Ray Bloomer


Accessibility Specialist
WASO, Accessibility Support Program, National Park Service

Biography


Ray has been with the National Park Service for 46 years, beginning in 1976, Independence NHP and as the Accessibility Program Manager at Boston NHP (1977-81). Ray was the Accessibility Program Manager, North Atlantic Region (1981-92). He also served as Chief Ranger/ chief of Interpretation at Sagamore Hill NHS, (1987-92). Ray became an Accessibility Specialist with the Accessibility Management Program, WASO, immediately duty stationed at the National Center on Accessibility. At NCA, Ray was the Director of Education and Technical Assistance, (1992-2020). his expertise addresses both physical and programmatic accessibility.

He was the accessibility consulted at the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island restoration project, White House Visitor Center and most recently the newly reopened museum at the Gateway Arch National Park. Ray served on the U. S. Access Board’s Federal Regulatory Negotiation Committee on Outdoor Developed Areas. He was the subject matter expert for the US Department of Justice’s precedence setting settlement agreement with the International Spy Museum.

In 2013, Ray served on the NPS Accessibility Task Force. He also co-authored the National Park Service service animal policy for visitors in National Park units. In 2018, he was a founding member of the NPS Employee Resource Group(ERG), Employees for the Advancement of people with Disabilities and currently serves as a board member.