Tennessee State Parks hires first-ever accessibility coordinator

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Tennessee State Parks officials announced Tuesday that Ryan Jolley would take on the role of the first-ever accessibility coordinator.

The job will including advising, training and working towards projects increasing access to Tennessee’s outdoors. Jolley himself, a self-proclaimed outdoors enthusiast, was diagnosed with a rare condition at 10 that’s left him legally blind.

“I’ve always been in love with the outdoors and nature and through my work experience in the disability community I found myself really wanting to assist the state parks in becoming the most accessible state park system in the nation,” Jolley said.

Jolley previously worked with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, focusing on workplace accommodations for people with disabilities.

“We are very glad Ryan is joining the team. Tennessee State Parks teammates are making our parks more welcoming and inviting, and that progress will continue as we learn from Ryan and others who personally face access challenges,” said Greer Tidwell, deputy commissioner of TDEC for the Bureau of Conservation. “We recognize that in order for Tennessee to lead the nation in making the outdoors accessible, we all need to humbly learn from those who experience the outdoors with various abilities.”

Jolley’s appointment was joined by another announcement saying the park system had implemented new all-terrain wheelchairs at eight parks.