1,000 Texans Trapped in Homes Freed by Texas Ramp Project Volunteers

DALLAS, March 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the past four years 1,000 Texans with limited mobility have received safe, independent exit and entry to their homes with wheelchair ramps provided free of charge by The Texas Ramp Project.

"The Texas Ramp Project built a beautiful, wonderful ramp for me, which gives me the freedom to come and go," said one ramp recipient. "And I do go! The organization has kept me from going insane inside my house."

The caseworker of a 12-year-old foster child recipient has also noticed improvement in the youth's quality of life. "For a child his age, to have more independence and mobility is phenomenal," said the caseworker. "It's done a lot for his self-esteem. He doesn't have to worry anymore, and his foster parents know that he's safe."

The Texas Ramp Project was founded in 2006 by John Laine of Dallas. After 20 years of volunteer ramp-building experience for Dallas County residents, Laine set out to provide the same service statewide.

"Thousands of Texas residents are imprisoned in their own homes by something as simple as one or two steps, or even a high threshold between them and the world outside," said Laine. "As our elderly population grows so will the need for wheelchair ramps to provide independent access. Giving one person the freedom to come and go on their own can save up to $60,000 in nursing home care each year."

Beginning with local ramp projects in Austin and North Central Texas in 2006, The Texas Ramp Project has grown to 16 projects around the state, from El Paso and Texarkana to Houston and Amarillo.

Three key components to each local project are referrals, materials and volunteers. Referrals come from social workers, doctors, physical therapists, churches and others who identify the need for a ramp. Materials, including lumber, plywood, and hardware, are sometimes donated but are usually purchased with funds from charitable foundations, churches and individuals. Volunteers from service clubs, churches, local businesses and other organizations provide the labor and tools to construct the ramps. To date, The Texas Ramp Project has provided over 13,000 hours of volunteer labor, and the value of donated labor and material is approaching $1 million.

Even at that level of support, The Texas Ramp Project was only able to build ramps for about a third of the prospective recipients for whom it has received referrals in the past year and a half.  

"We have come a long way in four years thanks to the dedication and hard work of our volunteers and the generosity of our supporters," said Laine. "But there are still far too many of our fellow Texans waiting for someone to help them regain their independence."

For more information or to volunteer or make a contribution, please visit http://www.texasramps.org.

About The Texas Ramp Project

In 1985, the Kiwanis Club of Richardson, TX began building access ramps for residents of the Dallas area. In the years since, this effort has grown into The Texas Ramp Project, with thousands of ramps built by a network of volunteers across the state. Our volunteers say it's the most satisfying work they have ever done; liberating people imprisoned in their homes, unable to get out because of the steps that most take for granted. The Texas Ramp Project works with local cities, social-services organizations, and hospitals to identify clients who need a ramp. For more information about The Texas Ramp Project, visit http://www.texasramps.org.

SOURCE The Texas Ramp Project