StopGap stepping up local accessibility
Founded in 2011, the StopGap Foundation began with the goal of providing ramps to businesses with a single step storefront – a seemingly simple barrier to accessibility that is pandemic in Canadian communities and around the world. StopGap Foundation's Community Ramp Project is driven by donations and pledges, but more importantly, by the efforts of a diverse team of volunteers with the necessary skill set to make the project happen.
Operating primarily in the Greater Toronto Area, the Community Ramp Project is coming to London on the weekend of June 13, in an effort to spread awareness and accessibility.
The concept of The Community Ramp Project came to StopGap founder Luke Anderson after sustaining a spinal cord injury in a mountain biking accident, and his subsequent realization that something as seemingly innocuous as a single step can have a drastic effect on the lives of people who use mobility devices.
He saw how the addition of a simple deployable ramp could effectively remove barriers preventing many from accessing a businesses services, and at minimal cost. Throughout the succeeding years, the organization put up over 150 ramps, all of which were donated at no cost to the local businesses, chosen via an outreach process.
“Our primary focus is to provide our ramps to businesses who have a single step storefront,” Anderson said. “We have been involved in more complex projects but The Community Ramp project is all about the single step issue.”
Volunteers construct multiple ramps over the course of a weekend, maximizing the amount of change they can bring into a community in the course of a two-day span.
“The program is primarily an awareness raising initiative, we want to get a lot of these ramps out there.”
Anderson is enthusiastic about bringing the program to the city, and the team being assembled is among the largest that the program has ever put together. “Every community is in need of a project like this,” Anderson said. “London is particularly interesting because they have such a committed and enthusiastic group of volunteers.”
“We’re actually aiming to break our record of building over 50 ramps in a weekend, and I’m convinced that this is going to happen.”
Local businesses that are confirmed to be contributing include DUO Building, Fire Roasted Coffee Company and The Root Cellar among a number of local individual volunteers and suppliers who are donating food, supplies, labour and the financial backing required to make this project a reality.
“This is a simple way to show people how a simple ramp can help make life easier for everyone,” Anderson said.
All signs are pointing to the London operation being a success, and every extra volunteer can help it be among one of the foundation’s best
Anyone interested in volunteering or contributing can contact the London operation through stopgaplondon.ca.
Operating primarily in the Greater Toronto Area, the Community Ramp Project is coming to London on the weekend of June 13, in an effort to spread awareness and accessibility.
The concept of The Community Ramp Project came to StopGap founder Luke Anderson after sustaining a spinal cord injury in a mountain biking accident, and his subsequent realization that something as seemingly innocuous as a single step can have a drastic effect on the lives of people who use mobility devices.
He saw how the addition of a simple deployable ramp could effectively remove barriers preventing many from accessing a businesses services, and at minimal cost. Throughout the succeeding years, the organization put up over 150 ramps, all of which were donated at no cost to the local businesses, chosen via an outreach process.
“Our primary focus is to provide our ramps to businesses who have a single step storefront,” Anderson said. “We have been involved in more complex projects but The Community Ramp project is all about the single step issue.”
Volunteers construct multiple ramps over the course of a weekend, maximizing the amount of change they can bring into a community in the course of a two-day span.
“The program is primarily an awareness raising initiative, we want to get a lot of these ramps out there.”
Anderson is enthusiastic about bringing the program to the city, and the team being assembled is among the largest that the program has ever put together. “Every community is in need of a project like this,” Anderson said. “London is particularly interesting because they have such a committed and enthusiastic group of volunteers.”
“We’re actually aiming to break our record of building over 50 ramps in a weekend, and I’m convinced that this is going to happen.”
Local businesses that are confirmed to be contributing include DUO Building, Fire Roasted Coffee Company and The Root Cellar among a number of local individual volunteers and suppliers who are donating food, supplies, labour and the financial backing required to make this project a reality.
“This is a simple way to show people how a simple ramp can help make life easier for everyone,” Anderson said.
All signs are pointing to the London operation being a success, and every extra volunteer can help it be among one of the foundation’s best
Anyone interested in volunteering or contributing can contact the London operation through stopgaplondon.ca.
