Tips for Increasing Accessibility: Blind and Low-Vision Growers

Many older adults enjoy gardening as a way to stay active, connect with others, and share their knowledge. Some may also experience changes in mobility, stamina, vision, hearing, or memory as they age.

By making small adjustments to the garden space, activities, and tools, gardens can remain welcoming and safe for older growers.

Pathways and Layout

• Keep paths level, wide, and well-lit to reduce risk of falls.
• Use firm, slip-resistant surfaces and avoid uneven ground.
• Add resting spots with benches or chairs along longer paths.

Garden Beds and Planting Areas

• Provide raised beds to reduce bending and kneeling.
• Use containers, tabletop beds, or vertical gardening for easier access.
• Keep tools, plants, and water close to reduce carrying distance.

Seating and Rest Areas

• Place benches with backs in shaded areas for safe resting.
• Include seating near garden beds so people can rest while working.

Tools and Storage

• Offer lightweight, ergonomic tools to reduce strain.
• Provide stools, kneelers with handles, or carts to support gardening tasks.
• Store tools at reachable heights with clear labels or color coding.

Health and Safety

• Encourage proper form and posture when lifting, bending, or digging to prevent injury.
• Remind gardeners to take regular breaks and rotate tasks to reduce fatigue.
• Promote hydration by keeping water easily available and shaded seating nearby.

Communication

• Use large-print, high-contrast signs and handouts.
• Speak clearly and at a moderate pace, facing the person directly.

Tips for Increasing Accessibility: Neurodivergent Growers

Neurodivergent people may experience and process information differently. This can include differences in attention, memory, social communication, sensory processing, or executive functioning.

Gardens can be supportive places when they provide clear routines, flexible options, and multiple ways to communicate and participate.

Clear Communication

• Use plain language and avoid jargon in signs, handouts, and group instructions.
• Provide step-by-step guides with visuals and demonstrations.
• Share schedules or task lists ahead of time so gardeners know what to expect.

Structure and Routines

• Keep garden routines consistent (e.g., watering times, meeting days).
• Use social stories to explain common routines and set expectations for specific events.
• Allow gardeners to choose preferred roles or repeat familiar tasks if that works best for them.

Flexible Participation

• Offer a variety of tasks or ways to participate.
• Provide options for individual or small group work if large groups feel overwhelming.
• Provide flexibility for growers who may struggle with consistency.

Social Inclusion

• Normalize different communication styles including limited eye contact, use of AAC devices, or written responses.
• Encourage buddy systems or peer support for those who want it, but do not require social interaction to participate.

Sensory Supports

• Be mindful of overstimulation (noise, heat, crowding) and provide shade, quiet hours, or protective equipment (ex. Noise-cancelling headphones).
• Offer clear advance notice of sensory triggers (ex. machinery use, large events).
• Include engaging sensory plants and interactive activities for those who benefit from stimulation.

Tips for Increasing Accessibility: Growers who use Mobility Aids

Many gardeners use mobility aids like wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, or canes. Some use these aids all of the time, while others may use them only in certain situations.

By designing garden spaces with smooth pathways, raised beds, rest areas, and easy-to-reach tools, gardens can create welcoming spaces where everyone can participate fully.

Pathways and Garden Layout

• Keep paths level, wide, and slip-resistant (minimum 3 ft wide; 5–6 ft preferred for turning or side-by-side travel).
• Use firm surfaces like concrete, asphalt, compacted stone, or mobility mats. Avoid gravel, grass, or wood chips.
• Provide turning points and resting areas along longer paths.
• Maintain paths by removing debris, trimming plants, and repairing cracks.

Garden Beds and Planting Areas

• Build raised beds 20–34 inches high, with at least 27 inches of knee clearance for wheelchair users.
• Keep beds narrow enough to reach plants (24 in. if accessed from one side, 48 in. if from both).
• Have seating options near raised beds, such as stools or built-in seating.
• Trellises, container gardens, or tabletop beds can bring plants to an accessible height.

Water and Irrigation

• Ensure water access points are near accessible beds with lever-style spigots.
• Offer a range of watering tools such as lightweight hoses, ergonomic watering cans, and long handled or wheelchair adapted watering tools.
• A well-maintained irrigation system can be a great way to increase accessibility.

Tools, Storage, and Carrying Devices

• Provide lightweight, ergonomic, and adaptive tools.
• Store tools at reachable heights using hooks or bins near accessible beds.
• Ensure sheds and storage have easy-to-grip handles and locks that can be used with one hand.

