Wheaton, Md. — Montgomery Parks celebrated Disability Pride Month at Black Hill Regional Park on July 26, 2026, with a community event recognizing the Americans with Disabilities Act and the importance of inclusive access to outdoor recreation. The event featured adaptive recreation activities including kayaking, and biking.
“At Montgomery Parks, we want people of all ages and abilities to have opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature,” said Montgomery Parks Director Miti Figueredo. “Disability Pride Month is a chance to celebrate the many ways people experience parks and to highlight the adaptive equipment, accessibility services and inclusive programming that help bring the joy of parks to everyone.”
“Disability Pride is about everyone having fun, sharing experiences, and creating memories together,” said sign language interpreter Sebastian Sylvester, “because inclusion makes every moment better.”
The celebration also underscored the year-round work of Montgomery Parks’ Program Access Office to make parks, programs and facilities welcoming and accessible through accommodations, adaptive equipment and specialized programming. Examples include:
- Sign language interpreters
- Adaptive equipment, such as adaptive kayaks, all-terrain wheelchairs, adaptive fishing equipment and adaptive bikes
- Large print or Braille materials and EnChroma color vision glasses
- Assistive listening devices
“Disability Pride is about making sure everyone can access the world and their community,” said Raiven Everett, who participated in adaptive kayaking at the event.
Local author Chanelle Wimbish, who participated in adaptive kayaking and adaptive mountain biking, agreed, saying, “Disability Pride is about building a world where everyone is welcomed, valued, and included.”
Accessibility
Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Program Access Office at 301-495-2581 (Voice/TTY), MD Relay 7-1-1 or 800-552-7724 or ProgramAccess@MontgomeryParks.org to request a disability modification. Visit Montgomery Parks Accessibility for more information.
Montgomery Parks
Montgomery Parks manages 417 parks and more than 37,000 acres of parkland. Our parks, programs, and facilities promote physical activity, social connection, and environmental stewardship. As part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Montgomery Parks is committed to creating equitable, inclusive, and accessible park experiences. M-NCPPC has been stewarding public lands since 1927 and has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services.
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