**Community Collaboration Delivers 'Life-Changing' Ramp to Tyler Resident**
TYLER – A collaborative community effort on Monday, October 28, resulted in the construction of a vital 32-foot wheelchair ramp for Tyler resident Regina Anderson, providing her with newfound independence and safe access to her home. The 56-year-old, who uses a wheelchair due to a progressive nerve disease, described the new ramp as "life-changing," enabling her to safely exit her house for the first time in years, replacing an old, unsafe wooden structure.
The project was spearheaded by the Texas Ramp Project's (TRP) East Texas chapter and brought together a diverse group of volunteers and students. Participants included students from Tyler ISD’s (tylerisd.org) RISE Academy high school construction program, carpentry students from Texas State Technical College’s (tstc.edu) Waco campus, volunteers from Marvin United Methodist Church, and students from Tyler Junior College (tjc.edu).
Steve Goad, coordinator for the TRP East Texas chapter, highlighted the significant impact of such projects. "We’re not just building ramps; we're giving people their independence and freedom back," Goad stated. The large, custom-built ramp took approximately six hours to complete and cost roughly $1,000 in materials, all covered by donations to the Texas Ramp Project (texasrampproject.org). Recipients like Anderson incur no cost for the ramps.
Josh Eads, a teacher at Tyler ISD’s RISE Academy, emphasized the educational and community benefits for his students. "It’s a fantastic way for our kids to learn valuable construction skills while also understanding the importance of giving back to their community," Eads said.
The TRP East Texas chapter has already completed 13 ramps this year and typically builds between 15 to 20 annually. Statewide, the Texas Ramp Project has constructed more than 25,000 ramps since its inception, significantly improving accessibility and quality of life for Texans with mobility challenges.
