Accessibility, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the natural environment as a tourist resource

Abstract

This article discusses ethical questions associated with Americans with disabilities contrasted to/with the spiritual needs and desires of population members outside that cohort. Approaching outdoor settings as a tourism (or human leisure) resource, this article provides a recapitulation of the historic roots of two streams of thought: inherent Civil Rights and the inherent value of pristine wilderness. Then it explains in detail how these two values come into contact and competition. Although discussion is focused on the situation in the U.S., it generalizes to potential situations in other social contexts. Last, it suggests that these two perspectives, equal accessibility and uniform Civil Rights, create a profound moral dilemma.