New York’s DEC is working to increase outdoor accessibility with new policy

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation released a policy draft last month to increase the accessibility of the outdoors to people with mobility disabilities. The policy aims to standardize the criteria for evaluating where Other Power Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMDs) can be used and is currently accepting public comments until March 9. Radio Catskill’s Julia Kim had the chance to speak with DEC’s ADA Accessibility Coordinator Leah Akins, Accessibility Advisory Committee Chairman Jason Thurson and others about issues the policy is aiming to address, ongoing debates surrounding accessibility and environmental protection and future efforts to increase the accessibility of the outdoors.