is a reporter who covers climate and environmental issues in Southern California.
On Saturday, Burbank is officially launching a new hiking trail accessibility program for people with disabilities. Two new all-terrain wheelchairs will be available to rent at Stough Canyon Nature Center for use on the fire trail.
In recent years, Burbank has become a leader in the movement to make sports and the outdoors more accessible to people with disabilities.If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.Since 2021, the city has launched several adaptive sports programs, including offering wheelchair rugby and fencing, Piper’s Pals youth baseball and basketball,Attendees will be able to try out the new all-terrain wheelchairs for themselves, ask questions and learn more about adaptive sports efforts from Burbank Parks and Recreation staff.There’s some debate among the people of Burbank as to how to pronounce “Stough Canyon.” LAist did some digging and foundfrom the Burbank Public Library. The canyon was named after prominent 19th-century real estate developer Oliver J. Stough, a descendent of German immigrant Gottfried Stauff, whose spelling of his surname was changed to Stough after migrating to the U.S in 1752. The verdict? Stough rhymes with “wow.”)The new all-terrain wheelchairs are the latest in that effort, said Diego Cevallos, assistant director of the city’s parks and recreation department. “We are building an ecosystem here in Burbank of robust programming and activities that cater to folks with disabilities,” he said. “Really what we want to do is inspire the community and also our other civic leaders to engage in this movement of making outdoor equity more accessible through programs just like this.”The program is open to anyone with mobility issues in the region, not only Burbank residents., then click on the “Facility Rentals” tab, scroll down to “Stough Canyon Nature Center” and click on “Adaptive Hiking Rentals.”You’ll have to create a profile and log in to reserve the chairs. Before getting on the trail, you’ll have to watch a safety tutorial video, sign a waiver and do a test drive. Once reserved, the user will have to bring a non-disabled companion to assist them and a staff member or volunteer with the Nature Center will accompany them on the trail. That docent will provide nature education during the hike and make sure everything is going smoothly and safely.Right now, the chairs can only be reserved for up to two hours, said recreation services manager Noah Altman, but he said staff welcomes feedback from the public and will consider updating the requirements for the program as needed. And an important note: Residents with all types of disabilities can use the chairs — it’s not necessary to have mobility in one’s hands. The family member or friend accompanying the user can remotely control the wheelchairs if needed.Mobility challenges are the most common type of disability in L.A. County — around half a million Angelenos have some type of ambulatory disability, But all-terrain wheelchairs cost around $20,000 and weigh around 400 pounds, making them out of reach and impractical for most individuals to own themselves, said Austin Nicassio, a San Dimas resident and founder ofNicassio provided consultation early on in the Burbank accessible trail project effort, and is currently working with L.A. County and California State Parks to bring all-terrain wheelchairs to more areas. The nonprofit is raising money to purchase all-terrain wheelchairs for use in those jurisdictions. “ It's a huge milestone,” Nicassio said of the Burbank program. “It's going to be absolutely life changing for everyone in Southern California.”For Nicassio, these efforts are deeply personal. Growing up in the eastern San Gabriel Valley, he used to be an avid hiker and mountain biker. “Five years ago I was completely able-bodied working as an aerospace engineer, mountain biking, hiking, surfing,” Nicassio said. “My body did whatever I wanted it to do, and I always took it for granted.”But in 2022, after a mild case of COVID-19, he started experiencing strange symptoms — muscle weakness, severe brain fog. He was later diagnosed with a condition that affects his blood flow and makes it difficult to stand for long periods of time and impossible to do anything too strenuous. He was also diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome.His mental health plummeted — he realized he used to cope with strong emotions by getting out on the trails or in the ocean. When he finally saved up enough to purchase his own off-road wheelchair, it was “life changing.” “And not just for me, but for my father, for my wife, for my friends, my whole community,” Nicassio said.He says he wants to see a world where access to such offroad wheelchairs is the norm. “ No one has told me that their favorite hike or trail's been paved unless you're disabled, and it has to be,” said Nicassio. “Being out on these trails, a couple miles from the noise, from the trash, from the people, it's life changing.” You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead . Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community. Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.Catherine O'Hara
All Terrain Wheelchair Burbank Disability Mobility Outdoor Equity Stough Canyon Wheelchair
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