Birding, Mobility, and the Joy (and Grief) of Evolving Access Needs
Image description: Six smiling people are gathered on a paved path under the shade of mesquite trees at Agua Caliente Park in Tucson. They are part of a Birdability outing. In the center is Cat Fribley, wearing a black Birdability shirt and using a forearm crutch, standing next to her new electric mobility scooter. A basket and water bottle are visible on the front of the scooter. Everyone looks happy and relaxed, surrounded by a lush green landscape with palm trees in the background and blue sky peeking through the leaves.
By Cat Fribley, Birdability Executive Director
When I first started using a cane, I did everything I could to keep it out of the frame in photos. I’d angle my body just right, shift the frame, crop strategically. I was carrying not only the weight of my physical limitations, but also the heavy layers of internalized ableism and sizeism that told me this tool—this support—was something to be ashamed of.
Eventually, my access needs shifted again. The cane gave way to a forearm crutch, and I slowly started to accept that mobility aids weren’t just “last resorts”—they were tools for liberation. But still, I grieved. I missed the days when I could walk farther without pain. I missed the illusion of not being “that disabled.” And then my access needs changed again. I began using a powered mobility device, an electric scooter, just this week and once more, I found myself confronting some tender feelings.
Image description: A paved trail splitting to head two different directions in Agua Caliente Park in Pima County, AZ. A sign says Pond Loop 2 and Watch for Venomous Creatures.
Acknowledging a progression in disability is complicated. It’s not linear. There’s relief and grief, frustration and freedom, all bundled together. This new scooter represents the reality that walking, even with a crutch, is no longer sustainable for me. But it also represents something else—something much more powerful: possibility.
This week, I tested out my new scooter at Agua Caliente Park in Tucson during a Birdability outing with some of the most beautiful humans I know—Birdability board members, Captains, and a vibrant mix of community members, both familiar and new. Together, we rolled, strolled, and walked two incredible miles through mesquite bosques, beside ponds and riparian areas alive with sound and movement.
And I didn’t hurt.
I didn’t have to sit down every ten minutes.
I didn’t have to pretend I was fine.
Instead, I birded with ease and joy.
Image description: A joyful group selfie taken at a large picnic table under tall palm trees in Agua Caliente Park, Tucson. In the foreground, Cat Fribley is smiling widely with large round sunglasses and a Birdability shirt, holding the camera. Behind her, nine other Birdability community members are seated and standing around the table, all smiling and enjoying the moment. The table is covered with outreach materials, brochures, stickers, and water bottles. The sunny background shows a lush park with palm trees, picnic tables, and a bright blue sky. The energy is vibrant and full of connection
I saw a Red-cheeked Slider turtle laying eggs, a Kangaroo Mouse bouncing along the trail, and so many lizards I lost count. And the birds—oh, the birds! Seven new species for my life list, including a Broad-billed Hummingbird sitting in her nest, a Common Black Hawk soaring overhead, and a Cassin’s Kingbird making us check our field guides. (Check out the full list in the image below.) Each one was a small celebration. But the real gift was what made those sightings possible: wide, flat, hard-packed or paved trails and the freedom to move through them with my mobility device. That is access. That is what Birdability is about.
This isn’t just about me, of course. Every person with a disability experiences their journey differently. For many of us, our access needs evolve over time—sometimes slowly, sometimes suddenly. A bench that used to be enough might no longer cut it. The trail that used to be “doable” might now be a barrier. But with the right tools, the right community, and the right infrastructure, we adapt. We keep going. We find new ways to connect with the world and with the birds we love.
Image description: Pond two at Agua Caliente Park with a reflection of clouds and mountains in the water.
Birding has long been a healing force in my life. But on this outing, surrounded by people who get it, who welcomed my mobility scooter not as a sign of loss but as a celebration of access, I was reminded again just how powerful it is to be seen, supported, and included.
That’s what Birdability is building: a community where changing needs are met with open arms, where access is not an afterthought, and where joy is always on the horizon.
The birds were just the cherry on top.
Image description: A screenshot of the eBird app’s Life List page, showing a list of seven bird species observed at Agua Caliente Park in Arizona on April 19, 2025. Each entry includes a thumbnail photo of the bird and the date and location of the sighting. The listed birds are: Broad-billed Hummingbird, Common Black Hawk, Cassin’s Kingbird, Verdin, Phainopepla, Abert’s Towhee, and Lucy’s Warbler.
