and universal design can be used to address physical and programmatic barriers. Using Bellevue Botanical Gardens as a case study, participants will be provided with practical strategies they can implement in their own spaces and programs.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will have a clear understanding of the concepts of ableism and allyship as it pertains to and affects the people with disabilities population.
- Participants will have a clear understanding of universal design and how it applies specifically to parks programming and spaces.
- Participants will leave with tools they can use to begin implementation of the concept of universal design within their own programs and services.
Speakers: Blayne Amson, Nancy Kartes
About the Speakers: Before joining the City of Bellevue, Blayne worked in nonprofit and higher education for over 12 years, focusing on issues related to disability awareness, inclusion and capacity-building. He has developed and facilitated comprehensive trainings that spurred organizational change through the adoption of anti-ableist ideologies and a commitment to disability justice.
In 1992 Nancy Kartes was hired by City of Bellevue Parks & Community Services to help transform the dreams of community organizers into a flourishing botanical garden. The Bellevue Botanical Garden has grown to 53-acres of curated living collections that operate in partnership with ten horticultural organizations. Nancy is committed to the success of community partner groups, and to ensuring the Garden’s accessibility and relevance to the community, as these are essential to the success of Bellevue Botanical Garden.
|
