Recreation Center challenges misperceptions about disabilities
Students with disabilities and people who come from minority backgrounds constantly face challenges and barriers that other students are not accustomed to facing.
The barriers can often discourage participation in many activities including activities in the outdoor industry.
“There’s a history in the outdoor industry that people with disabilities and people from under-represented populations are not usually participants in these types of activities,” said Phil Sarnoff, Coordinator of Leisure and Outdoor Programs.
Sarnoff said he believes the perception can be attributed to a general attitude that has been developed through advertising.
“Pick up any outdoor magazine, it’s all geared toward white people or people that look like mountain men,” Sarnoff said. “No wonder people with disabilities don’t feel comfortable. They don’t see people that look like them represented in photos and advertising.”
The NDSU Recreation and Outing Center is working hard towards changing this image.
“We are trying to reach out to everyone, we want them to feel like these trips are something that everyone can be apart of,” Sarnoff said.
Each year around 20 trips or clinics are planned by the Rec and Outing center.
The trips include activities such as hiking, canoeing, skiing and snowboarding.
The most recent trip included skiing at Bridger Bowl in Bozeman, Mont., as well as a visit to Yellowstone National Park.
Sarnoff said the main thing the Rec and Outing center wants to emphasize is that every student is welcome to participate in these activities and anyone thinking about participating is strongly encouraged to get involved.
The center views these trips and clinics as beneficial to each student that participates.
“It gives students an opportunity to get off campus, relieve stress and learn a new activity,” Sarnoff said.
Surveys filled out by individuals that have participated in past activities support this claim.
According to the surveys, nearly 90 percent of those who have participated in an activity felt it was a positive experience for them. In addition, nearly 50 percent felt the activity helped to increase their self-confidence.
The Recreation and Outing center will continue to plan activities and would like to see more participation from students in the future.
“I feel like people are missing out on a lot of great opportunities,” Sarnoff said. “You’re not going to know if you like something unless you try it.”
Information for future activities can be found at the NDSU Recreation and Outing Center Web site www.ndsu.edu/outingcenter