Saturday, July 26
9:30am to 1:00pm
Disability Pride Outside: Celebrating 35 Years of Civil Rights, Access, and Belonging
Join Montgomery Parks for a family-friendly day of celebrating Disability Pride Month and the significance of the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act! We’ll enjoy a morning in the park with adaptive outdoor activities. This event is open to all.
To allow for an accessible event, free kayak equipment and pontoon boat spots are available for people with disabilities on a first come, first serve basis. There are additional boat rentals available at Black Hill Boats.
Advanced registration is required.
Note: This event takes place near a body of water. If someone in your party is prone to wandering or elopement, please provide close supervision.
Montgomery Parks is pleased to partner with the Montgomery County Commission on People with Disabilities, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of General Services Office of Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance.
Activities include:
- Kayaking (ticketed – please only choose one timeslot)
- Pontoon boat tours (ticketed – please only choose one timeslot)
- Fishing (ticketed – please only choose one timeslot)
- Adaptive Mountain Biking Demos
- Birding
- Self-Guided Hiking
- Picnicking
- Black Hill Discovery Center
Accessibility
- ADA Shuttle Cart
- Accessible Parking
- Sign Language Interpretation
- Sensory Retreat Tents
- If you need any ADA accommodations, please email programaccess@montgomeryparks.org or call 301-495-2581 for assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, there will be accessible parking close to Black Hill Discovery Center.
Yes, there will be ASL interpreters onsite for the event kick-off and as needed throughout the event.
This event was created with accessibility in mind! Amenities include ADA shuttle cart, sensory retreat tent, ASL interpretation, amplified sound and support staff. If you need other accommodations, contact Montgomery Parks’s Program Access at programaccess@montgomeryparks.org or 301-495-2581.
Yes!
The main activity areas are accessible. The lakefront includes an accessible kayak launch, dock, and pontoon boat. Some paths to the lake front are hilly and may have uneven terrain. To navigate all areas of the event, Montgomery Parks will provide an accessible shuttle cart to assist participants.
We will have two sensory retreat tents available at the event to provide quiet spaces to calm down. Volunteers and staff will be on site to direct visitors to these sites and to assist.
We run these activities throughout the year. Check out the Montgomery Parks guide at https://montgomeryparks.org/ for more information.
Yes, there are accessible indoor toilets in the Black Hill Discovery Center and at the bottom of the parking lot on the way to the waterfront. There is also an accessible port-a-john at the waterfront.
Activity Details
To allow for an accessible event, adaptive kayaking equipment is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. We will call you after you register to determine what type of adaptive equipment may be most helpful for you. We ask that you register for one timeslot and for one or two tickets, depending if you are coming solo or with a friend, family member, or companion. Standard boat rentals are also available at Black Hill Boats.
The program includes all the necessary gear to ensure your comfort and confidence on the river such as life jackets and paddles. Trained and friendly staff will accompany you on the water to ensure a safe and enjoyable program. The program takes place on calm, flat water, creating a relaxed and safe environment for participants.
Essential Participation Requirements
- Participants must be 16+
- Paddler should be able to breathe independently (i.e., not require medical devices to sustain breathing)
- Paddler can maintain sealed airway passages while under water
- Paddler can hold head upright without neck / head support
- Paddler can manage personal care independently or with assistance from a companion
- Paddler can manage personal mobility independently or with a reasonable amount of assistance
- Paddler can follow instructions and effectively communicate independently or with assistance from a companion
- Paddler must remain safely secured in a life jacket for approximately one hour.
Accessible Amenities Include
- Transfer benches
- Hand and wrist supports
- Stabilizing outriggers
- Supportive seating systems
- Adaptive kayak launch
- Support staff
Description of activity location
Kayaking will take place near the shore of Little Seneca Lake. The ground around the lake is uneven, with both grass and rocky terrain. The water depth is on average 24.7 feet, with a maximum depth of 68 feet. Participants can launch from the adaptive kayak launch on the dock or from the shore. There will be staff on hand to assist.
Ticket required?
Yes – register on Eventbrite
Join Black Hill Discovery Center staff for a 45-minute lake tour of Little Seneca Lake on their pontoon boat. Over the course of the tour, you will see birds, fish, and the changing plant life around you. The water is calm and flat. The pontoon boat has four spaces for wheelchairs per tour.
Essential Participation Requirements
- Participants must be 6+.
