Our Team
Amanda Steijlen
Amanda is the heart and soul behind Wheely Big Dreams Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to providing adaptive equipment to physically disabled individuals in need. Born from personal experience, this organization addresses a critical gap in our healthcare system where insurance often falls short in covering essential medical equipment. Amanda works tirelessly to provide life-changing equipment including power assists, wheelchair vehicles, custom wheelchairs, and adjustable beds to those who need them most. Her vision is simple yet powerful: mobility and independence shouldn't be luxury items.
Amanda's path to founding Wheely Big Dreams began with her own "tip-toe princess walk" - a walking pattern that at age 12 was diagnosed as limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A. This progressive disorder, caused by a mutation in the Calpain-3 gene, leads to muscle degradation over time. Though she began using a wheelchair in 2014 and no longer has the ability to stand or walk, this transition brought unexpected liberation. "Using a wheelchair wasn't something I was excited about doing," Amanda shares, "but when I started to, I was so happy, I had more energy, and I felt like I got my life back.”
Amanda brings a unique perspective to her role as a mental health counselor, combining professional expertise with lived experience. Having earned her Master's in Rehabilitation & Mental Health Counseling from USF in 2024, she approaches therapy with genuine empathy and understanding that can only come from navigating life's challenges firsthand. She believes in creating a safe, judgment-free space where individuals can explore their mental health concerns while developing practical coping strategies. Through her counseling work, Amanda embodies the same mission that drives Wheely Big Dreams: empowering others to live their fullest lives despite obstacles they may face.
Founder & Board Chair
Ann-Marie Willacker
Ann-Marie is a native Floridian and full-time wheelchair user due to an Acquired Connective Tissue Disorder. A passionate advocate for community engagement, she works at Stetson University’s Center for Civic and Community Engagement, managing non-profit partnerships to create impactful collaborations between students and local organizations.
As the President of Volusia Pride and Operations Director for the Volusia Pride Community Space, Ann-Marie is dedicated to fostering inclusivity, advocacy, and support for the LGBTQ+ community in Volusia County. She plays a key role in expanding resources, hosting events, and developing programs that empower individuals and promote equality.
Beyond her community work, Ann-Marie is a Certified Wellness Coach and Adaptive Trainer, specializing in making fitness and wellness accessible to all. As a 2024 CrossFit Games Athlete, she continues to push the limits of adaptive sports, now focusing on hybrid endurance racing. Her journey of resilience and transformation—losing over 125 pounds, regaining independence, and reinventing herself after illness—fuels her mission to inspire others to break barriers and redefine their potential.
Programs and Grants Lead
Katie Machado
Community Engagement & Volunteer Director
Katie is a Southern California native, living with her two favorite guys- her husband, Ben, and dog, Bodie. She works in higher education, holding a B.A. in Human Communication Studies and an M.A. in Postsecondary Educational Leadership. Passionate about making a difference in her field, she dedicates herself to supporting students in their growth and development.
Outside of her career, Katie enjoys living life to its fullest by spending time with loved ones, reading a good book with a strong female lead, and enjoying reality tv. One of Katie's love languages is feeding those she loves, so she often experiments in the kitchen, creating delicious meals that reflect her creativity and joy. Her adventurous spirit also drives her passion for travel,which has brought her to places such as France, Australia, and Costa Rica.
An important part of her identity is her disability, having sustained a spinal cord injury in 2006 from a horseback riding accident. Although living with a disability comes with its own set of challenges, she chooses to focus on the positives: opportunities, relationships, and avenues for advocacy that are unique to living life with a disability.
Sarah Foster
Sarah brings over a decade of experience in communication, design, and advocacy to the Wheely Big Dreams team. As a speech coach and marketing strategist, she understands the power of storytelling and uses it to drive impact, connect communities, and amplify underrepresented voices.
Living with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Sarah is passionate about accessibility and inclusion, ensuring that Wheely Big Dreams fosters real opportunities for disabled individuals. As a mom of two, she’s especially driven to create a world where all kids—regardless of ability—can thrive. An avid reader, she believes in the power of stories to inspire change and challenge perspectives. Based in Portland, Oregon, she blends creativity and strategy to push boundaries and create meaningful change.
Fundraising & Development Director
Maci Barbour
Maci is a disabled advocate for her community, specifically those with gastroparesis and mobility aid users. With a degree in psychology, Maci focuses her energy on helping others accept their chronic illnesses and their ever-changing bodies. She currently serves on her town’s Disability Advisory Board to connect the needs of her aging and disabled community with the resources available from the city council.
Her hope in joining the board of Wheely Big Dreams is to expand communication with potential sponsors and engage with individuals in need online. Maci is an ambulatory wheelchair user living in East Tennessee, where she lives with her husband, two dogs, and a cat.
Partnerships and Events Coordinator
Shandra Trantham
Shandra is a young adult rare disease and disability advocate with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA). She is a graduate of the University of Florida, where she obtained her PhD developing a gene therapy treatment for an ultra-rare neurological disorder. Shandra is passionate about improving the lives of those with disabilities, whether it is through scientific research or the power of advocacy. She believes that the mission of Wheely Big Dreams deeply aligns with her passions and loves being part of such an important organization.
Operations and Compliance Coordinator
Hailey White
Marketing and Communications Co-Director
Hailey is 25 years old and currently lives in Northern Virginia, just outside Washington, DC. She works as a Development Project Coordinator for a nonprofit, where she manages a scholarship program that provides financial aid to children of veterans pursuing higher education. She is also a small business owner and graphic designer. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, doing puzzles, and watching movies.