Just like rivers can be calm and steady or turbulent and winding, access to them isn’t always simple or straightforward—especially for people with disabilities or those who benefit from accessible design. From missing or unclear signage to physical obstacles and unintentionally exclusive programming, barriers to river access take many forms.

This River Management Roundtable offers a focused look at these challenges through the perspectives of those most affected by inaccessibility. Through real-world examples and guided discussion, participants will explore common barriers, reflect on those encountered in their own work, and contribute to a growing body of research aimed at improving access along our nation’s river trails.

To learn more about the research initiative behind this work, visit: Charting New Waters: Co-Designing Better River Trail Experiences.
To share your voice and experiences, we invite you to take part in a national survey via Qualtrics: The Better River Trails Experience Survey.

Presenter

Molly Wuebker is an occupational therapist and nationally recognized accessibility consultant with over 15 years of experience in universal design, inclusive planning, and ADA compliance. She is the founder of Uncurbed, where she helps organizations create environments and experiences that are welcoming to people with disabilities. Molly has worked across public space design, digital accessibility, co-design research, and policy development, bridging technical compliance with real-world usability. She currently leads the Better River Trails Experience Project with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and serves as Iowa Liaison for the Great Plains ADA Center. Her work has earned national recognition, including awards from the NRPA and NACPRO, and she brings a strategic, human-centered approach to making accessibility a practical and empowering part of everyday experiences.

Registration

On the second Tuesday of the month, the River Management Society hosts River Management Roundtables (facilitated virtual discussions) with professional river, greenway, and water trails leaders, planners, and managers who will benefit from peer-to-peer sharing. Our goal is to facilitate an open forum in which you can ask questions, share solutions and build comradery. There's no fee or membership requirement to attend, but registration is required to help us set expectations and improve our outreach. We will record the discussion and send it out to registrants within the week.

Watch the Recording