Bureau of Land Management
For release: Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Contact: Megan Crandall
(202-912-7411)
BLM Enters Into Memorandum of Understanding with Disabled Sports USA
To enhance the recreational use of public lands by the disabled, the Bureau of Land Management
today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Disabled Sports USA. Recognizing
the enormous value of promoting public-private partnerships that encourage people with
disabilities to use public lands, the MOU creates a cooperative framework for programs and
activities designed to increase the recreational use of public lands by disabled veterans and others
with permanent disabilities.
―The Department of the Interior and the BLM are committed to ensuring equal access to outdoor
recreation on public lands—particularly those activities that require specialized equipment or
instruction,‖ said Deputy Secretary of the Interior David J. Hayes. ―This MOU advances that
important effort.‖
BLM Director Bob Abbey added, ―The long-term relationship the BLM and Disabled Sports
USA established today will cultivate dialogue, generate ideas, and enhance access for persons
with disabilities to outdoor activities on BLM-managed lands.‖ The MOU will remain in effect
for five years, at which point the BLM and Disabled Sports USA can renew the agreement.
The demand for outdoor adventure and recreation activities for persons with disabilities
continues to grow, and new equipment and access innovations are constantly expanding the
possibilities for enjoyable, healthy, active, outdoor experiences. Additionally, veterans wounded
and disabled in recent wars are increasingly seeking challenging outdoor activities to aid in their
recovery and improve their quality of life. With this in mind, the BLM and Disabled Sports
USA will use the MOU to jointly pursue projects and activities on public lands that are
appropriate for persons with disabilities.
Moving beyond outdoor recreation, the MOU also aims to increase the participation of
America’s wounded and disabled veterans and others with disabilities in the BLM’s public landuse planning process. This open process provides opportunities for persons with disabilities to
engage in land management planning activities including access-enhancement projects and safety
and environmental education programs.
Through this involvement, along with shared information, networking, and partnerships
generated by the MOU, the BLM can incorporate ideas and innovation into policies, land-use
plans, and permitting allocations while better accommodating and expanding opportunities for
all—especially America’s disabled veterans and persons with disabilities.
―We at Disabled Sports USA welcome the MOU with the Bureau of Land Management as a way
to promote recreation on our public lands for our nation’s disabled veterans and others with
disabilities. Because of innovations in adaptive equipment and an increase in trained instructors,
those of us with disabilities are experiencing greater accessibility to public lands,‖ said Kirk
Bauer, executive director of Disabled Sports USA and a disabled Vietnam veteran. ―This
represents a wonderful opportunity to enjoy healthy, outdoor activities on public lands.‖
Disabled Sports USA is a national, non-profit organization established in 1967 by disabled
Vietnam veterans to serve the war injured. Through its national network of more than 100
chapters in 38 states, Disabled Sports USA offers sports rehabilitation programs to anyone with a
permanent disability, including targeted programs for disabled veterans. In serving those with
disabilities – from visual impairments and spinal cord injuries to multiple sclerosis, cerebral
palsy, and amputations – Disabled Sports USA facilitates recreational activities on both public
and private lands.
Under the MOU, the BLM and Disabled Sports USA will work together to promote outdoor
recreation participation on public lands and foster health and fitness, independence, and social
integration for veterans and other persons with disabilities. The benefits of participating in
recreational activities – such as skiing, snowboarding, kayaking, sailing, and whitewater rafting –
are proven to enhance individuals’ self-confidence, physical and mental well-being, and their
quality of life.
To read the MOU, go to http://blm.gov/qv5c .
To visit the BLM National Recreation Accessibility page, go to
http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/Recreation/recreation_national/accessibility.html .
To visit the BLM page dedicated to accessibility for disabled veterans, go to
http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/Recreation/recreation_national/accessibility/disabled_vets.ht
ml .
To visit Disabled Sports USA, go to http://www.dsusa.org .
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