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 SIL Ramp Project
Assisting consumers to obtain ramps (and other smaller accessibility accommodations) built through researching all available resources and through volunteered labor.

The criteria is very simple for getting a residential ramp through
Service for Independent Living’s Ramp Project :
 
A person or family member living in the household must have a
disability that justifies the need for a ramp. Not only wheelchair
users qualify for getting a ramp, but people with orthopedic disabilities
like arthritis, degenerative joint disease, etc.  Disabilities such as
fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, cardiovascular disease and
others would also qualify a person, since people with these conditions
and disabilities would find it a hardship to negotiate outdoor steps or
stairs, on a daily basis.
 
All projects are subject to funding constraints.  Once a
person has expressed the need for a ramp, and has been determined eligible to have a ramp built, their name is added to a waiting list. We move on a first-come-first-served basis, until our funds are expended for the fiscal year. In some situations, our funding is continual and “rolls over” to the next fiscal year.  If a person is last on the list for
FY04 and we don’t get to them to build a ramp, then they would be put at the top of the list for FY05. The only time we deviate from the
first-come-first-served format is when there is an severe need that
overrides our general rule, or if for some reason we cannot reach a
person by phone, or letter when we are ready to proceed with their
project. After these attempts, if they still cannot be reached, we must
move on to the next project in line. In this case, their name would be
moved to the bottom of the list.
 
Folks needing a ramp from the Ramp Project must be willing to
conform to the procedures necessary to be considered. There are several papers to sign, such as Consent & Release Forms, and others.  For consumers who live within the city limits of Columbia, there are income guidelines (proof of income would be required);  for consumers living outside Columbia in Boone County, and in the counties of Randolph, Howard, Cooper, Audrain, Montgomery, and Callaway there are no income guidelines per se (we do give consideration to greatest need with funds available for projects in those counties).
 
After a consumer has been added to the list, a staff member will make
an on-site assessment for the needed ramp. SIL builds ramps for people who do not currently have a ramp. Because of limited resources, we do not, at this time, build secondary ramps for those who want a ramp just for safety considerations. Small landing areas are necessary for  proper turning radius and to accommodate door openings on the ramps built, and other landings are required on longer ramps; we do not build decks, porches or other structures that attach to the ramp, other than the landings mentioned.
 
The drawings and  plans for how the ramp will be built, and where on
the property it is to be built, are approved by the owner of the property.  When a person’s name gets to the top of the list, we begin
construction.  All lumber used is good quality and treated; handrails and non-skid texture are applied to the ramps. Screws are used, instead of nails, to make it easier to move the ramp should the consumer choose to do so in the future. Once the ramp is completed and approved, upkeep and maintenance are the responsibility of the consumer. Every attempt is made to build a safe, attractive, and totally useable ramp.
 
It is the wish of Services for Independent Living that the ramps will
give newfound independence and freedom to those who have been forced to stay at home before the ramp was built.
 
From RampArt funds, SIL has built over 60 ramps and overall, since the beginning years of the Ramp Project, more than   ___________ramps have been built in Columbia and the surrounding communities.  We are proud of our successes, but even more proud of the many, many businesses, individuals, volunteers, staff members, church members, City and County staff members, media contacts and friends of consumers who have helped us in our efforts. 
 
If you or someone you know needs a ramp, or if you need more
information, please call Rebecca Stewart @ 874-1646 x 239; Jim Crane @ 874-1646 x 219.