About Us

The AfA SSG is a group of like-minded organisations and individuals who have a particular interest in including people with disabilities in outdoor learning.

If you are an organisation with a significant number of participants with disabilities, an individual with an interest in inclusion or wish to target this customer sector, then you are likely to benefit from membership and involvement with the group. In addition, people with disabilities and wider society are likely to benefit from your participation as your experience can contribute to the body of knowledge shared between us and others offering outdoor learning.

Although the majority of the topics focus on those with physical, sensory or intellectual impairments, these are not exclusive. If special considerations are needed to assist someone participate in outdoor learning then the members are likely to have both an interest and some experience which may be able to help, as there are crossovers of teaching and learning between various impairment groups. Notable work in the past has focussed on those with autism, mental health issues, old age and chronically overweight participants.

The AfA SSG is a discussion forum where new ideas are scrutinised and best practice is shared. Although there are some e-discussions during the year the main event is the annual 2-day conference (invariably held at a specialist centre for those with disabilities). This is a low cost networking and sharing event where relationships are built so members have the confidence to pick up and ask colleagues for help or advice during the rest of the year.

The AfA SSG is a group of IOL member organisations and individuals, so any advice would be the opinion of that organisation or individual which may or may not be shared across the group. A number of the member organisations do offer disability inclusion advice, and it may be worth contacting these. Alternatively you could attend a conference with the specific agenda item for the whole group to discuss.