Collaborating in service to increase quality of life for persons with disabilities

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Abstract

Service projects can take many forms. In Florida, AmeriCorps members, volunteers, state and local service groups, and area businesses, joined together to build wheelchair ramps so that individuals with disabilities could continue to live at home and be actively involved in their community. Each group contributed something unique to the project, which resulted in improved quality of life for all community members. The event was also used to recruit persons with disabilities into AmeriCorps by getting them involved in a local service project. Paul Martell submitted this effective practice in December 2003.

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Issue

Persons with disabilities who use wheelchairs need ramps to enter and exit their homes in order to remain independent.

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Action

Beginning in 2002 Volunteer Florida, the Governor's Commission on Volunteerism and Service, AmeriCorps, Communities in Schools, and the Department of Environmental Protection partnered with Ability1st to build ramps for residents in need. Steps taken during the "6 Days 6 Ramps" service project included:

Ability 1st, a local nonprofit organization serving persons with disabilities, identified the most needy clients, conducted site surveys, drew up plans for ramps, and supplied building materials for each project.

  • Donations for items needed for volunteer support were solicited by Volunteer Florida, which resulted in businesses making generous donations to the event.
  • Other community businesses made generous donations for the event.
  • Volunteers were recruited online via the Volunteer Florida website for each of the six days of volunteering, which was easily executed with an online registration process.
  • A celebration event was held after the ramp building. Additional donations were secured to provide food for the day. Each volunteer was recognized with a certificate that was specifically designed for the event. Thank you letters were sent out to each volunteer for their participation from Volunteer Florida's CEO.
  • A volunteer survey was distributed and tabulated from both volunteers and businesses providing donations.

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Context

Ramps were built in Tallahassee, Quincy, and Bristol, Florida. In these communities there are currently more needs for ramps than organizations are able to supply.

Volunteer Florida believes that "strengthening Florida's communities through volunteerism and service" is a way of life. Twenty-five governor appointed commissioners lead the way for Volunteer Florida by helping to develop, promote, and implement volunteerism and service throughout the state. Volunteer Centers across the state serve as a focal point in local communities. These Centers give citizens access to volunteer opportunities in their local area. Volunteer Florida partners with these Centers and provides extensive training for national service participants, community volunteers, and volunteer program staff, and directors.

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Outcome

  • Ninety-two volunteers organized into teams and conducted a "blitz-build" at each site (912 hours total).
  • Eight ramps were completed in six days during the "blitz-build" (November 2003).
  • Community partnerships, community support for volunteer needs, and the hard work of members and volunteers all helped to improve accessibility for many area residents with disabilities.
  • Persons from age three to 83 were able to return home from nursing homes and other facilities, and fully utilize their wheelchairs, getting in and out of their houses easily.
  • Ability1st serves five additional counties where the volunteers who signed up for on-going ramp building will be able to assist a significant number of additional residents who are in need of wheelchair ramps.
  • This is the second year of "6 Days 6 Ramps," and plans for a similar event in 2004 are already underway.

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Evidence

Residents have stated that their quality of life has improved with the addition of the ramp. Photographs and testimonies are on file to document the result of the ramp building and its effect on the individual with a disability.

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Posted On

January 26, 2004

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For More Information

Paul N. Martell
Volunteer Florida
401 S. Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: (850) 414-0093

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Related Practices

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Related sites

AmeriCorps

National Service Inclusion Project

Topic Areas

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