From the Refuge April 2023

Facing injury and accessibility, with nature at my side

It’s not a new thing, I fall down at times. Sometimes I even fall UP hill or on flat surfaces. I just usually get back up, no problem. Until the other day.

There was no major obstacle in my way nor path I hadn’t taken a hundred times, but nevertheless a daily act of walking ended up with myself slipping in the rain and landing on my back on the pavement below.

Pain instantly shot through my right knee, and I knew despite the rain drenching me, I might be laying there for a bit. Luckily friends came to my side and were able to help me indoors where the pain just kept increasing, but I was dry.

Having injured my ankle rock climbing many years back and having just taken a wilderness first aid course at the beginning of the month, I knew what to consider in evaluating my health and what was best for my continued wellbeing. Turns out so did my friends, who made sure I had ice, OTC anti-inflammatories, water (and coffee), and a ride anywhere I needed. I felt it was best for me to stay put and rest and then see a doctor if still in pain later in the day. By the day’s end, I learned that the spill has resulted in a strained knee and a contusion on my knee from where I smashed into the pavement.

While painful, the reality that I wasn’t going to be able to explore more trails or get back into climbing anytime soon, was an even bigger “pain” that was crossing my mind.

When we (myself for instance) literally walk through life and then all of a sudden can’t – it’s a hard feat to face. Suddenly, we are mandated to look at our world, our day-to-day lives, and work, through this new lens.

Working as a Park Ranger, it was clear this injury was going to limit what I could do when on-site at the Refuge. I cringed at the idea: days filled with virtual meetings, spreadsheets, and emails, sigh…

But I discovered projects that needed my attention via a computer and plugged away at them – or for the first couple days of being on “light duty.” Then I found myself struggling with being indoors and annoyed that it was sunny and that I was restricted from “excessive walking” (aka the ideal way to the sun during the week in my mind.)

One sunny eve, instead of curling up inside on the couch, which seemed to likely also be bad for my mental health, I turned to the Refuge to help lift my mood.

Hungry, after work I went home and made a quick dinner, packed it up in some camping dishes, (complete with a cloth napkin and tray), and headed to the River ‘S’ unit of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

The 4-mile driving loop has helped numerous varied body persons enjoy nature for years – from the comfort of their car. It also provides some of the best wildlife viewing around.

I drove to just beyond the entrance where the road slightly widened, which allowed me to pull to the side and park while allowing space for others to pass.

It was 6:45pm and the Refuge was just the birds, frogs, and me (even though we didn’t close till 7:30pm).

I rolled down my window, balancing my tray of food between the door, dash, and steering wheel (as I was in park with my car off) just as others often balance their cameras and scopes. I sat there crunching on my tostadas while the equally loud frogs lulled my mind to ease.

Over the years a dear friend typically texts me when driving the route and always exclaims how wonderful it is and how it’s been a great way for them to explore, birdwatch, and connect with nature – even when they too have experienced limited mobility or couldn’t drive far. I always thought it was great they visited the site and enjoyed it; but that it wasn’t for me. As after spending my workday at the Refuge, I often felt I needed new vistas to gaze at.

However, on this eve I recalled how I was temporarily living a reduced mobility life – and that there were opportunities to enjoy the sun, if I only just looked right in front of myself to the Refuge.

As an agency and Refuge Complex we have a lot to learn regarding making not only our sites accessible to various bodied people, but also helping those that have sensory processing needs to connect with our Refuges, Hatcheries, and green spaces in between.

But that doesn’t mean we aren’t making strides towards this and working to consider these ever-growing communities first, in all we do.

At our Refuge Complex, I and other refuge staff have had the privilege of working alongside partners and communities who have lived experiences and are experts in accessibility. We have learned from them, we have adjusted the information we provide people about our trails and signage, and how we write up event descriptions – all based on their feedback. We have also challenged ourselves to continue learning what it means to be truly safe, welcoming, and inclusive throughout the services we provide.

There are lots of resources out there that can help you learn more about accessibility and inclusion and understandably, it can be overwhelming. However, I have learned through my work that even just taking a stance to do a little at a time will mean a lot and help much more people than we know.

One in four people in America have a disability and someone can develop one at any time. We are indeed, as one of our great partners in accessibility, Access Recreation has reminded us often, “all just temporarily able-bodied.” So, when we do things and take actions to help make things more accessible, we are without a doubt, creating spaces that more people than we realize will be able to use, as their unique self.

I know the planning and access to the auto tour route helped me while I recover from my injury, and I know it’s helped many others.

I packed up my dishes and before closing time, exited the Refuge. I left with no pain in my knee, warm and toasty from the car heater, and with a happier mind and heart. As well as a renewed reminder to keep working with my team to help ensure others – knee strains and all, get to experience the Refuge and outdoors.

My dinner recipe:

• Corn tostada baked in the oven with avocado oil, topped with chili lime salt and cilantro
• Finished with broccoli slaw, thinly sliced red onions, cilantro, a squeeze of fresh lime, feta cheese, mashed avocado, and fish-less fish filets warmed in the oven.
• With sliced apples on the side

 

My wildlife observations (no camera, binos, scope, or training in birding outside of my work experiences)

• Heard LOTS of Pacific chorus frogs
• Ducks a plenty sitting on the water
• Ringneck
• Northern shovelers
• Northern pintail
• 22 swans on a flyover
• 4 Columbian white-tailed deer
• 1 coyote
• 1 bald eagle
• 2 nutria
• 4 red-winged blackbirds
• 1 American kestrel