On November 6, Tillamook Coast Visitors Association (TCVA) hosted Ashley Schahfer of Empowering Access for an in-person accessibility education and training event. Held at Tillamook Bay Community College, the event was attended by 32 people, including county leadership, city officials, and local recreation and land managers.
The two-hour training covered best practices, etiquette, and general guidance for doing disability inclusion and accessibility work in the outdoor recreation industry and was an opportunity to gain perspective and knowledge from someone with lived experience and expertise in accessible design, living and recreating.
Schahfer, who has two degrees in architecture, also has 21 years of lived experience in a wheelchair. An avid outdoor enthusiast, she has provided accessibility consulting to several cities, agencies and outdoor programs throughout Oregon.
“Make accessibility part of every plan and every design you’re looking at,” Schahfer told the audience. “Just because I’m in a wheelchair doesn’t mean I don’t want to do all the same things everyone does.”
The training was the culmination of a $20,000 grant TCVA received from Travel Oregon. In June, Schahfer spent time with TCVA and Tillamook County Parks Department staff conducting an accessibility survey of Kilchis River, Trask River and Barview Jetty county parks. The findings were compiled into a comprehensive report that was presented to county commissioners, along with a county facilities report created by TCVA, in July 2023.
“Ashley’s work on our behalf has been invaluable as we try to prioritize projects that will improve outdoor accessibility in the county,” said Dan Haag, TCVA Director of Trails & Outdoor Recreation.
A key takeaway from the training was the necessity to provide access to current information when making an accessibility plan. That includes trail information, dock locations, and availability of accessible lodging options.
“Information is so important to those with a disability,” Schahfer said. “We don’t need miles of paved trails. We just want the information so we can make the decisions for ourselves.”
About Visit Tillamook Coast
Tillamook Coast Visitors Association (dba Visit Tillamook Coast) is a destination management organization committed to sustainable tourism principles of community, stewardship and economic vitality. We support the Tillamook Coast through initiatives guided by those principles, including outdoor recreation, accessibility, culinary/agritourism, cultural heritage/arts, community development, natural resources and public safety. For more information, visit www.tillamookcoast.com.