Help Us Write Our Story By Sharing Yours

Dear AAW Family,

We’d like to request that if hosts, organizations, or individuals would like to be highlighted on our Facebook and Instagram pages, future announcements, or newsletters, to please reach out to us with your story: Who are you? How has AAW helped you? How have you helped AAW? Please write to stories@accessabilitywi.org, and let others know! 

As we approach approximately a year since COVID-19 has impacted our communities, many of us are reflecting on what’s really important in our lives, such as our sense of place and community. During this time period we saw many people share their experiences on various social media sites, and we feel your stories describing your experiences using the outdoor wheelchair on social media and other media platforms will help others recognize that there are new ways to appreciate each other and our rich landscapes we call home. 

We continue to overcome adversity in all its forms. We continue to be stewards, travelers, and members of our parks, lakes, and woods. We are Access Ability Wisconsin, and since 2017, we continue to build and tell our stories. Your story is important to us because it’s our story, and we would like to help share your story with others.

Best,

Treasa Bane on behalf of the AAW Stories Team

Photo by Oliver Nepper in Ozaukee County by AAW Host - Riveredge Nature Center

Message from the Board

Hi All, 

Just thought you might like to know what AAW has been up to.  This past year, even with the COVID-19 we made some significant progress. We didn't have as many users of the Outdoor Wheelchairs yet those we served were eternally grateful to be able to get out into Wisconsin's outdoors just to go down a trail and/or to hunt.

Due to donations and grants we now have 20 outdoor wheelchairs in our fleet and have added two new hosts. AAW is now serving 12 counties throughout Wisconsin. Thank you to our volunteers, donors and grantors.  

We made great in-roads by working with Mark LaBarbera and Dan Small to get the word out about AAW and the need for more host locations via the TV show - “2020 Deer Hunt Wisconsin” which was broadcast in the neighboring midwest states.

The Wisconsin DNR published a great article about us in the December issue of Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine - https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/wnrmag/2020/Winter

Plus, we joined forces with the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin by setting up an Endowment Fund for "Outdoors Access 4 All! Fund" - please go to: https://www.wisconservation.org/ways-to-give/current-endowment-funds-list/ for more information.  Setting up an endowment fund has been a goal of ours since we started.

Respectfully,

Your AAW Board Members: Monica Spaeni, Ray Anderson, Steve Spaeni, Gary Stott, John Kilian, and Ron French

William Felton - Liane Felton’s memorial donation in honor of her husband: in memory of William "Bill" Felton, an incredible Husband, Dad, Grandpa, Brother and Uncle

Rudy Metsch - Memorial donation

Theresa Fischler - Memorial donation

Send us your Feedback!

As much as AAW helps you be more cost effective, efficient, and safe, we could always do better. What could still be improved? What circumstances, related to COVID-19 or not, are holding individuals back from exploring Wisconsin the AAW way? Do you have an idea for a host location we might add? We take your feedback seriously and make changes to our workflows and help us serve everyone better.