Tips for Increasing Accessibility: Blind and Low-Vision Growers

Access needs for blind and low-vision gardeners can be very different. For some, high-contrast colors help with navigation. For others, tactile or auditory cues are most useful.

The best way to ensure everyone is welcome is to ask people directly and offer options.

Asking About Assistance

• Do not assume someone’s needs or how they want help. Check with the person first.
• Let people know where assistance is available, such as designated staff, volunteers, or set hours when support is present.

Navigating the Garden Space

• Keep all pathways clear, level, and free of hazards like debris or slippery surfaces.
• Avoid surfaces that are difficult to navigate with a cane, such as gravel or wood chips.
• Use different textures, tactile markers, or mats to mark key areas like water access points or workstations.
• Keep the path layout simple and consistent to support independent navigation.
• Avoid number-based combination locks. Directional locks (up, down, left, right) are more accessible for blind and low-vision growers.

Signs and Communication

• Important information should always be in multiple formats.
• For hazard warnings (e.g., poisonous plants), use tactile markers in addition to signs.
• Not all blind or low-vision people read Braille. Use a mix of universal tactile markers or symbols, QR codes linking to audio or digital formats, and large high-contrast print. Check in with your community about which formats work best.
• Keep signs consistent in placement (e.g., all garden bed labels in the bottom left corner of beds, all plant labels at a consistent height).

Garden Beds and Plant Labels

• Add tactile markers to garden beds so growers can identify their own plots.
• Use plant labels that are tactile, in large high-contrast print, or with QR codes.
• Consider adding a grid system to beds with a small sign in each section for easier identification.

Tips for Increasing Accessibility: Growers with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)

Gardeners and growers with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) bring a variety of interests, skills, and ways of learning.

By using multiple forms of communication, offering structured activities, and making space for different ways of participating, gardens can ensure everyone is included.

Clear Communication

• Use plain language in signs, handouts, and instructions.
• Give short directions one step at a time when possible.
• Pair verbal instructions with visual aids, pictures, or demonstrations.

Structure and Routines

• Keep garden routines consistent (e.g., watering times, meeting days).
• Use social stories to explain common routines and set expectations for specific events.

Participation and Roles

• Offer different roles to match people’s interests and strengths (watering, planting, harvesting, organizing tools).
• Allow gardeners to repeat tasks they enjoy and feel confident in, if desired.

Accessibility Supports

• Label tools and storage areas with pictures, colors, or symbols in addition to words.
• Use visual markers on garden beds to identify plants and different sections.
• Provide quiet areas or break spaces for anyone who needs a pause during activities.
• Break large tasks into smaller steps with clear beginnings and endings.

Social Inclusion

• Create welcoming spaces for all communication styles including using AAC devices or written responses.
• Encourage buddy systems or peer mentors to support learning and community building.

Tips for Increasing Accessibility: Beds and Planters 

Raised beds, container gardening, and vertical planters can expand access for gardeners who use mobility aids, experience chronic pain or fatigue, or simply benefit from more ergonomic options. By offering flexible, adaptable growing spaces, gardens can celebrate and welcome a wide range of ways people connect with plants and land. 

• Use a Variety of Accessible Beds: Raised beds reduce strain from bending or kneeling and improve access for wheelchair users and gardeners with chronic pain or fatigue. Aim to make all new beds accessible, or at least 10–20% in existing gardens, based on community needs. 
• Design with Comfort in Mind: Raised beds should be 20”–34” high and 10”–24” wide (if accessible from one side) to match natural movement ranges. Add side rails for balance and consider built-in seating for those who need rest or extra support. 
• Choose Safe, Durable Materials: Use non-toxic, food-safe materials like wood, cinder blocks, metal, or concrete. Avoid materials that could leach chemicals into the soil. 
• Ensure Good Placement and Spacing: Place raised beds near water sources, tools, and along accessible paths. Maintain 4–5 feet of space between beds to allow turning and safe navigation. 
• Support Vertical and Ergonomic Growing: Add trellises, espalier, or arbors to bring plants within reach. Vertical gardens maximize space and reduce bending, benefiting seated and standing gardeners. 
• Offer Alternatives to Traditional Beds: Container gardens, tabletop beds, and elevated tables offer lightweight, customizable options. Use rolling caddies, pulley systems, or planting bags to increase flexibility and reduce lifting. 
• Design Tabletop Beds for Wheelchair Access: These should be 28”–34” tall, with at least 27” of knee clearance underneath. Keep the surface within easy reach without straining the shoulders or back.

Tips for Increasing Accessibility: Creating Inclusive and Welcoming Communities 

Community gardens thrive when everyone feels they belong. Accessibility includes the physical design of the space, but it also includes how people are welcomed, supported, and valued.

