Virginia was paralyzed at age 14 in a horseback-riding accident 50 years ago and has used a manual wheelchair ever since. She began birding 20 years ago and feels like she found her best self and her greatest happiness in birding. But, she saw no other disabled birders on the trails. Where were they?

Eight years ago she retired from teaching English and founded Birdability to share the joys of birding with people who have disabilities and other health concerns and to ensure that birding locations are physically accessible and birding communities are welcoming and inclusive. Birdability is based in the US but has a global reach.

It is possible to enjoy birds when you are disabled