accesstahoe.org

About Access Tahoe

Access Tahoe’s mission is to create an accessible and inclusive Tahoe for all, as we facilitate a more equitable and welcoming place throughout the Lake Tahoe Region. Regardless of ability or disability, Access Tahoe is creating possibilities for all. Our purpose is for everyone to have the opportunity to experience a high quality of life and feel a strong sense of belonging. Everyone deserves to enjoy the view, adventure, environment, serenity and community of Tahoe.

Advocacy

Access Tahoe will remove physical barriers to participating in Tahoe life and recreation, such as: 1) providing mobi mats/Mr Boardwalks along our beaches to offer individuals with assistive devices (wheelchair/scooters/walkers/canes) safer access down to the water; 2) providing beach wheelchairs to our beaches and snow wheelchairs to our snow play areas, so individuals with mobility restrictions can enter the water and/or enjoy the snow; 3) offering or advocating for adaptive fitness and recreation equipment, such as: trikes, hand pedaled bikes, adaptive kayaks, scooter/wheelchair rentals, adaptive options to Lime/Byrd scooters, and inclusive playground equipment; 5) advocating for private and government entities to remove barriers to participation for people with disabilities.

Advocacy: Access Tahoe will work to influence decision-making processes that prioritize accessibility and inclusion. We will continue advocacy at the city level, including: city council, planning, parks, arts/culture/tourism commissions, and public works; furthermore, we will expand to advocate to county, state, and federal entities. We advocate to increase disability awareness, remove barriers, create solutions and provide opportunities.

Activities & Resources

Activities: Access Tahoe will host accessible and inclusive activities and gatherings and promote and elevate businesses and organizations with accessible and inclusive offerings. These may include: music, art, dance, crafts, sports, theatre, exercise, yoga, social, outings, movies, special events, adaptive recreation, educational, speakers, outdoor and indoor offerings. We aim to offer ASL interpreters and sensory accommodations for these gatherings. One day, we hope to have a designated inclusive Access Tahoe gathering space, which could serve both locals and tourists. This space could also be an educational for ways that businesses could create more inclusive spaces.

Resources: Access Tahoe will work to develop a website to 1) provide links to various local community resources; 2) highlight accessible and inclusive businesses; 3) identify and map out accessible recreation sites to include trails, recreation sites and beaches; and 4) provide a calendar for educational opportunities, activities, events and meetings.

Engagement & Education

Community engagement: Access Tahoe will host roundtables and other outreach events to gather input, share progress, and involve the community in determining needs, addressing barriers, and working together on solutions. We aim to foster relationships and partnerships dedicated to collaboration and ongoing commitment throughout the Tahoe Community.

Education: Access Tahoe will host educational events and speakers to improve disability awareness, elevate empathy, learn to appreciate differences and develop a better understanding. Education can help empower schools, government, private businesses, non-profits, friends and neighbors to help create more access and inclusion, not only in physical spaces but in employment, social and cultural events, and emergency services. Education and awareness opportunities will also be provided via social media and newsletters, as we will also share stories of our community members.

Our Story

We began as an “Access Tahoe Roundtable,” which was a grassroots group of people, cultivating community for individuals with disabilities, their families, and caring community members. Access Tahoe continues to gather together to advocate for our dreams of a better Tahoe for All. It is estimated that over 90% of disabilities are not visible. We strive to serve the 100%. Access Tahoe addresses the needs of individuals with all types of disabilities including: 1) physical; 2) neurodiversity/ intellectual/cognitive; 3) non-visible/undiagnosed; 4) emotional/psychiatric; and 5) sensory (deafness, blindness, other sensory disabilities). Through our roundtables, we’ve discovered that access to resources, activities, and social connection are common threads of needs throughout each of these groups.

Accessibility goals will focus on removing physical, informational, and communication barriers to ensure that people with disabilities can navigate the area comfortably and assure services are available to everyone. Inclusion goals go beyond physical access, as they will nurture a sense of belonging in the community and create programs and opportunities that encourage participation from all. Access Tahoe will work to achieve both access and inclusion goals to better serve both locals and visitors. These goals include: 1) removing barriers to access; 2) fostering activities and opportunities for inclusion; 3) offering community gatherings for outreach and engagement; 4) facilitating education to spread awareness; 5) advocating wholeheartedly; and 6) offering a resource and informational website.

Please contact us with any questions!

Email: peacelovetahoe@gmail.com

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