Building inclusive practices into the culture of a growing space reduces barriers, strengthens relationships, and ensures everyone can fully participate. 

Build Strong, Inclusive Communities  

Foster connection through scheduled workdays, group outings, social events, and open communication. Offer mentorships, recognize contributions, and invite members to bring their unique strengths to the garden. 

Create Accessible Community Guidelines 

Develop clear, respectful expectations for participation, behavior, and mutual support. Include visual tools like social stories, identify who can help, and offer flexible options for engagement and asking for assistance. 

Address Participation Barriers 

Go beyond physical accessibility by considering financial, social, and transportation barriers. Offer sliding scale fees, non-physical roles, carpooling options, and transparent communication about what is and isn’t accessible. 

Engage the Community 

Partner with nearby gardens and civic groups. Use meet-and-greets, open invitations, and community-centered events to build relationships and increase awareness. 

Intentionally Engage the Disability Community 

Make targeted outreach to disability groups, promote accessibility features clearly, and host events designed with community input (e.g., sensory-friendly days, adaptive workshops). Provide disability etiquette training for staff and volunteers, and ensure communication is respectful, inclusive, and accessible in multiple formats.

Tips for Increasing Accessibility: Managing Emotional Activation 

Emotional accessibility is just as important as physical access. Community gardens are shared spaces where stress, sensory overload, or emotional activation may arise.

By offering supportive tools, clear expectations, and flexible responses, gardeners can feel safe, respected, and empowered to participate fully. 

• Normalize Emotional Activation: Anyone can have a tough moment. Offering calm, nonjudgmental support helps reduce shame and strengthens community care. 
• Support Self-Regulation: Create low-stimulation areas for rest, and encourage grounding tasks like weeding or watering. Offer sensory tools (fidget items, scented herbs), mindfulness strategies, and clear options for solo or social regulation. 
• Use Respectful De-escalation: If someone is elevated, listen patiently, stay calm, and ask if they want help. Presume competence, respect boundaries, and avoid judgmental language. Never tell someone to “calm down”—offer space, validation, and choice. 
• Center Dignity and Autonomy: Every person is the expert on their own needs. Offer support only when welcomed. Treat adults as adults and honor different ways of processing and coping. 
• Use Visual Supports and Signals: Optional lanyards, signs, or social stories can communicate needs and expectations clearly and reduce emotional strain. 
• Know When and How to Refer: Offer warmline or helpline info (like 988 or NAMI) if someone is open to outside support. Help them contact trusted people if needed. 

Tips for Increasing Accessibility: Pathways 

Accessible pathways make it possible for all gardeners to move safely and independently through the garden. They are essential for people who use wheelchairs, walkers, or canes, as well as those who are blind or low vision, living with chronic fatigue or pain, or managing cognitive disabilities.

Pathways are not only about compliance with rules. They are the foundation of a garden where everyone can travel confidently and reach every part of the space. 

• Design Inclusive Pathways: Paths should be wide, smooth, and stable, connecting all key areas like beds, seating, restrooms, and tool storage. Use circular layouts with edge guides or auditory features (e.g., wind chimes) to support wayfinding for low vision and neurodivergent gardeners. 
• Create Accessible Entryways: Gates and doors should be easy to open with one hand and a closed fist, lightweight, and positioned at an accessible height with enough clearance for mobility devices. 
• Choose Appropriate Surfaces: Ideal surfaces are firm, non-slip, and easy to wheel or walk on. Concrete and asphalt are most accessible, but compacted stone, pavers, and rollout. mobility mats are good alternatives. Consider maintenance, drainage, and texture. 
• Add Clear Path Markers: Use high-contrast, tactile, and textured markers to highlight transitions, slopes, and intersections. 
• Ensure Safe Slope and Ramps: Keep slopes gentle (max 5%) and add ramps where needed. Ramps should be wide, slip-resistant, and include railings and landings. Curb ramps should use contrasting textures and colors for visibility. 
• Plan for Adequate Width: Standard paths should be at least 3 feet wide; 5–6 feet is ideal for turning, passing, or two people walking/rolling side by side. This includes paths between garden beds. 
• Use Accessible Locks: Choose locks that are easy to use with limited dexterity or low vision. Options include large-key padlocks, directional locks, or RFID/NFC fobs. Offer low-tech alternatives and involve the community in decision-making. 
• Maintain Paths Regularly: Keep paths free of debris, potholes, moss, and other hazards. Inspect before events and maintain slip-resistance on ramps and hard surfaces.

