The Nature of Accessibility: Exploring Perspectives on Accessible Environmental Education from Non-Profit Organizations in New Brunswick

Abstract

Accessibility is an ever-growing concept that fundamentally seeks to reduce barriers and create more sustainable societies and environments for all. Despite the evidence that engaging with nature through avenues like environmental education (EE) can lead to significant health and well-being benefits for people and the planet alike, there is little research regarding access for disabled people in educational and environmental spaces. This thesis explores the current approaches, gaps, and barriers to accessibility in EE programming from non-profit organizations in New Brunswick (NB). A bilingual, mixed methods online survey was distributed to non-profit employees with the aid of partner organizations Nature NB and the New Brunswick Environmental Network, and responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative, inductive coding to reveal trends in the data. Results indicate that while accessibility is widely considered a priority, gaps remain in the implementation and consistency of tangible accommodations. Additionally, there are strides to be made toward reducing systemic barriers, such as greater employment of educators with disabilities and improving inclusive design for public infrastructure. These findings support a pattern identified across many fields in which accessibility initiatives must shift from theory to practice through collective action. This research contributes to a gap in disability literature authored by disabled people and helps lay the groundwork for improving accessibility in the EE non-profit sector.