The life of Accessible Space, Inc. is intertwined with the passion and vision of its leaders, volunteers, and residents. ASI was born out of the commitment of Stephen Wiggins and Charles Berg who outlined the concept for accessible, affordable homes with supportive living services in a college thesis paper. They then searched for funding to develop barrier-free houses for individuals with mobility impairments. In 1978, Accessible Space, Inc. was incorporated as a Minnesota nonprofit organization and, two years later, five homes were opened to consumers.

Today, ASI is led with passion by its Board of Directors, President/CEO Stephen Vander Schaaf, and staff—many of whom have been with the organization for decades. Their enthusiasm for this important work remains strong. Fulfilling our mission requires patience with paperwork, an ability to work with local communities and governments, openness to the concerns and suggestions of consumers and their families and a talent for working with big picture vision down to the minute details of construction. ASI continues to dramatically increase consumer opportunities across the country.

In 1980, ASI was a fledging nonprofit organization. Today, ASI has an annual budget of over $35 million, serves 2,803 consumers, employs 550 people and manages 106 properties in 18 states. We have built 133 apartment buildings and cooperative living homes in 28 states.

The economic recession of the last few years created significant barriers for ASI, but we continued to seek construction efficiencies and new partnerships. Recently, ASI developed Coronado Drive Apartments in Henderson, Nevada—the largest, most impressive property we’ve ever been privileged to build. We opened another accessible, affordable apartment building with assisted living services in Rochester, Minnesota, specifically for seniors. We took on a more active role with a 24-unit accessible, affordable building in Waipahu, Hawaii. Through all the challenges and new growth, we continued to provide our 24/7/365 assisted living services to very low-income adults with physical disabilities and/or brain injuries, as well as to very-low income seniors.

We are proud that after 30 years, the organization remains true to its mission and to the people we serve.

Born with Spina Bifida and an independent spirit, Tracey White was excited to get an apartment and care for herself as a young adult. But after the move, challenges and serious health issues resulted in a long hospitalization.

She didn’t want to live with her parents again, but being alone in an apartment was not ideal, either. Then Tracey’s family heard about Accessible Space Inc. (ASI), which offered affordable, accessible apartments with supportive living services. Once settled into her ASI apartment, Tracey loved the freedom!

“I can go where I want and I can do what I want,” she says. She spends time with her boyfriend and participates in extra curricular activities—special dinners, parties and outings. She appreciates the staff’s emphasis on helping residents get out into the community, whether through work, volunteering or other activities. She has plans to resume her undergraduate studies.

With ASI’s 24-hour supportive service Tracey gets assistance she needs while always keeping her dignity and independence.

For almost 25 years, Ida Williams lived happily at Neill Apartments in St. Paul, Minnesota. But after suffering a stroke, she needed assistance with meals, dressing and getting in and out of bed. Her son, Gary, was regretfully making plans for her to move to a nursing home when he learned that Accessible Space was providing 24-hour services to other residents at Neill. "ASI," he says, "came to the rescue."

That was a relief to me, she says.

On January 10, 2012, Ida celebrated her 100th birthday. Life is still full. Friends stop by to visit. She attends church faithfully and remains dedicated to the Minnesota Twins. But if she’s ever in need, assistance is minutes away. "All I’ve got to do is call the office, and they’ll run right down."

For her son, that means peace of mind, tremendous cost savings and gratitude for the community his mother enjoys in her home.

In 1952, at only nine-and-a-half years old, Kay Knutson contracted polio. The effects of the disease altered her life but not her determination to follow her dreams. She left her parents’ dairy farm in Owatonna, Minnesota and moved to Minneapolis. At Courage Center, she joined a small group of residents that helped ASI founders, Stephen Wiggins and Charles Berg, design a new organization called Accessible Space, Inc.

In 1980, Kay was one of the first residents in ASI’s five new accessible, affordable cooperative living homes. She built a career. Her social life flourished. She attended opera performances, Guthrie plays and sporting events.

For over two decades, Kay has served on ASI’s Board of Directors. ASI recently opened an accessible, affordable apartment building bearing her name in her hometown.

I came to the Twin Cities for more independence and a life," Kay says, "I could have lived in the same nursing home with my grandmother. But I’ve had a normal life."

On Thanksgiving Day, 1958, an automobile heading south from Texas collided with a bus. One young man in the car suffered a severe spinal cord injury that resulted in quadriplegia. It was the start of a long recovery for Maynard Bostrom and years in and out of hospitals and nursing homes.

Almost 20 years later, he-along with others with mobility impairments-provided insight that went into the development of a new organization called Accessible Space, Inc. In 1980 Maynard was the first resident to move into one of ASI’s new accessible, affordable, cooperative living homes. "We shared attendants under one big roof," he recalls. Everyone had a say in how the place was managed.

Today Maynard leads an active life volunteering, traveling and serving on ASI’s Board of Directors.

"I know I wouldn’t be around if I hadn’t gotten into a more independent living situation," Maynard says. "Your health improves. You’re normal, just in a wheelchair. Life is good."

"I love it," Zach Johnson says of his apartment at Garfield Commons* in Bloomington, Minnesota. Instead of worrying about hiring and firing his own personal care attendant, he has access to Accessible Space, Inc. (ASI) 24-hour supportive services.

Resident Assistant (RA) staff are always available-but only when needed. One evening Zach invited a date over to watch a movie. "Of course you don’t want your RA staff around when you have a date," says Zach, "but I needed help transferring to the couch. The RA came up and helped me move. Once I was settled, she left. When I wanted to get back into the chair, she came back."

Having control of his own schedule and his own life means everything. With services provided by ASI, Zach doesn’t have to adjust his life around the staff’s schedule. His time is his own.

* Managed by National Handicap Housing Institute, a nonprofit organization that ASI has worked closely with since the mid-1980s.

ASI’s Nevada Community Enrichment Program (NCEP) serves individuals who have survived a traumatic or acquired brain injury. Opened in 1992, NCEP offers an intensive and comprehensive day treatment program. NCEP provides a full range of therapy services, behavioral programming, neuropsychological counseling, life skills training, aquatic exercise therapy and individually designed support services. The aim of NCEP is to help people continue their rehabilitation as they progress toward more independence and maximum functional potential.

The residential program utilizes day treatment services and continues training, therapy and supervision for individuals who need 24-hour daily rehabilitation. Services focus on functional activities of daily living, community orientation, mobility, social and behavioral skills, recreation and leisure and employment seeking.