Mapping Access Together in Virginia
Image description: The Birdability Map, showing the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central and South America with blue diamonds indicating the number of site reviews in each area. The largest is a blue diamond with the number 434 centered over the state of Virginia. To the left is the Search and Filter bar with the information that can be used.
In Virginia, an exciting effort is underway to make birding and wildlife viewing more accessible to people with disabilities and other health concerns. Through a collaboration between the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and Virginia Master Naturalists (VMN), volunteers across the state are assessing accessibility features at sites along the Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail (VBWT) and entering that information into the Birdability Map. The project is both a celebration of community-led accessibility work and a model for other states interested in doing comprehensive planning for similar site assessments.
Image description: a person sits on a bench beside a person using a manual wheelchair who is looking out onto the grass and trees of a park from a cement trail and landing pad. Photo courtesy of Unsplash.
“Essentially this initiative uses a volunteer network of Virginia Master Naturalists to visit sites along our Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail and conduct Birdability Assessments at these sites,” said Meagan Thomas from DWR. “Our ultimate goal is to have an assessment completed for all of the VBWT properties so that we can provide a direct link for users of the Trail, which connects our wildlife viewing information to the accessibility information that is reported to Birdability.”
This initiative grew out of ongoing conversations within DWR about how to better support wildlife viewers and builds upon earlier monitoring projects with VMN volunteers. “It’s taken a few years, and a number of different staff working on it at various times, but I’m thrilled we have it up and running now,” Thomas said.
The accessibility project is deeply aligned with DWR’s mission to connect people to Virginia’s outdoors. As Thomas noted, “A cornerstone of the DWR’s mission is to connect people to Virginia’s outdoors through boating, education, fishing, hunting, trapping, wildlife viewing, and other wildlife-related activities. This project helps us to directly facilitate that connection.”
Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge’s Boardwalks create accessible viewing opportunities.
Volunteers conducting site assessments are trained using a project guide and video developed in collaboration with Birdability’s resources and guidance. “Volunteers must watch the video and read the guide before going out in the field, so they understand how to conduct an effective Birdability Site Review,” explained Lisa Mease. “They use the Birdability Site Review Checklist in the field. After they add the site or trail to Birdability’s map, they submit a subset of that data to DWR. We’re specifically interested in trail surfaces, and whether a site has accessible bathrooms, parking spaces, viewing blinds, and canoe or kayak launches.”
The results are already shaping how accessibility information is shared with the public. “We plan to add details about trail surfaces and accessible amenities to each VBWT site’s webpage and use them as filter options for an interactive VBWT map,” Mease shared. “For example, if a person is interested in a site with accessible kayak launches that also has viewing blinds, they will be able to see which of our 600 plus locations have them.”
Volunteer response has been enthusiastic. “There was a lot of buzz around the project before it launched,” said Mease. “Eighty-seven VMNs attended the live training webinar in October 2024 and more have watched it since then. There has been an understandable lull over the winter, but we expect to see renewed enthusiasm now that spring is here.”
This work benefits everyone, not just people with disabilities. “Any trail suitable for a wheeled mobility device is perfect for kids and their caregivers, for example,” Mease added. “Speaking from experience, choosing a park with a flat, wide, paved trail can be the difference between a great day and a toddler meltdown about mud puddles.”
Image description: A post in a green area with a sign for wheelchair access. Image courtesy of Unsplash, by Markus Spiske.
The assessments have also brought important insights. “I think all of us have had our eyes opened to how inaccessible outdoor spaces really are,” Thomas said. “Even locations advertised as ‘ADA’ or ‘accessible’ aren’t always suitable.”
With more than 600 VBWT sites, DWR recognizes that expanding beyond VMN volunteers will be necessary to fully meet the project’s goals. As Mease noted, “Our goal is to have accessibility information available for every site on the VBWT, which requires expanding our pool of volunteers beyond the VMNs.”
For people who want to get involved, Thomas encourages taking the time to understand the purpose and process of Birdability Site Assessments. “If it is in relation to this specific project, I would recommend individuals look at what goes into the Birdability assessments and watch some of the great videos on the website to learn more about the what and the why behind these assessments. After that, it’s just a matter of hitting the ground and conducting the assessments.”
Birdability is so grateful to DWR and VMN for this initiative. Their leadership provides a replicable model for other state agencies, parks departments, and wildlife organizations. The tools and training are freely available and scalable. As Mease shared, “DWR has a long history of collaboration with the Virginia Master Naturalists on community science projects related to the VBWT. The volunteers are already familiar with VBWT sites in their areas and the process of data collection, which made them the clear choice.”
This project shows what is possible when we center accessibility, community science, and the power of local partnerships. If you are a land manager, organization, or agency interested in building something similar in your own state, Birdability is here to support your efforts.
Image description: A five-step workflow diagram outlines the process for conducting a Birdability Site Review and submitting information to DWR and Birdability. Each step is inside a dark green rounded rectangle with white text and is numbered in sequence. Orange arrows connect each step in a clockwise flow, forming a loop. The background is light with a subtle paper-like texture. The steps read:
1.Watch the mandatory training video and review the project guide
2.View the list of available sites and sign one out via the online site selection form
3.Conduct the Birdability Site Review using the Access Guide Considerations document for reference
4.Transcribe and submit the information you collected during the site review directly to Birdability
5.Complete the DWR Site Submission form to ensure DWR gets the information needed to update the VBWT site
To learn more about the Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail or contact DWR, visit dwr.virginia.gov. For more information about this project visit the Virginia Master Naturalists project page. To view or contribute to the Birdability Map, or to explore our training materials and checklists, visit birdability.org.
