Birding is an activity that can bring so much joy and empowerment to everybody, but not everybody is able to go birding easily. Birdability is a brand new non-profit, based in the U.S. but with a global reach. Through education, outreach and advocacy, the organization works to ensure the birding community and the outdoors are welcoming, inclusive, safe and accessible for everybody. They work with people with mobility challenges, blindness or low vision, chronic illness, intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental illness, and those who are neurodivergent, deaf or hard of hearing or who have other health concerns. In addition to current birders, they strive to introduce birding to people with disabilities and other health concerns who are not yet birders so they too can experience the joys of birding.
Freya McGregor (photo by Patrick Oaks).
Learn about why this matters (even if you don't have an accessibility challenge), ways to be a more welcoming and inclusive birder, the Birdability Map (and how to submit a Birdability Site Review) and resources for birders (and potential future birders) with accessibility challenges. . . . because birding is for everybody and every body!
Freya McGregor (she/her), OTR/L, CIG is the Birdability Coordinator and an occupational therapist. Birding since childhood, her ‘dodgy’ knee often creates an accessibility challenge for her. With a clinical background in blindness and low vision services, she works in her spare time for the radio show and podcast Ray Brown’s Talkin’ Birds, and is passionate about enabling all birders and potential future birders to enjoy birding and nature as much as she does.
Learn more and find resources at birdability.org or follow @birdability on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
This event will be held online on Tuesday, March 15, 7:00 PM Central.
TO JOIN IN, YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS:
Register to attend in the “Zoom Room” so you can interact with Freya and ask questions. Complete the registration form. Capacity is 25 people. Send an email to ksvabek@madisonaudubon.org to join.
Watch the live-stream on Facebook. To tune in at the event time, go to Madison Audubon’s Facebook page.
Cover image: Birdability founder Virginia Rose and Birdability Coordinator Freya McGregor at Lake Creek Trail, Austin, TX. Photo by Wayne Jeansonne.