Tips for Increasing Accessibility: Planting 

Planting includes many different steps such as choosing seeds, sowing, transplanting, weeding, pruning, harvesting, and composting. With thoughtful design, adaptive tools, and clear communication, gardens can make each stage of this process accessible. 

• Use Multi-Sensory Supports: Visual task cards, tactile markers, Braille, QR codes, and color-coded labels help gardeners navigate planting steps and stay oriented in the space. 
• Choose Accessible, Low-Maintenance Plants: Select herbs, flowers, and vegetables that are familiar, pest-resistant, drought-tolerant, and sensory-rich. Native plants reduce upkeep and support biodiversity. 
• Create Safe and Navigable Planting Areas: Avoid toxic or thorny plants and use tactile and visual signage to communicate plant risks and support safe harvesting. 
• Adapt Planting Layouts: Group plants by watering needs or size, use companion planting, and try intensive or vertical gardening to conserve space and reduce physical effort. 
• Support Accessible Planting Techniques: Use PVC seeders, seed tape, pre-marked guides, and raised workspaces to minimize bending and fine motor strain during seed sowing and transplanting. 
• Offer Soil Maintenance Alternatives: Use pre-mixed soil, smaller containers, ergonomic scoops, and consider low-till or no-till methods to reduce the need for heavy digging. 
• Make Weeding, Pruning, and Harvesting Low-Strain: Use long-handled tools, mulch to prevent weeds, ergonomic pruners, and visual-tactile harvest signs. Raised beds and vertical growing reduce the need to bend or stretch. 
• Ensure Composting is Inclusive: Offer tumbling bins, low-height compost stations, labeled sorting bins, and ergonomic tools to support sustainable and accessible participation. 

Tips for Increasing Accessibility: Safety 

A safe garden is an accessible garden. Safety supports full participation by helping gardeners avoid injury, reduce stress, and stay comfortable.

With thoughtful design, clear protocols, and inclusive practices, gardens can create an environment where everyone feels secure and confident taking part. 

• Design for Physical and Cognitive Safety: Use enclosed boundaries, looped pathways, and clear signage with large print, Braille, and tactile markers. Ensure smooth, obstacle-free paths with non-slip surfaces for safe navigation. 
• Store Tools Safely: Keep tools, fertilizers, and other materials in labeled, accessible storage areas. Lock up hazardous items and use text, pictograms, and Braille on all labels. 
• Manage Sun and Heat Exposure: Provide shaded areas, schedule gardening sessions during cooler hours, and encourage protective clothing and sunscreen use. Create cooling stations and hydration areas with accessible waterspouts. 
• Encourage Hydration and Rest: Ensure regular water breaks and provide seating in shaded areas. Remind gardeners to stay hydrated, especially those at risk of heat-related illness or taking medications that affect hydration. 
• Support Ergonomic Gardening: Offer lightweight, adaptive tools, kneelers, and rolling stools. Promote healthy posture, task rotation, and low-energy alternatives like vertical or seated gardening to prevent fatigue and injury. 
• Prepare for Emergencies: Include a first aid kit, emergency contact list, and signage explaining where to find help. Provide options like call buttons or mobile phones for gardeners who work alone. 
• Promote Health and Hygiene: Make gloves, sturdy shoes, and other PPE readily available. Offer handwashing stations or wipes to reduce the risk of infection and foodborne illness.

Tips for Increasing Accessibility: Sensory Inclusion 

Gardening is full of sights, sounds, smells, textures, and tastes. These experiences can be joyful, grounding, and deeply engaging. For people with sensory processing differences, the garden may also feel overwhelming at times.

By planning with sensory needs in mind, gardens can create welcoming spaces that offer both stimulation and calm, and honor the wide range of ways people experience the environment. 

• Design for Sensory Diversity: Sensory-friendly gardens offer both stimulation and retreat. Provide options to engage or step away, and use clear layouts, predictable routines, and calm visual design to reduce sensory overload. 
• Support Sensory Hypersensitivity: Offer gloves, hats, noise-reducing gear, or arm sleeves for tactile and auditory comfort. Use mulch, hydroponics, or landscape fabric to reduce soil contact. Create shaded, low-stimulation areas with seating for rest and regulation. 
• Support Sensory Hyposensitivity: Include bold colors, textured plants, rustling grasses, edible herbs, and active gardening tasks (like digging or watering) for those seeking deeper input. Add movement-friendly features like textured paths, climbing vines, or trellises. 
• Build a Sensory Garden: Divide spaces into “zones” for touch, taste, smell, sound, and sight. Prioritize gentle color palettes in rest areas and vibrant contrasts where sensory play is encouraged. Include non-plant features like water sounds or wind chimes. 
• Use Multi-Sensory Plant Choices: Choose plants with contrasting textures (moss, coneflower), strong or calming scents (lavender, basil), and edible components (strawberries, snap peas). Avoid toxic plants and use tactile/visual signage for plant safety. 
• Incorporate Accessible Social Stories: Social stories help gardeners prepare for sensory experiences and routines. Use plain language, step-by-step visuals, maps, and safety info. Offer in printed, digital, and audio formats, and adapt for different events.

