EP 39: Lending a Voice to Disability Justice and an Outdoors For All

Ambika Rajyagor is a 24 year old Indian-American Outdoor/Adventure Blogger, Special Needs Advocate, and Activist. She is also the cofounder of DisablednOutdoors an online BIPOC-run community focused on representation and accessibility in the outdoors, wants to ensure that these efforts are intersectional, too—especially after nearly four years of policies that worked against Americans with disabilities. As someone who goes outdoors to look within, she can’t stand silent knowing that there is no real “outdoors for all” experience when racism and ableism exists. Most of Ambika's work in both her personal and professional life has been motivated by her biggest inspiration— her little sister Devika. At a year old, Devika survived AML Leukemia, and because of the extent of her treatment, she has lived with the side-effects of the chemo her whole life. She's severely physically and cognitively disabled, and while she experiences pain and limitations everyday— she is Ambika's “little lotus”. Ambika believes representation matters-- especially in the Outdoors Industry, where so many different minorities are underrepresented, from racial differences, to wealth, and ability differences.

Show Notes: https://watersavvysolutions.com/lending-a-voice

Topics Discussed:

• How to be an advocate for disability rights
• Ableism in the outdoor community
• How to travel to national parks on a budget

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Follow Ambika Rajyagor:

• Instagram- @gangesgal and @disablednoutdoors
• Twitter - @ganges_gal