Episode 29: Lynn McNamara and the Nature Conservancy Vermont

In this episode of Green Mountain Disability Stories, we welcome Lynn McNamara, from the Nature Conservancy Vermont. Lynn joins CDCI Communications Manager Audrey Homan to talk about what the Nature Conservancy Vermont learned in building accessible natural outdoor areas in Monkton, and Hartland Vermont. Lynn is the family member of someone with a disability.

“I think the trails that we’ve improved accessibility on also seem to protect the natural features more. We’ve found that our accessible trails and boardwalks hold up better to increased traffic. We have less erosion, and even with some of the storms that we’ve had in the last couple of years, they hold up better because they’re designed to have better drainage so that the surface stays level and firm for folks with disabilities. But it’s also protecting the natural areas around them a little better.”

Episode 15: Oakledge For All

In this episode, Vermont Children’s Integrated Services project director Julia Wayne talks with Nate Besio and Annie Bourdon about Oakledge For All, a project aimed at bringing a fully accessible playground to Burlington VT.

Nate Besio is a person with a disability, and Annie Bourdon is the parent of a child with a disability, and they both relate how they got involved with the playground project, how the project has progressed so far, and what advice they’d give to other people looking to create an accessible playground in their own community.

Episode 12: Chayah Lichtig and Hannah Setzer

In this episode, we are lucky enough to have author and disability rights advocate Hannah Setzer join us! Setzer runs the hugely popular instagram account @feedingtubefitness, and just released a new book: “I’ll Pray for You (And Other Outrageous Things Said to Disabled People)”.

She joins the director of the Vermont Continence Project, Chayah Lichtig, as they discuss disability, pre-conceptions, instagram as both a community for people with disabilities and a public arena, and of course, the outrageous things said to disabled people.