Discrimination against the disabled takes on many forms . It's an ugly truth , but a truth none the less . Being disabled myself , maybe I notice it more than a person who is not . It happens , sometimes , so subtly that we miss it completely . But why bring it up here in a forum dedicated to Off-Roading ?

Land Closure Discriminates Against the Disabled ! For that matter , it discriminates against the elderly as well . Personally , I have the use of my legs , but I can't exercise my currently "legal" rights to hike 20 miles up a "designated hiking trail" . My grandmother , who is 82 , likewise would be unable to make the trip . As would a paraplegic , or many other types of disabled persons .

Land closure discriminates against us because we are denied the same rights and privileges as our non disabled counterparts . A non disabled person has the right to travel to the top of a mountain , up a properly designated hiking trail . The disabled person is denied equal rights ,because thier only means of climbing the same mountain is prohibited by the laws that govern land useage .

Wether its up a mountain , across the desert , down an old logging trail , or across a snow filled pass , the same principles apply . This presents us with a politically sound arguments with which to defend the concept of " multiple use" and overturn land closures around the country .

Let me share with you a true story . Before I became disabled , I was employed by New York state as a Mental Hygene Therapy Aide . My job involved the care of profoundly retarded persons in a State institution . Being in the Adirondack park , we would often take the ambulatory "clients" on hikes through some of the most beautiful country on earth , as part of thier state approved ( and I quote ) "RECREATIONAL THERAPY PROGRAMS" . Notice I said "ambulatory " . Our wheelchair bound clients were unable to participate in this activity because of thier non ambulatory conditions . We did hike in areas with old dirt roads that were fully passable in a 2WD van , but because of land closure , the van was prohibited from entrance .

This was discrimination . It still is discrimination , and it will be discrimination until the laws are changed .Along with writing our senators and congressmen about this issue , which is something WE ALL NEED TO DO , I recommend contacting groups for the Disabled and disabled rights organizations . They are a powerful lobby , and don't take kindly to having the rights of the disabled stepped on by environmental groups or anyone else .

In America today , a business must meet the needs of disabled citizens , or be shut down by the Government , until it complies with federal guidelines . An enormous amount of taxpayer dollars went into converting Government buildings to be "Wheelchair Accessible" . Wider doors , lower sinks and drinking fountains , and larger restroom stalls with safety handles . There is no good reason that public lands should be less accessible to a disabled person than a public drinking fountain .

In his April article for Off-Road.com's 4xThoughts , Jay Kopycinski says "You may think that all the areas being threatened for closure are out of your state or local area. For instance, the area around Moab, Utah has been under scrutiny for several years. You may not plan to go to Moab soon, or ever. However, the day you do decide to go, it may be closed because enough people from all over didn't care to voice their desire that our public lands should be left open to ALL recreationalists.

That is a very important subject , because "ALL recreationalists" includes the disabled and the elderly . And I can tell you that at least one disabled person who I know very well , likes taking his 82 year old grandmother out in the Mojave desert in a Baja Bug for a day of "Recreation" , and they both enjoy it immensely.