Dozens of Department of Natural Resources staffers were able to familiarize themselves in the latest hunting and shooting equipment that has been adapted for people with disabilities at Hands On Day, an event recently coordinated by the agency's Accessibility Advisory Council and its Accessibility Team (A Team) at Island Lake Recreation Area.

"Getting people outdoors is our business," said DNR Director Becky Humphries. "We've got to make sure that everybody has the opportunity to get outdoors and they know what's available to help them enjoy it."

A number of devices -- ranging from electronic sighting equipment for the vision impaired to wheel-chair mounts for firearms - were displayed and demonstrated by manufacturers and handicappers. DNR personnel were able to field test the devices at Island Lake's shooting range.

"When I came to the commission in 1994, I was asked by a reporter what I wanted to accomplish," said Natural Resources Commission Chairman Keith Charters. "One of the two things I said was I wanted to make the outdoor recreation opportunity in the state of Michigan as available to everyone as it was to me. I think an event like this is a giant step in that direction."

The afternoon-long event was taped by "Disabilities Today," a Public Broadcasting Service television program. Show host Roger McCarville said, "Hopefully, every state in the union will have a day like today."

Hands On Day was a "dry run" for a DNR public outreach program, said Jerry Harris, DNR Human Resources director and a member of the A Team. "This was basically archery and shooting, but we will hopefully expand this to a whole host of outdoor activities," he said.

Harris said he anticipates holding Hands On Day for the public across the state several times a year in the future.