Community members with disabilities can access this summit at no-cost. Sliding scale $40 - $80 per person pending financial capacity. 

Join Queerly ME, BRIDGE Maine, and Outdoor Access Solutions for a day-long summit at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. Summiting Outdoor Accessibility examines the unique intersections of outdoor access, Queer identity, and disability, encouraging community dialogue and introspection around how outdoor accessibility can be improved for all people, especially for those holding multiple marginalized identities. Summiting Outdoor Accessibility is organized and led solely by people with disabilities to present a pathway towards progress that is centered on lived experience. We hope you will join us for our summit which includes keynote speaker, Geronda Wollack-Spiller; an outdoor accessibility audit walk led by Outdoor Access Solutions; and a community “fishbowl” discussion emphasizing sharing and listening to the experiences of LGBTQIA+ people with disabilities.

ACCESSIBILITY INFO: The main campus of the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is ADA accessible—ramps are available anywhere there are stairs. The gardens can provide wheelchairs and scooters to participants on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is accessible parking right outside the Education Center where the summit will be. There are shuttles available from the entrance of the gardens to the Education Center upon request. For more information on the Gardens’ accessibility, visit mainegardens.org/visit/inclusion-and-accessibility/

In-person and virtual options available! If you join virtually, you will be able to access the keynote and the Listen To Lived Experience community discussion. Both in-person and virtual participants will be able to access CART captioning.

ASL Interpreters will be present all day. CART Captioning will be provided for the keynote and the Listen To Lived Experience community discussion. All speakers will wear mics and visual descriptions will be given.

There are a limited number of gas cards available to community members in need of travel cost coverage—you can reach out to info@queerlyme.org to request one.

Schedule:

10:15AM - 10:30AM Opening Remarks

10:30AM - 11:30AM Keynote Speaker, Geronda Wollack-Spiller: “You’re Not Broken: Rewriting the Story of Queer, Neurodivergent Adults.” Geronda helps mid‑level leaders at mid‑size companies grow teams that thrive from the inside out, rooted in belonging, trust, and accountability, grounded in lived experience. With over a decade of work across inclusion & belonging, psychological safety, and inclusive leadership, she’s guided leaders who lead from the heart of the team, not above it. Her signature talk, Rooted in Us, shifts how people see culture, connection, and performance. Connect on LinkedIn or book a session via her website www.gerondaws.com. There will be a Q&A after Geronda’s keynote!

11:30AM - 12:30PM Grab lunch at the cafe or bring your own! There are GF, Vegan, and Vegetarian options available. During lunch, mingle at a Topic Table aimed towards bringing aligned organizations, businesses, and individuals together to connect and converse.

12:30PM - 1:30PM Activity Options:

1. Outdoor Accessibility Audit Walk with Outdoor Access Solutions. Take a tour through the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens’ paths and learn about what goes into auditing outdoor spaces to enhance accessibility. Outdoor Access Solutions partners with organizations by providing accessibility assessments for trails and other outdoor spaces, identifying physical, cognitive, sensory, visual, and auditory challenges. Outdoor Access Solutions evaluates site infrastructure against ABA / ADA standards and delivers an assessment report which provides detailed information and actionable insights to guide their partners in accessibility enhancements.

2. Trail Mixer with Queerly ME. Trail Mixers are casual, connection centered trail walks, and our flagship program. Periodically during our walk, we will propose conversation prompts to participants. Each time a conversation prompt is introduced, we encourage participants to “mix it up” and find a new person to talk to. These walks help participants build support networks from the ground up!

1:30PM - 2:30PM Rest and explore the gardens.Visit Garron Dorr in the Sensory Garden! Garron Dorr is a Registered Horticultural Therapist, HTR and program manager of the horticultural therapy program at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens that focuses on improving the emotional, physical and psychological well-being of groups and individuals with disabilities, illness, and life situations. His work highlights how meaningful connection with plants and nature can provide immensely positive impacts on human health and wellness. In 2025, he received a Community Impact Award from Mobius, Inc. for creating a program and therapy garden which provides access and inclusivity for people of all abilities. He continues to grow the external outreach programming and build community collaborations to expand the knowledge and therapeutic value of nature-based interventions.

2:30PM - 3:30PM Listen to Lived Experience: A community “fishbowl” discussion emphasizing sharing and listening to the experiences of LGBTQIA+ people with disabilities. Participants will be invited to engage in various conversation prompts, or actively listen outside of the circle.

3:30PM - 4:00PM Closing Remarks