The dream of providing a wheelchair ramp to every Texan who needs one is spreading to East Texas.
John Laine, executive director of the Texas Ramp Project, said the organization had its roots more than 20 years ago in Dallas.
|
Les Hassell/News-Journal Photo
John Laine, left, Elo Zinke and Bill Slegeir with the Texas Ramp Project lift a wheelchair ramp section from the worktable Tuesday near Henderson. An average wheelchair ramp takes about three to five hours to build with four to six people working on it.
|
"This is a project to allow people to continue to live independently," he said. Volunteers, donations and support have allowed the program to grow.
"More than 2,000 ramps have been provided in Dallas and Collin counties in the last 20 years," Laine said this week. He was in Longview seeking support from churches, civic groups, colleges and other organizations that could help provide team leaders, volunteer workers and contributions.
Among the first to respond to the call for action in Longview have been several members of First Lutheran Church, Laine said. Bill Slegeir of Longview is one of those volunteers.
"I've been involved as a volunteer with Meals on Wheels for a number of years and noticed a lot of need out in the community," Slegeir said. "There is really a dire need and it's been as close as our own congregation."
Slegeir said a woman member of the church had a ramp at her home that was falling apart.
"That means she was basically homebound because she couldn't get out," Slegeir said. One of the people to whom he delivered meals had a ramp built but it was at a 45-degree angle "and was so steep it was dangerous when it was wet out."
Laine said the project is coordinating efforts through the East Texas Area Agency on Aging and taking referrals for those in need of wheelchair ramps from health care providers.
"I've been talking with people at local hospitals, rehab centers and others who might come in contact with people who have a need for a ramp," Laine said. The project only accepts requests for ramps from third parties such as clinics and doctors rather than from individuals making requests on their own behalf.
"After we get a referral we go out to survey the site, discuss safety issues, assign a team leader and pull together volunteers," Laine said. The average ramp takes between three hours and five hours to build with a team of between four people to six people.
All materials are provided as are the necessary tools. Laine said The Texas Ramp Project hopes to serve more than 12 East Texas counties with base operations in both Longview and Tyler.
"The need is very significant and will increase as our population ages," he said. Laine said from an economic standpoint, the project makes sense.
If a person without insurance goes into a nursing home because they cannot care for themselves at their home the average cost per year is somewhere between $28,000 and $65,000.
"If you can keep them at home where they'd rather be by installing a $400 ramp, it makes lots of sense."
Statewide, Laine said the project receives some funding from the Simmons and Hillcrest Foundations. He will be seeking East Texas funding sources to help expand the program in the region.
"Right now we don't have the capacity to handle all the referrals we're getting," Laine said. He is also looking for companies whose employees might want to construct ramps as a community outreach project.
"In Dallas General Electric does 36 ramps a year with volunteers from their ranks," Laine said. "It's a great team building exercise and a way for people to get to work together to help others who need help."
* * *
At a glance
What: The Texas Ramp Project
Why: To install functional, safe wheelchair ramps for people in need to free them from being homebound.
Where: The Texas Ramp Project got its start about 20 years ago in the Dallas area. It is now serving much of Texas.
Information: Visit www.texasramps.org, e-mail questions to info@TexasRamps.org or call (972) 235-7309