- Participants need to be comfortable being on a boat next to other passengers for 45 minutes.
Accessible Amenities Include
- Wheelchair seating is available onboard.
- Participants will have the option to wear a life jacket during the course of the tour.
Description of activity location
The pontoon boat docks at the end a mid-length dock. Participants must be able to transport themselves, either independently or with the aid of a companion, down a 6 ft wide dock. The dock does move with the water, which is usually calm and flat. The entrance of the boat is 37” wide and has a ramp to enter the boat.
Ticket required?
Yes – register on Eventbrite
Fish for largemouth bass, catfish, bluegill, crappie, and tiger muskie on the shore of Little Seneca Lake! Black Hill Discovery Center will provide some fishing equipment, but participants are encouraged to bring their own. Trophy Bass Fishing Regulations are in effect. All Maryland State Fishing Regulations for inland waters apply, and people ages 16 and older must have a Maryland Fishing License.
Essential Participation Requirements
- Participants must be 3+.
Accessible Amenities Include
- Access to accessible fishing dock
- Support Staff
Description of activity location
The fishing dock on Little Seneca Lake is a floating dock and the angle of the ramp changes depending on the water depth. The number of participants on the dock will be limited to ensure space and safety.
Ticket required?
Yes – register on Eventbrite
Check out Program Access’s fleet of accessible mountain bikes! Learn how the adaptive mountain bikes work and take a short ride on a bike that interests you.
Essential Participation Requirements
- Participants must be 16+
- Riders can follow safety precautions.
- Rider can wear a properly fitted and rated bike helmet and any other safety equipment appropriately.
- Rider can remain alert and focused for the duration of the ride, making quick decisions on variable terrain.
Accessible Amenities Include
- Adaptive mountain bikes that feature hand controls, seated and laying positions, and e-assist, among other adaptations.
- Support staff
Description of activity location
- The adaptive mountain bike demo will take place on a hill next to the Black Hill Discovery Center. There will be a ramp available to move onto the hill from the parking lot, which will be partially closed to allow for pedestrian safety.
Ticket Required?
- No; drop in demonstration
Interested in learning about the birds that live in your own backyard? Join us on the back deck of the Black Hill Discovery Center for a crash lesson in identifying birds and using birding equipment, such as binoculars and ID guides.
Essential Participation Requirements
- None
Accessible Amenities Include
- Accessible deck
- Large-Print birding guides
- Binoculars
- EnChroma Colorblind sunglasses
Description of activity location
- Birding will take place on the wheelchair accessible deck of the Black Hill Nature Center throughout the day. The deck is fairly shady.
Ticket required
- No, drop in activity
The Discovery Center hosts an information desk, restrooms, exhibits, children’s corner, auditorium, and naturalist staff offices. Outside surrounding the center, are natural play spaces perfect for fun exploration, native plant gardens maintained by wonderful volunteers, a pond, meadow, and a one-of-a-kind Earth Bench.
Activities include:
- Nature Scavenger Hunt
- Live animals
- Sand Pit
- Music Garden
- Mud Kitchen
Essential Participation Requirements
- None
Accessible Amenities Include
- EnChroma Colorblind glasses
- Wheelchair accessible deck
- Tactile activities
Description of activity location
- The Black Hill Discovery Center is wheelchair accessible and includes an accessible deck. There is air conditioning, seating, and restrooms inside the Discovery Center.
Ticket required?
- No, drop in activities
There are over 20 miles of hard and natural surface trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. We recommend checking out the Black Hill Trail, which is accessible from the Discovery Center and is paved. The trail is 4.6 miles long and has gentle inclines.
Essential Participation Requirements
- None
Accessible Amenities Include
- Trail Guide can be obtained at the Discovery Center.
Description of activity location
- Black Hill Regional Park has many trails that are near the Discovery Center. This includes paved and natural surface trails of varying steepness and elevation levels. The Black Hill Trail is close to the Discovery Center and Picnic area and is paved. The trail is 4.6 miles long and has gentle inclines.
Ticket required?
- No
Picnicking is allowed at all parks of Black Hill Regional Park. We encourage participants to bring their own picnic blankets and lawn chairs, along with their food, as seating and picnic tables are limited. Please dispose of waste in trash cans or recycling bins to help us keep our parks litter free!
Essential Participation Requirements
- None
Accessible Amenities Include
- None
Ticket required?
- No
Featuring:
Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck