Adding in Accessibility

Moving From JEDI to JEDIA

by Rachael Lewandowski-Sarette

For the past few years, the JEDI committee has focused on promoting Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion within the field of EE. Today they are excited to place heightened emphasis on accessibility by changing their name to the JEDIA committee, adding in “A” for accessibility. JEDIA co-chairs and the committee members believe that this addition is crucial to the vision behind the JEDI Committee—crucial to creating a space in EE where all folks are seen, recognized, and valued. Changing language will change perception which changes actions. 

This change in the name follows some recent initiatives by JEDIA members highlighting accessibility. The April-June Community Conversations focused on accessibility and members of the JEDIA Committee have been working together on accessibility and inclusion for the upcoming 2023 Midwest Environmental Education Conference. Members put together accessibility guidelines that were included in the MEEC Call for Proposals to help shift the burden of access off of those requiring accommodations to folks providing content. The guidelines started out with some modified language from American Autistic disability rights activist, writer, attorney, and public speaker, Lydia X.Z Brown: 

Before this conference begins, we want to put forward an invitation and invocation so that everyone can come to this conference as comfortable as possible in themselves, in their bodies, in their minds, and in the needs that they carry with them. So often we are expected to believe that there is only one right way to exist in a space. Let us use this conference as an opportunity to listen to our fellow community members and ourselves to create an inclusive experience with many right ways of existing.

This change in name also reflects accessibility initiatives led by many of our member organizations.

• Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center is working on becoming more accessible by changing the way they plan events and by purchasing some adaptive equipment. This summer they are hosting summer camps designed by and for members of the Autistic and Deaf communities.
• Many organizations, like UW-Arboretum, Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, and Wild Rivers Conservancy, have assessed trails for difficulty and wheelchair accessibility and made the information easier to find on their websites. 
• Access Ability Wisconsin (AAW) promotes Outdoor Access 4 All!. AAW works towards access by providing communities with all-terrain outdoor wheelchairs (free-to-use for individuals), advocating for inclusion, and collaborating with different organizations on community engagement. Many WAEE member organizations are current partners of AAW including Lussier Family Heritage Center and Riveredge Nature Center.

…and so many more! Please share your stories of accessibility with us! 

The JEDIA committee is proud of this name change and is ready to work towards a more equitable field of environmental education by striving to foster accessible and authentic inclusion within all professional communities of Environmental Education throughout Wisconsin. If you would like to support our work, join our committee! 

JEDIA committee members also receive a monthly newsletter! This month featured the name change, upcoming events and resources including:

• Honoring pride month and LGBTQIA+ folks by learning about How Environmental and Climate Injustice Affects the LGBTQI+ Community.
• Attending this bi-monthly DEIJ Community of Practice meetings coordinated by the Wisconsin Wetlands Association, Gathering Waters, Wisconsin’s Green Fire and the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin.

Sign up for future editions of this newsletter by joining our committee! 

If you are passionate about an environmental education topic, be a guest writer and submit a blog post! Email your idea or completed post to: communications@waee.org.