Credit: Amber Baesler/High Country News

ANNA KERR (SHER/HER)
Teton Adaptive program manager, ShelterJH board secretary and GAP (Girls Actively Participating) program lead
Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Disability is the one marginalized identity that anyone at any point can join. Many people, at some point in their lives, will be disabled if they live long enough. Why not look out for our future selves by making things more accessible now? Everyone deserves to have a good quality of life, access to nature and housing — everyone. An entire community’s quality of life improves when everyone can participate and be housed. And this also has a big impact on climate: When people are housed locally and closer to their work and favorite third spaces, they’re going to be driving less and walking and biking more. They’re gonna have a greater appreciation for their community and be visiting different businesses, things like that. Other mountain towns are already implementing things that would also help us, things like vacancy taxes for homes that just sit empty. We have so many in Teton County — then some of that money can go back into communities.

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This article appeared in the September 2026 print edition of the magazine with the headline “#IAMTHEWEST.”

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