The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) department has received the Excellence in Working with the Disabled Award as a “cultural venue” from the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (CCDC). Topher Downham, education and outreach coordinator, accepted the award for OSMP at CCDC’s Annual Disability Awards ceremony on Tuesday July 26.

“OSMP is very honored to receive this award,” said Downham. “Connection with nature and the outdoors is important for everyone, including the disabled.”

OSMP provides access to the outdoors for people with disabilities through numerous accessible trails and trailheads. An online wheelchair-accessible trail guide is available at www.osmp.org. Many free educational hikes are also available to people with disabilities, and most are led by a person with a disability.

CCDC is Colorado’s only statewide organization run by and for people with all types of disabilities. CCDC enforces and implements the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) statewide, provides quality advocacy assistance to thousands, works with allied disability organizations on important issues, and offers expertise on creating polices and legislation benefitting people with disabilities throughout Colorado. The CCDC’s Annual Disability Awards honors those whose work has enriched or benefitted the lives of people with disabilities statewide.