Gary Dunn doesn’t think disabilities should limit opportunities. That’s one of the things that drives Dunn to constantly rethink how outdoor recreation can expand opportunities.
“I’m all about making sure everybody gets a shot at trying something outdoors,” said Dunn, a lead instructor for both Paradox Sports and No Barriers, a pair of Colorado-based outdoor adventure businesses.
“For me, it boils down to the fact that I like to tinker,” said Dunn, who will kick off the 2024-25 Joan Crawford Lecture Series with a 6:00 PM presentation on Wednesday, September 18th in the Conference Room of the Performing Arts Center at Garrett College entitled Adaptive and Inclusive Outdoor Adventure Recreation.
“You kind of have to think about how it works for your participants,” said Dunn during a phone interview from Montana’s Glacier National Park. “There is no cut-and-dried way to go about it.”
Dunn, who is based out of Baltimore, said adapting experiences to account for disabilities doesn’t need to dilute the experience.
“Given the opportunity, and sometimes a little assistance, you’d be surprised what people can do,” said Dunn. “Others often told them [individuals needing adaptive experiences] that they couldn’t do something.
“Well, I’ve taken paraplegics ice climbing,” said Dunn. “It just sometimes looks a little different or needs a few additional resources to make it happen.”
Garrett College’s faculty created the Joan Crawford Lecture Series in honor of the dynamic educator Joan R. Crawford.
Crawford, who died in 2010, served the College community for more than 30 years, including serving as the head of the humanities division and director of enrollment. After her retirement, Crawford was named Professor Emerita.
The Joan Crawford Lecture Series of presentations are offered free of charge, and the public and community members are invited to attend.
All presentations from the Joan Crawford Lecture Series will be available to view online through the College’s YouTube page.
For more information, contact Stephanie Miller at stephanie.miller@garrettcollege.edu.
