Access to adventure: factors that can affect accessibility

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Outdoor Education - Access to adventure: factors that can affect
accessibility

Factors that can affect accessibility

There is a strong relationship between a person's capabilities and their
access to a specific outdoor activity. We access the outdoors through all
our senses; in its purest form it should engage our mind, soul and body.
Everyone has different capabilities, and thus our experience in the
outdoors and our access to it vary. Access is also affected by social
status, wealth, gender, ethnicity and disability. In Criterion 4 you need
to make sure you have explored what affects the accessibility of an
activity or venue.

FACTOR
HOW IT AFFECTS ACCESSIBILITY
INCREASE OR DECREASE IN ACCESS

Risk
Affects the safety of an activity
Higher risk lowers access

Gender
Historical bias
Can lower access for women

Disability
Reduction in movement reduces the range of activities; also historical
bias, difficulty in transport and lack of facilities
Lowers access

Competence
Competence levels of both the participant and leader affects
accessibility
Higher competence increases access, and vice versa

Environment/Weather
Remote, difficult areas reduce access; also challenging, unpredictable
environments can affect access
Difficult environments mean reduction in access, remote environments
reduce access

Travel
Distance can be expensive; lack of transport will affect access
Far away places make access difficult for pepole without transport

Cost
The cost of an adventrue will determine who can participate
High cost activities have limited access

Ethnicity
Cultural factors can affect accessibility
Some cultures have customs that affect accessibility, e.g. Muslim women
swimming

Age
Age of the participant can determine safety issues and affect
accessibility
Older and younger members of the community can participate in a lower
range of activities

Some adventure activities can be difficult for people who do not have
access to transport

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