Wheelchair Ramps: Amramp Provides Access in any Situation

 Sororities and fraternities nationwide recently enjoyed the action-packed annual event: Rush Week. As nearly all event planners have discovered, there was an issue they hadn't considered: With a lack of wheelchair ramps, how would prospective members who use wheelchairs get access to the older houses, the heart of Greek Life.

With just weeks to prepare, several sororities at the University of Georgia and Florida State University rushed to find a wheelchair ramp solution that would bring the houses into compliance so recruits could participate.

"It was a good challenge for us to use our problem-solving skills," said Delta Zeta's Vice President of Membership Kaley Meier, a junior at the University of Georgia.

"It was a new experience for us, and we didn't know what we needed," Meier said. "But I called Dwight Medders at Amramp, and he came out the next day. He really did a lot to make a busy time much less stressful."

 "Our 60-year-old house had three steps that needed to be overcome," Meier said. "Plus a threshold that I became concerned about. We really wanted to make this time enjoyable for everyone. With a four-story building and 20-minute tours, we decided to assemble a PowerPoint presentation to show other parts of the house in addition to seeing the first floor firsthand."

Meanwhile, Florida State's Greek organizations needed 12 wheelchair ramps installed at five houses, both indoor and outdoor ramps.

"In one case, a mother called because her daughter had been in an accident and was using a wheelchair temporarily," said Scott Greene Jr. of Amramp in Northern Florida.

Although each modular wheelchair ramp was only rented for one week, the students had to factor the unexpected cost into their activity budgets.

"I was impressed with their resourcefulness by finding additional funding sources," said Greene, Amramp's Northern Florida owner, also noting their creativity: "One of the houses rented table skirting to hang outside the rails of the wheelchair ramp; others decorated the steel wheelchair ramps with draping and special signs for the event."

Along with institutions like university campuses, many private residences and organizations face similar challenges posed by structures built before the Americans With Disabilities Act. Amramp's locally owned establishments help organizers provide wheelchair ramps in order to make special events such as Rush Week compliant and enjoyable for everyone.

After installing 12 steel wheelchair ramps in a day and a half at Florida State, Greene said: "We like to be proactive and help fix these problems, so they simply become non-issues."

Here at Amramp, we offer a fast, easy and safe solution to improve people's lives.  Amramp is a national organization with local, factory-trained professionals and with local inventory located throughout the country. To learn more about Amramp's modular steel wheelchair ramp system, please fill out the form to the left or call us toll-free at 888-715-7598.

Health insurance agents, often simultaneously juggling 100 or 125 cases, oversee patients' in-home care, wheelchair ramps being one example.

Deborah Vanlandingham of Amramp in Tampa, who was a case manager, knows the uphill battle her former colleagues face everyday and shares her experiences with her current colleagues: 40 locally owned Amramp franchisees across the United States.

"When the case manager issues the order, we can have a steel ramp system installed - in time for someone who's being released from a hospital or health care facility - generally within 24 to 48 hours," Vanlandingham said.

Handling claims from across the country, agency administrator Stephanie Smith oversaw hundreds of home-access cases last year, more than 50 percent involving catastrophic injuries, often work-related.

 "We have patients with paraplegic, quadraplegic, and tetraplegic diagnoses," Smith said. "To most people, it's just a wheelchair ramp. But to these accident victims, it's the difference between being home with their families and living at a rehabilitation facility or nursing home."

 "Amramp goes a long way, above and beyond pricing," she continued. "If we can't get the ramp placed for three weeks, we're not doing the patient or the homeowner any good. Amramp helps make the patient the priority. We once needed a ramp that was over 100 feet; three of the independent franchisees worked together to get ramp installed in a timely fashion."

In other cases, Amramp's patented steel ramp systems replace previous construction due to improper installation or material failure, as happens with wooden ramps in tropical climates such as Florida.

"Amramp installed three modular ramps in one day," said Kara Ouelette, a case manager in DeSoto County, Florida. "FEMA put in wooden ramps that rotted within one year, leaving people stranded inside their houses for fear of an accident while using the rotted ramps."

Ouelette recalled: "The joy on the patient's face made up for all the bad days I've had all year long! He can get outside, visit friends. I am so proud for my tiny part in restoring his freedom.  And, a special thanks to Deborah Vanlandingham and her Amramp staff for the large part they played."

Here at Amramp, we are proud to partner with insurance agents in their mission to best serve patients. We offer a fast, easy and safe solution to improve people's lives.  Amramp is a national organization with local, factory-trained professionals and with local inventory located throughout the country. To learn more about Amramp's modular steel wheelchair ramp system, please fill out the form to the left or call us toll-free at 888-715-7598.

Sept 12th proved to be a great day for the ALS association of Northern New England. The day marked their annual "ALS Walk" fundraiser event. The ALS Association depends on these events to raise funds and to help increase awareness of "Lou Gehrig's" disease. The funds that the ALS is able to raise are vital to important cutting-edge research and their patient service programs. The ALS association of Northern New England was happy to announce that they raised $77,000 from this important event. More information on the ALS association can be found here.

Amramp, a national provider of wheelchair ramps, has local offices in the states of ME and NH. Amramp provides quality wheelchair ramps to clients who use wheelchairs and to those who simply struggle with stairs. When needed, Amramp can have a wheelchair ramp installed at a home or business in as little as one day. Amramp is proud to be a corporate contributor to the ALS association of Northern New England and wishes the ALS Association much success in their fight against ALS. Click here to see pictures of Amramp at the ALS event in Portland, ME

"I got teary the day my Amramp, wheelchair ramp system came: It was such a relief to never have to worry about leaving the house and worry about how to get back in," says Myra Canipe of Camden, South Carolina.

