Outdoor self-care: How to get a free U.S. national parks Access Pass as a person with a psychiatric disability

MHA Admin

Tue, 05/23/2023 – 10:41

by Janelle Gonzaga, MHA Affiliate Network Support Associate

While I was scrolling on Instagram one day, my friend with type 1 diabetes posted about visiting the U.S. national parks for free, for life, with an Access Pass. That got me thinking: Would I be eligible for an Access Pass because of my psychiatric disability? Being outdoors and going to the parks is an excellent way to ground me in nature.

I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) in 2021. Though it is typically more common for veterans to have PTSD compared to civilians, I am one of the civilians with PTSD. It is also typical that almost half of those with PTSD are also diagnosed with MDD.

When I surround myself with nature, I zone in on all the sounds, smells, and sights stirring my senses. I have learned that nature grounds me when I’m in a clouded mindset, even if it’s just a temporary “fix.” The national parks are a great resource to admire the creations on our earth, and it’s even better for those with disabilities to take advantage of this free Access Pass.

Studies show significant benefits of spending time in nature, including greater creativity, lower levels of stress, increased self-esteem, and reduced anxiety. In fact, MHA recently partnered with L.L.Bean to spread the word about the importance of being outdoors and connecting with nature to improve mental health. Join the Feel Good Challenge this month to help us reach our goal of 500,000 hours outside, including at national parks!

Who qualifies?

Qualifying for a pass and using its benefits is easier than you might think, but you must prove you have a permanent disability. According to the Access Pass website, a permanent disability is a “permanent physical, mental, or sensory impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working.”

The National Park Service says you will then need to get documentation from one of the following:

A statement by a licensed physician that includes the disability, that the disability limits one or more aspects of your daily life, and the nature of those limitations;
A document issued by a federal agency, such as the Veterans Administration, or Social Security Administration; or
A document issued by a state agency, such as a vocational rehabilitation agency.

Ways to get the pass

There are three main ways for eligible folks to obtain an Access Pass: In person at an Access Pass-carrying national park, online, or by mail.

In-person (the free option): Check out this guide or contact a specific park to see if they offer the pass. Bring to the payment gate the proof of disability and valid identification of the person who will use the Access Pass.
Online ($10): Make an account and upload files for proof of disability after you place the order.
Mail ($10): Fill out this application and mail it, along with a copy of your proof of eligibility, to:    
USGS    
Attn: Access Pass Box 25286    
Denver, CO 80225

Once you obtain the pass, all you have to do is bring your access pass to the park, hang the tag in your vehicle, and show your valid ID.

For more information on getting a pass, including how to submit documentation by mail, visit the USGS website, call 1-888-275-8747, or email usgsstore@usgs.gov.

My experience with the Access Pass

The entire process of receiving an Access Pass was smooth for me. I was able to use the signed statement from my psychiatrist stating I have a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act – originally used for my emotional support animal – since it was within the year of its validity (these letters are invalid after one year).

I went to my nearest national park that distributed Access Passes, Great Falls Park in Virginia, and asked the park ranger at the gate if I could receive an Access Pass. I showed them my disability statement and valid ID, they approved that I was eligible, and then all I had to do was sign a document containing my name and Access Pass number. I hung my vehicle tag and was ready to explore.

The park was a wonderful experience. The waterfalls roared, I sunbathed with a friend, and was even lucky enough to spot a great blue heron. I had enjoyed this park before, but I did not know the Access Pass existed, or that I was eligible to sign up for a free one. Now I have an excellent excuse to enjoy the outdoors more and the motivation to go outside when I’m not feeling great mentally. If you can go outside, consider taking advantage of the national parks, and if you have a disability, take advantage of that Access Pass.

 
Great Blue Heron at Great Falls Park (Credit: Janelle Gonzaga)

Learn more about nature and the outdoors by following along with MHA’s 2023 Mental Health Month campaign, Look Around, Look Within. We’re exploring how our surroundings impact individual and community mental wellness. Download our free outreach toolkit, find details on related events, and learn how you can get involved at www.mhanational.org/may.

Learn more about Mental Health Month

DID YOU KNOW?

The Capital City Emergency “Level II” Trauma & Wellness Center will house a “state of the art” Outreach Community Resource Center, that will provide case management, mental health community advocacy, and oversight from the M.I. Mother’s Keeper mental health advocates. 
 
The Capital City Emergency “Level II” Trauma & Wellness Center will offer patrons access to immediate coverage by general surgeons as well as coverage by the specialties of orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology and critical care.
 
