Who We Are
Team Access is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) helping people with disabilities participate in athletics, recreation, and community events.
Team Access was founded on a simple realization: the challenge of participation is rarely a lack of ability—it’s a lack of access. After years of working alongside adaptive athletes and individuals with disabilities, we saw firsthand that many people wanted to participate in sports, recreation, and community events but faced barriers that made participation difficult. Whether it’s event design, accessibility planning, equipment logistics, or on-site support, small obstacles can prevent people from taking part.
Our Mission
Team Access removes financial, logistical, and physical barriers so people with disabilities can participate fully in sports, recreation, technology, and community events with dignity, independence, and belonging.
Vision Statement
A world where every community experience is accessible, welcoming, and inclusive by design.
Our Journey: From Product Research to Community Impact
2020 | It Started with a Question
How can we better understand the needs of wheelchair users? Team Access began as a marketing research effort for Ascension, a Tucson-based wheelchair lift manufacturer. That question led us to Southern Arizona Adaptive Sports (SAAS) and introduced us to a community whose accessibility challenges extended beyond mobility equipment.
2021–2022 | Learning Through Participation
Working alongside SAAS athletes at El Tour de Tucson, we saw firsthand that participation often depends on more than equipment. Registration, parking, logistics, and event support all play a role in accessibility.
2023 | A Defining Realization
We learned that adaptive athletes didn’t want separate events—they wanted access to existing ones. As participation grew, our focus expanded from sponsorship to improving the overall event experience.
2024 | Access Grows Through Partnership
With nearly 100 adaptive riders participating in El Tour de Tucson, it became clear that meaningful access requires collaboration. Together with community organizations, local businesses, and volunteers, we created Access Alley and expanded support for adaptive athletes throughout the event.
2025 | Team Access Is Born
After years of learning, listening, and building partnerships, Team Access was established as a nonprofit organization. Our mission became clear: help communities identify barriers and create practical solutions that make participation possible.
That same year, partnerships expanded beyond athletics through collaboration with AXIS Dance Company, reinforcing the idea that access matters wherever people gather.
2026 | Sharing What We’ve Learned
Today, Team Access continues to support participation in sports, recreation, the arts, and community events. In 2026, we will share our experiences and lessons learned at the National ADA Symposium and the Bicycle Industry Summit.
Looking Ahead
Our story is still being written, but as Team Access continues to grow, our focus remains the same: working alongside participants, organizers, and community partners to help make participation possible.
By the Numbers:
- 153 adaptive athletes and community riders supported in 2025
- 67% first-time participants
- Nearly $87,000 raised to remove barriers to participation
- 80 volunteers mobilized through community partnerships
- Multiple accessibility improvements implemented at El Tour de Tucson, including Access Alley, adaptive parking, and accessible facilities
Meet the Team
Paul Davis
Amber Russell
Tom Christie
What started as a question, became a commitment.
A commitment to learning from mistakes, listening to needs, and working with others to make participation possible. If that mission resonates with you, we invite you to join our journey.