鈥淪andy recovery means different things to different people,鈥� said DHS Commissioner Jennifer Velez. 鈥淔or this homeowner, her ability to safely enter and exit her home, using her wheelchair, was essential to her. I鈥檓 so glad that our ramp program helped give her back a level of independence she didn鈥檛 have, even before Sandy.鈥�
Previous to the superstorm, Anne Marie Fargo, the homeowner, had to leave her motorized wheelchair in an outdoor shed and depend upon a family member to carry her into the house because she could not afford a ramp. Flooding from Sandy destroyed the shed and the wheelchair, leaving the homeowner housebound for several months.
She wrote to Governor Chris Christie requesting assistance and staff at the DHS was dispatched to work with local non-profit groups to have her shed rebuilt, a new motorized wheelchair donated, and qualified her for the Ramp Rebuild, Replacement and Installation Program.
鈥淪eniors and people with disabilities can have a more difficult time in the storm recovery process,鈥� said Joseph Amoroso, Director of DHS鈥� Division of Disability Services (DDS), which oversees the ramp replacement program. 鈥淚t can be incredibly overwhelming to manage multiple repair projects, contractors, insurance claims and federal applications when a person鈥檚 mobility is limited. Helping Anne Marie settle into a new normal has been incredibly rewarding.鈥�
The Ramp Rebuild, Replacement and Installation Program provides modular ramps, which are portable and can cost thousands of dollars depending on the configuration. These custom built ramps are made from metal, wood or fiberglass. Installation can take a few days, or a week, depending on the project specifications.
DHS began accepting applications for the program in October 2013. More than 42 applications have been received from individuals with disabilities and families living with a person with disabilities who need a ramp repaired, replaced or installed because of Sandy's destruction. To date, 18 ramps have been completed.
To be eligible, applicants must provide proof of loss or need, and present a medical certification confirming the presence of a disability that requires a ramp. DDS sends an evaluator to determine whether a ramp can safely be built. Ramp designs are drafted and offered to the recipient for consideration. DDS then sends the schematic out to a list of qualified vendors, selected through RFP, to bid on the construction of the project.
Individuals interested in applying for the Ramp Rebuild, Replacement and Installation Program can call DDS at 1-888-285-3036. Ramps will be built for eligible applicants until the funding is exhausted.
