Great Smoky Mountains National Park, straddling North Carolina and Tennessee, has enhanced its accessibility features, offering adaptive ranger-led programming from June 8 to October 5, 2023. The initiative, aimed at visitors with disabilities, includes options for bike rides, hikes, and a new addition of kayaking and camping activities. A complete list of programs is available on Catalyst’s website.

In an effort to make the park more inclusive, Carly Pearson, an ADA coordinator and advocate for accessible outdoor recreation, utilized an all-terrain wheelchair for her hike to Cataract Falls. This adaptive equipment, part of the park's new offerings, allows visitors like Pearson, who is paralyzed below the waist, to navigate challenging terrains and enjoy the park's natural beauty alongside their families.

The park provides GRIT Freedom Chairs—specialized wheelchairs designed for rough terrains—available for checkout. These chairs, which require some upper-body strength to operate, can be reserved or checked out on a first-come, first-served basis depending on the day, from the park’s Sugarlands Visitor Center.

Registration for ranger-led activities is required, which can be done online. These programs are scheduled for morning and afternoon sessions to accommodate various visitor needs.

Importantly, both the adaptive programs and the use of wheelchairs are offered free of charge, emphasizing the park’s commitment to accessibility. “This is everyone’s park,” Pearson remarked, underscoring the importance of inclusivity in public spaces.