Last week, our team organised a trek for young adults with autism and intellectual disabilities from Pragati Towards Livelihood. This was our first time organising a trek for those with intellectual disabilities.
This step marks the beginning of a larger vision: to open up trekking as a space where young adults with different abilities can experience the same sense of adventure, confidence, and empowerment that it offers to everyone.
Our facilitators observed that the group trekked with a lot of enthusiasm, climbing through old gateways, walking past tall grasses, and carefully navigating stone stairways with curiosity.
As we walked alongside the young adults from Pragati Towards Livelihood, we realised that the outdoors makes no distinction. On the trail, they laughed, rested, shared, and persevered just like every trekker we’ve ever known.
Their sense of camaraderie stood out. They encouraged peers without any prompt from us, and even expressed interest in leading the group, fascinated by the tools and responsibilities of a trek leader.
Perhaps the most powerful moment of the trek was watching them take charge of cleaning the trail. Every participant filled their eco bag with litter, determined to leave the mountain better than they found it.
For our team, this trek was a glimpse into what the future of the outdoors can look, where adventure is not limited, but shared. This experience showed us that inclusion is not just about making space, but about discovering new dimensions of joy and strength when everyone walks together regardless of their abilities.
We hope that this is the beginning of a movement to reimagine trekking as a space where every individual can rise to the challenge and witness the beauty of the outdoors.
