FishEnable manufactures adaptive reel-assisted fishing reels that help people with upper-extremity mobility limitations participate in fishing with greater independence. Many Disabled veterans, rehabilitation patients, stroke survivors, amputees, and people with limited hand or arm function are excluded from fishing because standard reels require repeated grip strength, wrist motion, and two-handed coordination.
This project will support FishEnable’s Community Access effort: getting adaptive fishing equipment into the hands of Disabled people through veterans’ programs, rehabilitation centers, adaptive recreation groups, and community fishing events. FishEnable reels use push-button assisted retrieval to reduce the physical barrier of reeling while still allowing the participant to cast, fight, and land fish as normally as possible.
The goal is not just to sell a product. The goal is to restore access to an outdoor recreational activity that provides independence, confidence, social connection, and therapeutic benefit. This grant would help FishEnable provide discounted or demonstration reels for programs serving Disabled participants, gather feedback from real users, and expand access to adaptive fishing in communities that otherwise may not be able to afford specialized equipment.

What our grantee is saying: Receiving this award is an incredible honor. Fishing creates lasting memories, like taking my five-year-old grandson on his first fishing trip, and I believe everyone should have the opportunity to experience those moments. Thank you to Awesome Disability for helping FishEnable make fishing more accessible.