Question: From your point of view what would be the top priority changes that the travel and hospitality industry could do to further open birding to people with disabilities?
In the UK commerce has cottoned on to the idea of the "grey pound" and the "pink pound" - that is the buying power of the elderly and the gay community... its time they realized that there is also a "disability dollar" that they can only get their share of if they offer accessible trips.
Question: Are there any final thoughts you would like to leave with our readers?
Answer: When I was a youngster an accident prevented me from walking for six months. My father, wanting me to have an interest started taking me to a local lake to fish which I could do without having to run around. Through this, with his shared knowledge, I started to take an interest in the natural world. Now it is my sanctuary and as close as I get to spirituality. Being in the wild yet tranquil world is necessary for my sanity. Just like me the vast majority of birders feel this way about wild places and free flying beauties.
Such beauty deserves its widest possible audience. I feel about birding the same way I do about a good film or a stand-up comic - half the pleasure comes from sharing it.
Its not just our duty to make sure that everyone can enjoy what we enjoy, it should be our pleasure too.
* Scrape: A very shallow lake - created by scraping topsoil away so that a wetfield/marsh becomes like a very large puddle - ideal for wading birds to feed on. Often these are enhanced with tiny islands that are great for roosting or ground nesting as they are not too easy for predators to get to.
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