Our goal is to help people in the best way possible in an effort to preserve and to save more lives in the Nation’s Capital and beyond.

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Emergency

Code Red
Gunshot Victim
Life Threatening Wounds
Physical Assault Victim
Severely Injured Auto Accident Victim
Burn Victim
Epilepsy/Seizures
Cardiovascular
Choking & Breathing Obstructions
and more…

trauma

Child Sex Assault Victim
Domestic Violence Victim
Drug Overdose
Rape/Sex Crime Victim
Suicide Watch
Trafficking Victim
Nervous Breakdown
and more…

Mental Health

At Capital City Emergency Trauma & Wellness Center patrons with mental health emergencies that include life threatening situations in which an individual is imminently threatening harm to self or others, severely disoriented or out of touch with reality, has a severe inability to function or is otherwise distraught and out of control, will have access to quality and psychiatric emergency services and referrals.

Physical Health

Whether your life threatening medical emergency involves excessive or uncontrollable bleeding, head injury. difficulty with breathing, severe pain, heart attack, vision impairments, stroke, physically collapsing, or seizure related, rest assured that our professionals will properly assess and evaluate the level of response that will be most needed to help provide stabilized care solutions and minimize complications as well as reduce early mortality.

Holistic Healthcare

We offer healthcare solutions that will support the whole person which includes their physical, psychological, emotional, social, & spiritual wellbeing. Research supports that because your mental state can affect your overall health we support and offer the inclusion of complimentary and alternative medicine(CAM) practitioners and naturopathic doctor recommendations and referrals as a part of our Outreach Community Resource Center’s care regimen and support.

Rehabilitative

Emergency care can typically result in traumatic injuries for which rehabilitation becomes an essential component of care in trying to achieve the best long-term outcomes for the patient. In addition to speeding up recovery times and helping to prevent further complications, rehabilitative care also helps to support a patient’s self-managed recovery once discharged from our facility. Our Outreach Community Resource Center works closely with our trauma center’s discharge department to assure that patrons requiring these services are linked with qualified professionals who will be accountable to the standard of care required to help the patron be successful in their recovery.

Social Services

Our “state of the art” Outreach Community Resource Center intends to promote “expansive” beneficial community enriching services, programs, case management, & linkage to “approved” partner resources and supports in all of the following intended areas and more:

Social Services

  • Clothing
  • Food Pantry
  • Housing/Shelter
  • I.D. Credentials
  • Senior Wellness Check
  • Toiletries
  • Transportation
  • Etc.

Extended Family Services

  • Child Care
  • Credit Counseling
  • Family Court Services
  • Legal Aide

Career Training

  • Apprenticeship programs
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  • Culinary Program  
  • GED Courses
  • Hospitality Training
  • Job Etiquette & Grooming
  • Resume’ Prep
  • Sales Training
  • Software/Technology workshops
  • Small Business Training

Return Citizen
Program Partner
(Bridging the Gap)

  • Case Management
  • Temporary Boarding/Housing
  • Transitional Program Registration

Prevention/Intervention Outreach,
Workshops, & Programs

  • After-school Behavioral Health Program
  • Civic Engagement / Volunteer Sign-up
  • Fatherhood Rites of Passage
  • Gun Violence Town Hall Forum
  • Life Coaching & Coping Strategies
  • Marriage Counseling Workshops
  • Medicare Informational Workshops
  • Mentorship Training
  • Parental Classes
  • Support Groups
  • Town Hall Discussions
  • Violence De-Escalation Training
  • Voter Registration

Nutritional Outreach

  • Cooking Demonstrations
  • Dietary Programs
  • Exercise Classes
  • Recipe Sharing Workshops
  • Meal Prep

Community Outreach

The Healthy DC & Me Leadership Coalition is partnering with the M.I. Mother’s Keeper Mental Health advocacy organization to provide outreach services on the community level as an aid in reducing the existent health inequities that many District citizens are facing as a direct result of the presence of debilitating social determinants and the lack of culturally appropriate care choices and realities for community members residing in marginalized and lower-income communities.

It is the vision and intentions of the M.I. Mother’s Keeper Mental Health Advocates organization to help improve the quality of living for citizens living in our Nation’s Capital and beyond by overseeing the delicate linkage to services and by maintaining higher standards of care accountability for deserving citizens of the Nation’s Capital.

For more information or to enroll as one of our service providers, please email us at:
info@healthydcandme.org