High Desert Food & Farm Alliance announces Oct. 1-8 Accessibility Week

CENTRAL OREGON, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The High Desert Food & Farm Alliance announced its first Accessibility Week today, an initiative scheduled for Oct. 1-8, to highlight accessible agricultural and culinary experiences throughout Central Oregon.

The program aims to connect visitors and residents of all abilities with local farms, ranches, markets and food producers along the High Desert Food Trail.

The initiative is supported by funding from Visit Central Oregon's Future Fund and a U.S. Department of Agriculture Beginning Farmer and Rancher grant.

Through the grant funding, the alliance assessed 13 additional Central Oregon businesses to document physical accessibility features, seating options, path conditions and sensory considerations. The assessments provide detailed information to help travelers evaluate locations prior to arrival.

The local business assessments align with a broader statewide initiative led by Travel Oregon in partnership with Wheel the World, a global platform that provides verified accessibility data for travelers. Oregon became the first state to earn Wheel the World's Accessibility Verified designation after evaluating tourism businesses across all seven regions of the state.

Carol-Ann Nelson is the founder, executive director and physical therapist at Destination Rehab, a local organization that partnered with the alliance on the project.

“Oftentimes, having a neurologic diagnosis can lead to isolation, frustration and barriers to participating in everyday life,” Nelson said. “At Destination Rehab, we're always looking for ways to increase inclusion and build community. We're grateful to collaborate with HDFFA, an organization that recognizes the importance of connection through local farms, food and fellowship.”

Nelson added that the collaboration creates broader opportunities for participants. “We're especially excited to celebrate the culmination of this funding and the opportunity to make local, nutritious food more accessible to people with neurologic conditions during Accessibility Week,” Nelson said. “It's a great example of what can happen when our community comes together to create more inclusive opportunities for everyone.”

Accessibility Week includes four scheduled events across Central Oregon:

• Lazy Z Ranch Wines Paint & Sip on Oct. 1 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Sisters.

• DD Ranch Pumpkin Patch on Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Terrebonne, with discounts available for visitors who mention HDFFA.

• Olive Oil & Vinegar Tasting at Arome on Oct. 4 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Redmond.

• Let's Paint Your Pet at TEAL Tea & Art Lounge on Oct. 5 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Bend, offering a 10% discount with promo code HDFFA.

Accessibility Week will run from Oct. 1-8, 2026. The alliance plans to use the detailed assessment data to help local agriculture and hospitality businesses identify opportunities for physical and sensory accessibility improvements.