Advocates in Action: Shawn Faessler (SEBCM Wisconsin)

🦿 Shawn Faessler: A Story of Resilience, Mobility, and Advocacy in Wisconsin

Shawn Faessler of Hartland, Wisconsin, wears many hats — husband, father, family member, engineer, tuba player, scout leader, adventurer, and dedicated volunteer. He also wears many legs — different prosthetic legs for different activities.

In 2002, Shawn’s life changed when his left leg was severely injured. After carefully weighing his options, he made the difficult decision to undergo an amputation instead of pursuing limb salvage. It wasn’t a choice made lightly, but it offered him the best chance to be the father he wanted to be — present, active, and fully engaged in his children’s lives.

What truly enabled Shawn to return to living fully wasn’t just that decision, but access to the prosthetic care he needed afterward. With specialized prosthetic legs for walking, hiking, running, showering, water sports, and even scuba diving, Shawn has continued to live a rich, active life — one that challenges common misconceptions about life after amputation.

A Life Without Limits — Thanks to Prosthetic Access

Shawn has led numerous scouting campouts, taken his kids on an 8-mile overnight backpacking trip on the Ice Age Trail, danced with his daughter at recitals, marched with the UW Alumni Band at Camp Randall Stadium, earned his Advanced Open Water Diver certification, completed the Pewaukee Triathlon, finished all six races in the Winter Run Series, helped his parents on the family farm, sailed with his sons at Sea Base, and even gone mountaineering and kayaking in Antarctica — a trip captured in the film Project: Antarctica.

His passion for adventure, and for instilling that value in his children, has taken him to all four Boy Scouts of America High Adventure Bases: high-altitude backpacking at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, canoeing through the Boundary Waters and Quetico with Northern Tier, sailing in the Florida Keys and U.S. Virgin Islands through Sea Base, and exploring Summit in West Virginia. Through it all, his prosthetic legs have been vital tools — allowing him to lead, move, and live without limits.

The Hidden Costs of Mobility

But that mobility hasn’t come easy. Over the years, Shawn has had to rely on charity and pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for the prosthetic devices he needs — including a running blade, making a custom water leg with a coworker’s help, and even pulling components from scrap bins because insurance doesn’t cover feet for showering or bathing. These are not luxuries — they are necessities for daily living and full participation in life.

Despite having relatively good healthcare coverage, Shawn has faced constant bureaucratic and financial barriers. External prosthetics are often categorized as durable medical equipment (DME), which subjects them to an outdated system of delays, denials, and red tape. Meanwhile, other treatments that restore full mobility — such as ACL repairs and knee replacements — are routinely covered by insurance. Prosthetic care should be treated no differently. No one should have to jump through hoops, pay exorbitant out of pocket expenses, or rely on charity just to access the medical care that allow them to walk, work, and live.

From Patient to Advocate

Driven by these experiences, Shawn has become a passionate advocate for improving access to prosthetic care. He volunteers with several nonprofits in the limb-loss community and has spoken out at the local, state, national, and international levels. Now, he’s joined So Every BODY Can Move as the State Lead for Wisconsin, working with SEBCM Wisconsin to introduce legislation in 2026 that will raise the standard of care for people with limb loss and limb difference.

Shawn’s story is a powerful reminder that prosthetic care is not a luxury — it’s a medical necessity. Especially in an active, outdoor state like Wisconsin, no one should be denied the tools they need to live a full, independent life.

Join the Movement — SEBCM Wisconsin

If you have connections in Wisconsin — in healthcare, policymaking, community leadership, or beyond — who can support this effort, please reach out to Shawn directly. He welcomes partnership, collaboration, and support of all kinds.

📧 Email: 262cpv@gmail.com
📱 Mobile: 262-369-8220
🔗 Facebook: fb.me/antarctica4romp

Media Appearances:
🎥 Fox 6 Investigative Report – Wisconsin amputee drivers being singled out
🎬 Theatrical film: Project: Antarctica
🎙️ How’d It Happen Podcast – Living Life to the Fullest
📰 UW-Madison Daily Cardinal – Limbs Are Not a Luxury

Shawn continues to live out his value of “adventure,” whether it’s dancing the polka at Cheese Days, backpacking with his sons, playing tuba at Camp Randall, or scuba diving in remote waters. Through his leadership and advocacy, he’s working to ensure a future where every body can move — without financial barriers, bureaucratic delays, or insurance denials standing in the way.

Let’s make that future possible — together.