Normalisation and track accessibility for people with disabilities in the Haast

Abstract

Backcountry recreation opportunities for people with disabilities have historically been few or non-existent. There is little research on the demand or provision for these kind of recreation opportunities for people with disabilities. Normalisation theory charges that people with disabilities have the right to normal recreation opportunities, no matter what their ability. This choice should include access to a variety of walking tracks accessible to the general population. This study sought to determine the wheelchair accessibility of tracks in one particular region of New Zealand, the Haast, as a case study to determine whether people with physical disabilities have access to backcountry opportunities. Data were collected using a Truemeter measuring device and the Kiwi Track grading system to determine the accessibility of tracks. Results were based on length, grade, surface of the tracks and overall accessibility. It was found that there is relatively little backcountry track opportunity for people with disabilities who use wheelchairs due to the lack of variety in length of tracks and obstacles which prevent people with physical disabilities from using the tracks, suggesting that people who use wheelchairs do not have normal access to tracks in the Haast region.