WindSwell Foundation

10/06/2026

One of our guiding principles states that ADA standards are the law and the minimum. Exceeding through the principles of universal design is desirable. The recent Arts United Center renovation did just that. A building built in 1973, 17 years before the ADA was even enacted, it would have been easy to only renovate to ADA standards. However, Arts United took on the challenge to make sure that the facility was inclusive for not only those attending events, but also the people working behind the scenes.

This short documentary gives insight into how decisions were made and how the elements of universal design impact everyone who enters the building.

Watch:

Community tends to form around need; a great example is the Arts Un...

10/02/2026

We’ve made it through our first quarter in the 2027 fiscal year, awarding $1,152,930 in grants to 31 non-profit organizations across northeast Indiana through our traditional and Mighty Money grants. These organizations work hard to serve people with disabilities and include them in our communities. Learn more about those organizations and their funded programs/projects at https://tr.ee/PrRxIs.

Image description: Graphic showing the WindSwell Foundation logo and the text: "$1,152,930 Awarded."

09/30/2026

We are excited for Art This Way Fest this weekend! This free event has prioritized disability inclusion with features such as ASL interpreters (DeafLink), My Autism Ally sensory tent, and a silent disco.

The community can enjoy live music by local artists and national headliners The Strumbellas and Tank and the Bangas, muralists, local food vendors, art fair, and so much more.

Art This Way Fest is Friday (10/2; 5pm – 11pm) and Saturday (10/3; 10am – 11pm) on the Broadway Corridor between Electric Works and Jefferson Blvd.

Learn more: https://www.artthiswayfest.com/visit

If you need ASL interpreters, it is recommended that you register ahead of time: https://form.jotform.com/262384529805061

ID: Graphic promoting Art This Way Fest on October 2 and 3, 2026. On a pale green background, a colorful illustrated fox stands beside the Art This Way logo and an arrow pointing right. Large outlined text reads “FEST,” with the event dates and artthiswayfest.com below.

09/10/2026

We are proud of our community and the collaborative efforts working to make Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana an inclusive place for residents visitors.

A new way to navigate FWA has officially landed! ✈️

Today, we are excited to celebrate the launch of GoodMaps at Fort Wayne International Airport and the Grand Wayne Convention Center! GoodMaps provides innovative indoor navigation technology designed to make getting where you need to go easier, more accessible, and create a more independent travel experience.

GoodMaps provides real-time, spoken turn-by-turn indoor directions right from your phone, with accessibility at the heart of the experience to support those who are blind or have vision impairments. Even better? This is a community effort! Both FWA and the Grand Wayne Convention Center were able to implement this technology through the support of the WindSwell Foundation!

“We are thrilled to bring GoodMaps to the Fort Wayne community along with the Grand Wayne Convention Center,” said Scott Hinderman, Chief Executive Officer of the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority. “Fort Wayne International Airport is committed to providing an accessible travel experience for all passengers, as shown throughout our recently completed terminal expansion project. GoodMaps is another way we can give passengers confidence and independence throughout their journey, while continuing to make FWA an accessible and inclusive front door to Northeast Indiana.”

Passengers can access GoodMaps through the GoodMaps mobile app, or on the FWA website.

Learn more ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/2n3tck6t

09/09/2026

It’s official! Mandy has been working hard to obtain her ADA Coordinator Certification and her certificate arrived this week from the Great Plains ADA Center at the University of Missouri. The knowledge she gained will help us in supporting our mission and collaborating with others in the community to ensure our region continues to become more inclusive.

Congratulations, Mandy!

Image description: Photo of Mandy holding her certificate in front of her and smiling.

08/31/2026

Homeowners with disabilities in Fort Wayne, if you have some accessibility improvements needed in your home, check out this program.

Helping residents live safely and independently at home.

The City of Fort Wayne is accepting applications for the 2026 Accessibility Modifications Program.

The program preserves existing housing by providing financial assistance to eligible homeowners with individuals who have a permanent disability to make necessary accessibility improvements.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4ccJXd8

08/18/2026

Join our team!

WindSwell Foundation is hiring a Communications & Events Coordinator.

We’re looking for a creative, detail-oriented professional to help tell WindSwell’s story and bring inclusive, accessible events to life. This role will manage social media and digital communications, create accessible marketing materials, and coordinate community events including the Disabilities Expo.

If you have experience in communications, marketing or event planning and are passionate about disability inclusion, we’d love to hear from you.

Learn more: https://tr.ee/I69hQq

To apply, send a resume and cover letter to Patti Hays, CEO, at [email protected].

Image description: Photo of the WindSwell Foundation mascot, Dart, a lime green plastic dog, with some WindSwell Foundation event and branding materials displayed on a desk.

08/07/2026

This week we joined Fort Wayne Urban League and Alliance Health for the opening of their new clinic. This partnership will fill a gap for children and families in providing access to early identification of developmental delays. Early detection leads to timely intervention which ensures better outcomes for the child’s future.

We are proud to support this collaboration and look forward to witnessing the benefits this will have on our community.

Image description: Photo of six women representing the involved organizations standing outdoors in front of a brick building, smiling while holding a long green ribbon during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

08/04/2026

Congratulations to Fort Wayne Lawn Bowls Club on their grand opening. We had a blast on Saturday for the ribbon cutting, seeing everything in action. Even Hilda had some fun! Fort Wayne Lawn Bowls provides a new, accessible activity to our community. Get out there and try something new!

Learn more at: fortwaynelawnbowls.com

Image descriptions:

Image 1: Photo of a person cutting a red ribbon during the grand opening of the Fort Wayne Lawn Bowls Club. A large green banner behind them reads "Fort Wayne Lawn Bowls Club" with the slogan "Let's Roll!" and includes references to the adjacent croquet club.

Image 2: Photo of Hilda, a yellow Labrador retriever, sitting on a sidewalk at the edge of a lawn bowling green, looking toward the camera with a relaxed, happy expression. Several people are playing lawn bowls in the background, with bowls scattered across the neatly trimmed green.

Image 3: Photo of a wheelchair user rolling a lawn bowl down the green during a game. The black bowl is traveling toward other bowls farther down the lane while several players watch and continue play in the background.

07/24/2026

This week Mandy attended the National ADA Symposium in Phoenix and even ran into our friend Tina Acosta from Turnstone! She came back fired up with new knowledge and an enthusiasm to make Northeast Indiana even more inclusive for people with disabilities. We can’t wait to utilize what she’s learned.

Image description: Photo of Mandy Drakeford, left, and Tina Acosta, right, standing together and smiling at the National ADA Symposium. Behind them, a large orange screen displays the National ADA Symposium logo. Both are wearing conference name badges.