Freya McGregor
Occupational therapist and disabled birder consulting, researching and writing at the intersection of access, inclusion, disability and birding.
I need your help to finish the in-person research for
A Field Guide to Accessible Birding in the United States!
June, 2024
Folks with disabilities need a lot of detailed information to know if a birding location is truly going to be accessible for them. This level of data isnāt available on the internet, so in order to write an accurate and reliable book I need to visit all these places in-person. Despite my thriftiest efforts, my book advance has already been spent on campsite reservations, gas, and other travel costs. In 2023 I spent three months on the road for this project ā volunteer time during which I couldnāt work for either of my two paying jobs ā and now Iām spending my own money to cover book research trip expenses, too. Your generous contribution will help bring this book to life!
Thanks for dropping by!
Iām glad youāre here! Check out recent articles Iāve written for various publications, or learn about my work as a Research Associate at Virginia Tech. Let me know about an accessible birding location I should check out for possible inclusion in A Field Guide to Accessible Birding in the United States, or learn more about me.
I love hearing from other disabled birders and allies, and I love sharing more about access and inclusion when it comes to disability and birding. If you have an idea we could collaborate on please connect with me!
Want to work together?
Using a disability justice lens and an occupational therapy framework, I provide consulting and training services to staff and volunteers at nature organizations to empower confident agents of change who improve access and inclusion for disabled birders. Learn more about working with me and my small business Access Birding.
Love reading?
Check out my favorite books about birding with a disability, nature as a therapeutic tool, books for bird outing leaders who want to facilitate inclusive experiences, books by Black birders and more at the Access Birding Bookstore!
Your purchase will support independent bookstores (not billionaires) and a woman-owned, disability-owned business too!
Recent media appearances
Show #913, December 11, 2022. Listen to the show here.
Episode 18, December 16, 2022. Listen to the episode here.
Profiled in the article āBirding for All: How to make enjoying birds more accessible.ā January 5, 2023. Read the article here.
No single way of birding is more or less valuable than any other.
I propose that we redefine birding to be: the act of enjoying wild birds.
From Itās time to redefine ābirdingā,
published in Audubon magazine, August 2021.
