“individuals with disabilities continually encounter various forms of discrimination, including outright intentional exclusion, the discriminatory effects of architectural, transportation, and communication barriers, overprotective rules and policies, failure to make modifications to existing facilities and practices, exclusionary qualification standards and criteria, segregation, and relegation to lesser services, programs, activities, benefits, jobs, or other opportunities”
Americans with Disabilities Act 1990
Signed into law by the first president Bush, the ADA prohibited discrimination of persons with disabilities by employers, public service and telecommunications. I’ve often thought that our beavers (with their friendly triple bridge access) may be the only ADA beavers in the state.
Whether a visitor comes with a wheelchair, walker or cane, our beavers can be easily seen and enjoyed. This fact has already caught the attention of many who would otherwise miss the chance to see such wildlife at close range. It could easily be a central attraction and compelling reason for visiting. Several groups routinely review accessible sites for disabled outdoor enthusiasts. Ignoring the unique access opportunities of these beavers is foolish in the extreme.
Even without a disability, the opportunity to observe beavers at close range is rare. How many miles might we have to hike or canoe to get close enough to actually hear a kit mewing to its parent? I can honestly say that hearing that sound last year was like a summons to protect these beavers. I knew in my heart at the time that if they were taken away I would never hear it again. The sound is like the plaintive whine of a child, and indeed there are lots of references in older writing of pioneers being confused into searching for the lost orphan. I am still waiting to hear it from our 2008 kits, but in case you want to know what to listen for, National Geographic caught a little on audio.
Accessibility is key to equality and community. The fact that we had in our midst a blind beaver kit who had fully adapted to his habitat should not go unmentioned. That little fellow knew his environment and feeding options as well as his brothers, and not until his final hours did any one of the dozens of people who saw him every day notice anything different about him. Let our beavers be an “Equal Opportunity Attraction”, teaching everyone about stewardship and habitat.