Tips for Increasing Accessibility: Signs 

Accessible signage helps gardeners of all abilities navigate, learn, and feel welcomed in the space.

By using plain language, high-contrast visuals, tactile markers, and multi-sensory formats, signs can meet a wide range of access needs. 

• Design Signs for Visibility and Access: Use large print, bold fonts, and high-contrast colors. Place signs at varied heights for seated and standing gardeners, and along accessible pathways. Avoid placing signs too low to the ground. 
• Use Clear, Inclusive Language: Write in plain language and define any gardening terms. Include welcome signs that explain the garden’s purpose and how visitors can engage. 
• Provide Multi-Format Access: Add raised letters, Braille, tactile icons, and QR codes linking to audio or digital versions. Offer signs in multiple languages and use picture-based signs to support non-readers. 
• Use Different Sign Types: Wayfinding signs help with navigation; educational signs support learning; safety signs mark hazards, tools, and access points; and interactive signs can include “safe to taste” icons, sensory elements, and plant-based audio guides. 
• Make Signage Affordable and DIY-Friendly: Use recycled materials, textured stickers, foam cutouts, or hot glue to create tactile, low-cost signs. QR codes and visual icons are free to make and easy to integrate. 
• Keep Signs Clean and Up to Date: Regular maintenance ensures signs stay readable and useful. Refresh faded paint, clean off dirt, and replace worn tactile elements to keep the space organized and accessible.

Tips for Increasing Accessibility: Tools and Supplies 

Adaptive, ergonomic, and well-organized tools make gardening easier and more comfortable for everyone. Choosing tools with accessibility in mind can reduce physical strain, expand participation, and support a wide range of gardening styles.

Clear storage systems also help gardeners find what they need and work more independently. 

• Select Ergonomic and Adaptive Tools: Choose lightweight tools with longer handles, comfort grips, and textured surfaces. These reduce fatigue and allow for comfortable gardening from seated or standing positions. 
• Adapt Tools for Comfort and Reach: Use DIY strategies like foam grips, wrist straps, telescopic handles, or attaching PVC extensions to increase accessibility without high cost. Add bright colors or high-contrast tape for low vision access. 
• Support Safer Ground-Level Work: Use kneepads, reversible kneelers with handrails, or rolling stools to reduce joint pressure. These help gardeners who need additional support or prefer to work close to the ground. 
• Offer Carrying Devices: Belts, aprons, baskets, carts, and two-wheeled wheelbarrows make it easier to transport tools and supplies. Choose options based on strength, balance, and mobility needs. Some carts can also serve as resting stools. 
• Create Accessible Storage Systems: Store tools near raised beds on accessible paths. Use hooks, floor-level barrels, or attached pouches instead of high shelves. Ensure storage sheds have accessible handles, accessible locks, and clear signage.

Tips for Increasing Accessibility: Watering 

Accessible watering solutions are essential for inclusive gardening.

By offering multiple options, gardens can reduce physical strain and ensure that all community members can care for plants with ease and confidence. 

• Offer a Range of Watering Tools: Use lightweight hoses, ergonomic watering cans, and long-handled or wheelchair-adapted tools. Provide small containers and flexible systems for gardeners who prefer not to use hoses. 
• Explore Irrigation Options: Automated drip systems, soaker hoses, ollas, ceramic spikes, and plastic bottle irrigation can reduce manual effort. Choose systems based on available resources, maintenance needs, and gardener input. 
• Ensure Accessible Water Access: Use lever-style spigots at 2–3 feet high. Clearly mark taps with bright colors or textured mats. Place water sources within 20 feet of plots and close to raised beds to reduce carrying distance. 
• Design Safe and Navigable Watering Areas: Raised watering stations, slip-resistant surfaces, and clear, accessible paths reduce fall risks and support independent use. 
• Support Container Gardeners: Use self-watering containers, watering wands, and moisture-retaining materials to reduce watering frequency and physical effort. 
• Use Community-Centered Strategies: Offer watering guides with visuals, send alerts or reminders, and create buddy systems to share watering responsibilities and promote inclusion.