Texas Ramp Project: 40 years and 30,000 ramps

THE WOODLANDS, TX – The nonprofit Texas Ramp Project is celebrating 40 years of delivering free wheelchair ramps to over 30,000 recipients across the state. This major milestone in the nonprofit’s commitment to helping older adults and others with disabilities regain mobility was achieved thanks to more than 3,500 volunteers who have helped build ramps for those in need. If the ramps were laid end-to-end, they would exceed 158 miles — more than enough to travel from Austin to Houston or Dallas to College Station.

The Texas Ramp Project was incorporated in 2006 as an expansion of the Dallas Ramp Project, which began building ramps in 1985. The nonprofit has built ramps across the state to serve those in financial need. Last year local volunteers from churches, civic clubs and businesses built more than 2,700 ramps in 145 Texas counties, from large urban areas to small rural communities. The ramps follow ADA guidelines and are provided without regard to the recipient’s race, religion, age, gender or ethnicity.

Every single ramp is provided at no cost to clients and provides safety, independence and an improved quality of life for each recipient. Most ramps cost between $800 and $900 to build, which is about a third that of a typical contractor installation. The Texas Ramp Project keeps costs low thanks to a grassroots organization with only two full-time employees as well as donations, volunteer time and materials donated to the nonprofit.

"Generosity grows when shared, and it becomes the bridge that lifts others toward hope and independence,” says Keith Henderson, Texas Ramp Project president. “The generosity and commitment of the Texas Ramp Project’s volunteers, donors and sponsors across Texas make every wheelchair ramp another step toward freedom possible."

The Texas Ramp Project welcomes volunteers to join our local build teams. To sign up, visit www.texasramps.org/volunteer. No construction experience is necessary. All that’s needed is a pair of work gloves and willingness to help someone in need. Most ramps are completed in a single morning. When the volunteers head for home, they know they have transformed the life of a neighbor with just a few hours’ effort.

To make a donation or sponsor the Texas Ramp Project, visit www.texasramps.org. Nearly 90% of each dollar donated goes directly to building ramps.

Most of us take for granted the few steps at our front door. But for people who use a wheelchair or walker, those few steps can turn a home into a prison. More than 1.7 million Texans find themselves in this situation, the majority of them older adults. In fact, almost 23% of Texas residents 65 or older have a disability that limits their mobility. Many of these people are unable to afford safe access at their homes. They often remain isolated, have to wait for assistance whenever they have to go out.

The Texas Ramp Project’s mission is to build free wheelchair ramps for those who find their steps a barrier. Our ramps allow recipients to leave their home safely and independently, especially if there is a fire or other emergency. They provide relief to families and caregivers, and they allow people to remain at home, aging in place surrounded by those who love and care for them.

Ramps are built exclusively with volunteer labor, keeping costs to a minimum. Recipients are selected by health care providers without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, age or gender. Our vision is that no Texas resident shall lack safe access because of financial limitations.

The Texas Ramp Project operates with extremely low overhead. It has two full-time employees, a working board of directors, and volunteers from across the state. As a result, 94% of donations can be directed to program expenses that serve people who need them.

To learn how you can be a part of this project, visit www.texasramps.org or email info@texasramps.org.