America Walks – Inclusive Planning in Tribal Communities: Engaging People with Disabilities in Designing Safe and Accessible Transportation Systems

America Walks, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit national organization works to advance safe, equitable, accessible, and enjoyable places to walk and move by giving people and communities the resources to effectively advocate for change. On Wednesday, December 9th, America Walks released a new White Paper on Inclusive Planning in Tribal Communities and broadcasted a live webinar found above, featuring the author and members of the Project Advisory Board.

In the webinar, white paper author Yamelith Aguilar described her research and key findings, which relate to tribal culture, existing infrastructure for walking and rolling, and the legal applicability of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Following Yamelith’s presentation, a panel of experts in disability inclusion, community engagement/advocacy, accessible design, and tribal planning discussed the implications of the study and recommendations for future projects and processes. These experts, who represent national organizations and tribal governments, served as the Project Advisory Board – reviewing drafts of the White Paper and providing additional context and best practices.

American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) have the highest prevalence of disability (about 30%) of all racial and ethnic groups in the United States. At the same time, the accessibility of public spaces and safety of roadways in tribal communities are lacking and AI/AN have a “per capita” pedestrian fatality rate more than four-and-a-half times the national average.

To address these troubling statistics, the National Center on Health, Physical Activity, and Disability (NCHPAD) awarded America Walks a Partnership for Inclusive Health Innovation grant. The purpose and title of this project is to advance inclusive planning in tribal communities by engaging people with disabilities in designing safe and accessible transportation systems. This white paper presents research into the extent to which people with disabilities are currently included in tribal planning processes and recommendations for making those processes more inclusive. You can find links to the paper below.

Funded through a Partnership for Inclusive Health Innovation Grant, this project involved research, key informant interviews, and expert analysis, with the goals being:

1. To understand how people with disabilities are currently engaged in tribal community planning processes, and
2. To develop recommendations for expanding inclusion and ensuring the design and construction of safe and accessible transportation systems.

You can access the Inclusive Planning in Tribal Communities: Engaging People with Disabilities in Designing Safe and Accessible Transportation Systems White Paper below.

Final Published White Paper

Most Screen Reader Friendly Version of White Paper