Access is justice

In this episode, we focus on accessibility in the Great Lakes region. We hear powerful stories from people making a difference and we hear the bittersweet stories of people experiencing their first “kayak experience” – when water gives them a special sense of freedom.

First, we hear from the founder and executive director of the Ability Center, Damian Buchman. He shares his experience as a Temporarily Able-Bodied person and how this led him to starting his own company. Damian tells us about his efforts to turn Milwaukee’s Bradford Beach into the country’s most accessible beach.

But we were also curious about accessibility at the rest of Wisconsin’s Great Lakes beaches. We spoke to Courtney Gunville about her work as a Wisconsin Sea Grant Intern in 2021, where she used GIS to examine ADA accessibility at Coastal Access Sites in Wisconsin. Sea Grant’s Natalie Chin, who worked alongside Courtney, emphasizes that accessibility benefits everybody.

Lastly, we hear from the founder of Pine Forest Lodge, John Stratte. He tells us about his story of becoming paralyzed from the waist down at the age of 22, and how that has led him to his current work. We hear some of his stories and experiences since starting his accessible northwoods retreat.