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Youth Empowerment Radio
This podcast was created by young people as a project of Youth MOVE Colorado, a youth-led organization. This is meant to serve as a fun, educational, and community-building resource for youth with lived experience. We will be having organic conversations about everything from making friends to advocating for change, and interviewing other changemakers along the way!
Youth Empowerment Radio
Season 3, Episode 10 - (Part 2) Adaptive Outdoor Recreation & Accessibility in Practice
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Nature, Community & Accessibility in Adaptive Outdoor Recreation | Youth Empowerment Radio S3E10 (Part 2)
Host Carmen continues her conversation with Katie Ostadewick of Colorado Discover Ability about how outdoor recreation supports mental, physical, and social wellbeing, including work with local VA recreational therapy and veterans. Katie describes participants arriving discouraged by weather or doubt and leaving with smiles, new friendships, and meaningful conversations outside clinical settings, emphasizing sun exposure and nature as a “happy place.” She shares the impact of returning people to activities they love, including an avid mountain biker who became a wheelchair user, and explains CDA’s focus on independence—measured less by numbers served than by renewed confidence, family involvement, and participants pursuing equipment, grants, and recreation on their own. They discuss designing accessibility from the start (ramps, door width/placement, restrooms), transportation barriers, clear signage informed by lived experience, and breaking stigma, illustrated by an adaptive golfer outperforming others. Katie recommends The Hard Parts by Oksana Masters and Spoke by Spoke by Spoke by Dr. Terry Chase.
00:00 Welcome Back Intro
00:49 Nature As Healing
03:57 Community Through Outdoors
04:41 Mountain Biker Comeback
08:23 Measuring Real Impact
13:02 Outdoor Culture Of Help
14:22 Designing Accessible Spaces
19:00 Breaking Disability Bias
21:53 Book Picks And Wrap Up