REEL Art: installation Access Point – Work in Progress

REEL Art: installation Access Point – Work in Progress
by Adam Larsen in Collaboration with Sue Schroeder
Access Point is a feature length immersive documentary work in progress that follows individuals with disabilities as they navigate vast and varied natural landscapes. Through intimate interviews and vivid on-the ground footage, the film explores often-overlooked barriers to outdoor accessibility—alongside powerful stories of resilience, community, and empowerment that emerge along the way.
The development of the documentary began with a diverse group of participantsconnected to Bay Area disability organizations, including Ala Costa Centers, BORP Adaptive Sports and Recreation, The Center for Independent Living, The Disability Cultural Center at UC Berkeley, Friends of L’Arche San Francisco Bay Area, Creative Growth, and NIAD Art Center. These partnerships have provided invaluable insight, ensuring the film authentically reflects the lived experiences of people across a range of disabilities. By featuring participants who are Deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or who have mobility or cognitive disabilities, Access Point highlights the many ways disability intersects with the natural world. It becomes not just a story of overcoming obstacles, but also one of the universal human desire to engage with the outdoors—underscoring the transformative power of nature for all. Partnerships and participation in Access Point
are currently expanding, broadening its reach beyond the Bay Area to communities across the United States.
As participants explore outdoor spaces—from hiking trails and national parks to beaches, forests, and rivers—Access Point reveals the barriers people face, including limited accessibility, lack of resources, and social or cultural exclusion. Each participant brings a unique relationship to nature: some are seasoned explorers whose access has been constrained, while others are encountering these landscapes for the first time.
Through their experiences, the film captures the joy, reflection, and sense of empowerment that nature can inspire when inequities in access are addressed. At its core, Access Point is a story about inclusion, equity, and the right to experience the outdoors. It asserts that access to nature is a fundamental right not a privilege— and examines how inaccessible outdoor spaces intersect with broader societal inequities. By connecting the disability community with the environmental movement,the film emphasizes that inclusive outdoor spaces are essential to a just and equitable society. It encourages a rethinking of how public spaces are designed and used, fostering collaboration between environmental and disability advocates and sparking a broader conversation about access, equity, and belonging.
Ultimately, Access Point invites viewers to reflect on their own relationships to the natural world and to envision a future where outdoor spaces are welcoming to everyone. Through compelling storytelling and the beauty of natural landscapes, the documentary advocates for a world in which nature is a shared space—accessible, engaging, and inspiring for all.