Supporting Inclusion and Accessibility: dormakaba’s Sponsorship of WheelRIISE 2023

Recently, 美国普渡大学 's Holloway Gymnasium was filled with the sound of cheers and the excitement of athletes competing in wheelchair basketball games. As a company, dormakaba is committed to accessibility and seamless access in every place that matters, and we were proud to sponsor this event in support of these incredible athletes.?

WheelRIISE was organized by RIISE Purdue , a club focused on disability inclusion in sports. Their dedication to creating opportunities for all athletes to participate in sports is inspiring. ?

The Men’s Illinois Wheelchair Basketball Team and the Women’s Illinois Wheelchair Basketball Team competed and showcased the amazing skills they have developed. A local team, the Lafayette Spinners – coached by the president of RIISE Purdue, Kaylee Meyer - showed off their talents against the Illinois teams. After the pre-planned games, members of the crowd were invited to participate and learn some of the skills demonstrated by the athletes.?

"This event is about having fun and being a part of something bigger than yourself," said a participant from the Illinois Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team. Initiatives like this event allow dormakaba to aid in something bigger – creating inclusive communities where everyone feels welcomed and valued. Seamless access is necessary for people of all abilities and backgrounds, and everyone should be able to live and work in an environment that is safe, secure, and accessible.?

?“It makes me really proud to work at a company that supports these sorts of things,” said Ryan Woebkenberg (right), a dormakaba engineer and volunteer who attended “It was an awesome event, and I was happy to help out in any way.”??

Morgan R. (left), a Marketing Co-Op at dormakaba, a member of RIISE Purdue, and a graduating senior, agrees. “I shared my passion for disability inclusion and the role of this club with my leadership, and they stepped up to support this event because it aligns with dormakaba’s values of seamless access and inclusivity,” she said. “I couldn’t be happier to work at a company that reaches out to aid those in our communities who may need it most and work for employers who listen to the passions of their employees.”?

Special thanks to RIISE Purdue, Purdue University, every player and participant in WheelRIISE, the organizers of this event, and our dormakaba volunteers ( Jason Clifford , Anne Hainline , Thorsten Huemmeler , Morgan R. , Ryan Woebkenberg ) for making it possible. To learn more about WheelRIISE and RIISE Purdue, visit their website here: https://engineering.purdue.edu/RIISE/?