A ramp for the Jackson family was our first pilot project. Jim and Lisa Jackson’s daughter Glorianna was born with spina bifida and has no feeling in her lower legs. She’s now 5 years old and is an energetic, smart little girl who urgently needed a new accessible entry to get out and explore the world.
In July of 2008 HFH volunteers started construction on the ramp for the Jackson family. Thank you to Chris Suhovsky and the crew from CJ Construction of Kings Park for the concrete foundation work.
Our intrepid team of volunteers worked on the framing every weekend through the heat of August!
Following the direction of master carpenters, Deke Hasson and Rich Faustman, volunteers Chris and Paul Shaklis, Richard and Amelia Box and others joined homeowner Jim Jackson in framing construction. Special thank you to Affordable Portable Ramps for the traction plywood. Also, thanks to Home Depot for discount on materials. The finished ramp looks great and adds value to their homes. Glorianna is enjoying using it and has become an expert at racing her wheelchair up and down !
To tell you the truth, before the HFH team came, we didn’t even know where to start. The HomeFreeHome architects designed, met with building inspection officials, applied for the building permit, and made the whole process easy. – Glorianna’s Grandmother
Home Free Home is pleased to announce that we have launched a new Web site, it is our hope that families around the country will use this new site to gather information about Universal Design and reach out to us if they need assistance. We appreciate any and all feedback as this new site will constantly evolve as our organization grows.
Frank Turner, age 73, lives with his wife Adrienne in a Cape Cod style house where they raised 6 children. He is an amputee and has considerable difficulty maneuvering in their very small bathroom. His daughter Lisa was prompted to contact HomeFreeHome after Frank fell in the bathroom and was stuck for hours, with his arm impaled on the doorjamb.
HomeFreeHome volunteer architect Mark Wittenberg, AIA is designing a new bathroom, wider hallway and doorway to allow for wheelchair access and a wheel in shower. Mark’s two-person architecture firm is experienced in all phases of design and construction and is located in Huntington.
Does your house have barriers like hazardous steps at the front entry, narrow doors, tight hallways and small dangerous bathrooms?
Do you need to install a ramp or remodel your bathroom or kitchen to make your home accessible and safe?
If you answered yes to these questions, HomeFreeHome may be able to help. We are a group of volunteer architects who design barrier-free home renovations that allow people to live with greater safety, dignity and freedom. We connect people living with disabilities to local volunteer architects to create designs for small scale construction projects such as: ramps, accessible bathrooms and kitchens.
HomeFreeHome is an all-volunteer organization. To receive help, fill out the application form or call us
516.883.0403
info@HomeFreeHome
HomeFreeHome is a growing organization where donations and volunteers of all types and skills are needed. Together we can make a big difference and bring more independence to many people, so please get involved today. Read More We are reaching out across the country. Take a look at who is involved in your state – see our membership map.
