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Today we’re hearing from Alec Pourmoghadam from Charleston County Parks – who is sharing news about the park system working to be more inclusive to people of all abilities.
As George Dei once wrote, “Inclusion is not about bringing people into what already exists; it is making a new space, a better space for everyone.” Charleston County Parks’ goal is to make our facilities, programs, and experiences inclusive for all people — regardless of background, identity, or ability level.
To help reach our goal of creating accessible spaces for all, in 2019, Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission began a year-and-a-half long accessibility audit, engaging the WT Group as a consultant to evaluate our compliance with the ADA and overall accessibility. View the group’s report. Charleston County Parks is currently evaluating the reports + planning the implementation of the Transition Plan and other recommendations.
This project will roll out over the course of the upcoming years, but Charleston County Parks has already made great strides in inclusivity. Throughout the summer, we hosted 5 Inclusive Swim Nights where individuals with disabilities and their families are able to enjoy a calmer and more accessible environment at our aquatic facilities. Charleston County Parks also hosts events such as Inclusive Dances + Inclusive Yoga.
While breaking down barriers to access our facilities, programs + experiences, Charleston County Parks has created powerful partnerships to reshape accessibility within our parks and community.
In 2021, Charleston County Parks created the Citizen’s Accessibility Advisory Committee. This committee serves as a bridge between Charleston County Parks and the local community of individuals with disabilities, acting as our advocates in their groups and among their peers, advising Charleston County Parks on services, programs, and opportunities for individuals with disabilities that may be lacking in the community, and making recommendations for inclusion.
Charleston County Parks has also partnered with KultureCity, the nation’s leading nonprofit on sensory accessibility and acceptance for those with invisible disabilities. This partnership was created to improve Charleston County Parks’ ability to assist + accommodate guests with sensory needs at select events and to provide an inclusive and seamless experience for everyone.
Charleston County Parks invites all people to discover how our 11,000+ acres of parkland can enrich their lives, from our nature trails to concerts. Charleston County Parks is eager and excited to continue to be a welcoming and inclusive place for all people to enjoy a well-needed breath of fresh air.