From the time Ms. Canipe, 60, tore her Achilles tendon just walking around at home one day, she became a prisoner: "I couldn't go anywhere; I could hop down the stairs but not up."

Two weeks of panicking, plus paying out-of-pocket for EMTs to get her back inside, and she'd had enough, even though she'd only be temporarily using a wheelchair.

Ms. Canipe called Marc Gardner at Amramp in Columbia, South Carolina, on a Thursday and had her very own ramp installed on Monday.

"I only needed it for two months, but I couldn't be trapped inside. I figured if I had to pay for another EMT trip, the ramp would have paid for itself. But now it's not just getting to doctors appointments, I can actually go out to supper. It's fantastic!"

Marc Gardner designed Ms. Canipe's temporary wheelchair ramp with a gentle slope so she can maneuver in and out of her home without assistance from anyone. "I can just zip up and down, no problem," she said.

"Amramp is costing me half the price of having a wooden ramp built; and the best part is they take it away. Soon I won't be needing it, and I'll be better than ever."

It isn't just Amramp's design and patented steel platform that impresses her.

"I'm picky, and I believe in respect. Marc Gardner and his installer could not have been more professional or efficient. Marc understood I wanted the ramp quickly. The installer had me check everything to be sure I was happy with it."

Marc Gardner knows that Amramp's wheelchair ramp installation means the world to Ms. Canipe; to him it's "just how we do business: respectful and courteous, make it as affordable and convenient as possible."

Marc adds, "stories like this one from Ms. Canipe, who felt like a prisoner in her home, remind me why I chose our line of work."

"I'm tickled," she says. "I really like the people working for Amramp, good product, too."

Ms. Canipe would like everyone - her home health company, her doctors, her sister  - to know about her Amramp experience. Here's an excerpt of her email to Marc Gardner:

"I no longer feel like a prisoner in my house. Marc, you did an excellent job of listening very carefully and designing a ramp that totally fit my needs that slopes gently so I can navigate it on my own.  You were professional and efficient.  You gave me all the information I needed to make my decision.  And you were friendly; I felt comfortable dealing with you right from the start."

Here at Amramp, we often come across stories like Ms. Canipe's. We understand that our clients can be in a difficult situation, and we are happy to be able to offer them a fast, easy, and safe solution.  Amramp is a national organization with local, factory-trained professionals and with local inventory located throughout the country. If you would like to find out more about Amramp's modular wheelchair ramp system, please fill out the form to the left or call us toll-free at 888-715-7598.

Ventura, CA)---A 39 foot temporary Wheelchair Ramp was provided Tuesday, March 24, 2009 to the Ventura Film Fest to accommodate attendees at the historic Elks Lodge in Ventura.  An Amramp was provided to assist Film Fest attendees wanting to attend films in Theater 2.  Dylan McKee, an Amramp Installer, helped train local volunteer, Michael Tine for the installation on Wednesday in preparation for the opening night, Thursday March 26. 

The Elks Lodge was built prior to standards from the Americans With Disabilities Act.  With a 36 inch "rise", it requires a 36 foot ramp as well as a turn platform to enable entry to Theater 2.  This was provided by Amramp along with hand rails to insure the safety of the attendees at the Film Fest. The ramp will be dismantled on March 30 and returned to the warehouse. 

Brett McKee, President of Amramp - Los Angeles said, "We are pleased to help ensure all patrons can attend the films within "Lodge".  It is gratifying to see people using the ramp.  They otherwise may not have been able to participate in this first annual film festival in Ventura."

Patrick McKee, Lead Installer, was impressed to be back at Disneyland, driving down Tomorrowland with the Amramp truck full of wheelchair ramps and materials.  Disneyland was the site of many visits to the rides and shops throughout his life.

Many people who are not in wheelchairs use the ramps because it is more easy and safe for them rather then climbing stairs.  These include people with canes, walkers, parents with baby carriages or people who find it difficult to climb stairs.  This application is ideal for those attending the Ventura Film Festival. 

I have just had the good fortune to have an article published that I co-authored with an Occupational Therapist.  This article titled "The Ups and Downs of Ramps", is now appearing in a national magazine for The National Home Builders Association.  I want to thank Amramp for allowing use of some materials used in the article!
The publications focus is on "Aging In Place" where accessible homes are of growing interest.  The association (NAHB) also leads the industry in providing national certification training programs; I was among some of the first in the country to have earned my Certified Aging In Place Specialist recognition.

Check it out:
http://www.nahbmonday.com/capsco/issues/2008-12-18/7.html

This year Amramp provided hundreds of feet of wheelchair ramps to Fenway Park. Hopefully, any visitors using our ramps will be lucky enough to see the Red Sox win a game!

The Military Museum & Learning Center in South Portland, Maine has recently installed a new wheelchair ramp. The new Amramp, wheelchair ramp will allow all members of the community to have equal access when they visit the museum. The museum is located in Mill Creek Park in an old city building. This newly opened museum will honor all Maine veterans and will help preserve the memory of their heroic actions.

This is a good documentary.  Jacob Cunningham directed the 2009 film, Thy Will Be Done about the life of Kevin Natale who as a 14 year old in 1994 was shot in neck and paralyzed by a next door neighbor.  The film is the story of Kevin’s journey and the impact on his family and the shooter’s family.  See http://www.thywillbedonefilm.com.

Kevin, friends and others used the American Ramp Systems wheelchair ramp to enter the screening room at the Elks Lodge in Ventura where the Ventura Film Festival was held this last weekend. 

Kevin has an amazing journey with faith, resilience and forgiveness.