I came in pretty hostile to the idea, but your post made me think twice.

I don't think disabled people deserve to go to the parks more than non-disabled, but get that there are logistics challenges.

I wonder if a time flexible pass would be better than just free access

Another reason that I'm probably making up right now is that parents of children with disabilities just won't go do certain things if they think it's going to be a waste of money, regardless of how much they earn really.

I don't know this for sure but I wonder if that explains the "medicaid waiver". Someone with a disability (and only that individual) has access to medicaid regardless of parental earned income; so we got it for my daughter. And I thought it was weird because we're probably not going to need to use it? I'm not really sure yet...I know I have good insurance but don't think have tested its limits.

And that's when I realized why they don't factor in parental income or the presence of existing insurance. It's not to cover insurance gaps if I move jobs. It's because people with disabilities will probably hit insurance maximums, and at the end of the day, you do not want guardians foregoing necessary medical care when that happens. Because it will happen. You will create a population of disabled and neglected disabled people. And I think it's the same for parks. Some people won't even try going if they think they'll lose $30.

And I know someone reading this will immediately say regular people are also being neglected. I think everyone should have access to the same care, but from a budgeting standpoint and no lawmakers wanting to appear uncompassionate, this is an easier pill to swallow. Probably why the parks page linked also mentions veterans.

There's another factor here: There's a huge swath of services that private insurance companies outright will not, under any circumstances, cover. They are explicitly exempted from having to cover these things specifically because they are technically available through Medicaid. This very much includes critical things like long-term caregivers/assistive devices. So having access to Medicaid becomes extremely important as soon as you need any of those services.

There are a lot of benefits provided specifically to people with disabilities because of this sort reasoning.

It’s more difficult for those of us who don’t see a wide spectrum of it up close to understand, but to individuals with the kinds of disabilities that impair mobility, the world is a shockingly different place. Sometimes leveling that playing field is best accomplished by eating the cost of a variable.

It’s difficult to imagine but some people are (for example) vulnerable to getting physically stranded in place just because a battery died. Not in terms of going without (for example) Uber, but being unable to physically move through the world the way it was built to move through. All the while cognitively being no more or less different than anyone else, and having to navigate life like that every day.

I've nothing to add to the topic but I want to commiserate. I'm sad because we would have used this a few years ago, but my son is just deteriorating and I doubt we'll be visiting National Parks with him again.

Yosemite has great disabled access FWIW. With a handicap placard we could drive on roads otherwise reserved for buses or rangers and get close to some of the best sights.

I am really so sorry to hear about your son. I'm new to this whole thing having found out only 4 months ago and have to force myself to do these things and make the best of it.

Yosemite is where we went last week. I was glad the government shutdown didn't happen. And yea, we were able to use their paved trails to push her around in a stroller because it would have been otherwise quite nearly impossible to go anywhere. She's getting a little heavy to hold for extended periods of time. But it made her absurdly happy, so it was worth it.