36 CFR Part 1191 ABA Accessibility Guidelines, Outdoor Developed Areas - Preamble

Benefits

The final rule would increase opportunities for individuals with mobility disabilities to participate in outdoor recreation activities with their families and friends. Participation in outdoor recreation activities provides the following benefits:

• Physical health benefits, including reduces obesity, diminishes risk of chronic disease; and increases life expectancy;

• Mental health benefits, including reduces depression, relieves stress, and improves quality of life; and

• Community and social benefits, including unites families and promotes stewardship.⁹

The benefits are difficult to quantify, but include important national values recognized in Executive Order 13563 such as equity, human dignity, and fairness.

The 2010 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) sponsored by the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that among the civilian non-institutionalized population aged 15 and older, 30.6 million persons (12.6%) had limitations associated with ambulatory activities of the lower body.¹⁰ This number includes 23.9 million persons (9.9%) who had difficulty walking a quarter of a mile; 22.3 million (9.2%) who have difficulty climbing a flight of stairs; 11.6 million persons (4.8%) who used a cane, crutches, or walker to assist with mobility; and 3.6 million persons (1.5%) who use a wheelchair or scooter. Not all these persons are likely to directly benefit from the final rule because some may not participate in outdoor recreational activities. We do not have information to estimate the number of individuals with mobility disabilities who would directly benefit from the final rule.