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Christine Okon on Accessible Bird Events
Having a conversation with people about what they need
© Christine Okon
After Christine Okon was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2012, she found herself falling behind on birding walks when the group trudged across hills and valleys – something she once really enjoyed. Now, Christine helps organize birding events with Golden Gate Bird Alliance and designs them to be accessible. A big part of that is talking to people with disabilities about what they need.
BirdNote®
Christine Okon on Accessible Birding Events
Written by Conor Gearin
This is BirdNote.
[Golden-crowned Sparrow song]
After Christine Okon [oh-KAHN] was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2012, she found herself falling behind on birding walks when the group trudged across hills and valleys – something she once really enjoyed.
Christine Okon: But when you have a challenge for mobility as I do, I just have to say, well, I'll have to meet you later, you know? I won't be able to join you on that part of the trip. Or I need to stop because my body is saying, you’re going to short-circuit if you keep going, that kind of thing. I had different cards in my hand to play with, when it came to birding. That's how I look at it.
Now, Christine helps organize birding events with Golden Gate Bird Alliance and designs them to be accessible. A big part of that is talking to people with disabilities about what they need.
Christine Okon: Just coordinating more with people and just including different people in the conversation for planning.
Announcing ahead of time what kind of accessible features are available helps let people know they’ll be comfortable and welcome at an event:
Christine Okon: Saying this will be a 2 mile trip. There will be an accessible bathroom. There's parking. It's a level trail for the most part. There might be some gravel. There are benches to sit down if you don't have an assistive device. So it’s that kind of thing — just anticipating what other people need to know. And it's not just a one way street. It's a conversation to have, basically — and once that conversation gets going, there's a lot that can happen.
For BirdNote, I’m Jonese Franklin.
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Senior Producer: John Kessler
Producer: Mark Bramhill
Managing Editor: Jazzi Johnson
Managing Producer: Conor Gearin
Content Director: Jonese Franklin
Bird sounds provided by The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Golden-crowned Sparrow ML111100 recorded by Thomas G. Sander.
BirdNote’s theme was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
© 2023 BirdNote December 2023
Narrator: Jonese Franklin
ID# okonc-01-2023-12-06 okonc-01
Conor Gearin
Writer