For more than ten years, I have had the pleasure to work with the Shepherd Center, Atlanta’s world renowned neurorehabilitation hospital, to provide birding classes and outings as part of the Health and Wellness program.

Not only does birding provide significant health benefits, it is also a uniquely accessible activity that can be enjoyed on many levels, no matter where you are or what your ability. Using your eyes and/or ears and paying close attention is all that is required. For Shepherd clients, many of whom have experienced traumatic brain or spinal injury, stroke, or other complex neurological conditions that impacts their mobility, birding can be therapeutic and affirming.

In addition to a webinar series for Shepherd clients each spring and fall, I lead accessible outings on the Atlanta Beltline and spring and fall birding clinics, which include a morning of birding followed by an educational talk and a lunch catered by Shepherd. More recently, I have started working regularly with SHARE , a military initiative that provides comprehensive rehabilitation for service members and veterans with brain injuries and PTSD.

In 2026, I am excited to join a partnership between Shepherd Center and Georgia Department of Natural Resources—Wildlife Resources Division (GA DNR) to offer six accessible wildlife viewing clinics at Georgia State Parks. During these clinics, clients will have the opportunity to use GA DNR’s All-Terrain Chairs and go birding on nature trails that are normally inaccessible to them.