Building independence in Southern Indiana

For years, Sherion Barrett has been watching the time pass through her bay window.

Due to various medical issues, the 66-year-old Jeffersonville resident found herself having trouble getting around. That trouble ended up imprisoning her to her home.

The toll of feeling trapped kept adding up until it was too much to take.

“I have been a very active person as far as going to church and getting out. I’m a people person and I love to talk to people and be around people and I haven’t had the privilege to do that in a while. I think I’ve been to church three times in three years,” Barrett said, with emotion rising in her voice. “I have gotten so depressed that I didn’t care if I died.

“This wasn’t living for me.”

She knew what she needed: a ramp. She could get around in her powered wheelchair in her home, but had no way of getting down her front steps.

So, she called around.

“I had tried so many people and I had gotten rejected so many times,” she said of finding someone to build a ramp. “One place wanted to charge me $2,800 for a ramp. One thousand dollars to me is like a million being on a fixed income.”

She almost gave up hope.

For 82-year-old Gilbert McIntyre, the problems have been adding up. It started with a hip replacement in 2004 and now various back problems are wearing on him, confining him to his New Albany home for the past few months.

The World War II veteran wants just one thing: To go to his doctor.

To do that, he needs a ramp so that his wife can maneuver his wheelchair out of the house and to the car.

“He hasn’t been able to get to his appointments” for the past month, Evelyn McIntyre, Gilbert’s wife, said from her living room as sounds of construction escalated outside.

Those sounds were coming from a group of retirees — all over the age of 60 — working like a machine: One measuring, one cutting, one nailing and so on to quickly build the answer to Gilbert’s problem.

The week before, the group — called Carpenters Helpers — did the same for Barrett.

“We call it, ‘Ramps to Freedom,’” said 78-year-old Reuben Seese, who has previously been in charge of the now 15-year program and continues to volunteer to build the ramps. “It’s our ministry at Graceland Baptist Church. Some of the men are used to construction and hard work and they enjoy building these and helping people.”

The volunteers aren’t all members of that church, but they all come together every Tuesday — except for when it’s raining — to build at least one ramp a week in Clark, Floyd and surrounding counties.

So far, the group has built hundreds of ramps in the area.

“[I do it for] enjoyment, fun, companionship, doing something good for somebody, the whole shebang,” said 75-year-old Bob Dreher, a six-year volunteer who retired after working 29 years in construction. “It’s just something you do.”

“I just got a passion to help people who can’t help themselves,” said 71-year-old Bob Atkins, who is a 12-year volunteer.

Jim Yeats said he was looking forward to the day when he retired so that he too could make a difference. He retired in February and started volunteering in March.

“I just feel like in those areas where you can help out, you should and this is one thing I can do,” Yeats, of Floyds Knobs, said. “It’s very rewarding.”

He and others said that’s because while helping others, life is put back into perspective.

“A lot of times, we take our well-being for granted,” Yeats said. “Some people are not able to do these things.”

When the program started, the ramps were free for those who needed them. However, that money has since dwindled and now people are asked to pay for the building supplies. The labor is still free.

Barrett had spent her years waiting on a ramp and saving cash. She said she was more than happy to buy wood that would give her freedom.

“Whew!” Barrett said. “I felt a pressure come off me because I knew with them doing that, those very nice men, that means I could get outside. I can go to the front door and put my feet out if I want to.”

Fighting to hold back tears, Barrett continued.

“That’s hard to find, truly, truly hard to find, people who are happy to help,” she said, giving in to her emotions, letting tears flow freely. “That solved my problem of being a prisoner.”

Gilbert is praying the ramp is the path to finding a cure.

“I’m hoping with this ramp I can get out of here and get to my regular doctor and maybe he can help me. I hope,” Gilbert said, pausing. “I hope.”

Barrett already has a newfound joy for life. She has been outside enjoying the weather. And she has gotten information on how to get a bus to come and pick her up to take her places, such as to go Christmas shopping.

“Just being out and about it makes me feel like I do have a life,” she said. “This gives me the privilege where now I can ride out and sit on my patio. I hadn’t been out there to enjoy my yard. I hadn’t really felt a breeze on my face from just setting outside in over two years.

“This is a lifesaver to me,” she said. “I’m really being honest when I say I’m blessed. I’m blessed. A month ago I would have told you I just didn’t care. Then I had a change of heart.

“When it comes right down to it, God’s good.”

SO YOU KNOW

• For more information

on volunteering or to get a ramp built, call Graceland Baptist Church at 812-944-6448.

QUICK FACTS

• According to the 2006 American Community Survey, 15.1 percent of the civilian non-institutionalized population 5 years and

over in the U.S., or about 41.3 million people, reported a disability.

• Of that, 4.3 percent reported a sensory disability, 9.4 percent reported a physical disability, 5.8 percent reported a mental disability and 3 percent reported a self-care disability.

• Disability prevalence was highest among the 65 years and older population at 41 percent, compared to rates for the 16 to 64 years age group (12.3 percent) and 5 to 15 years age group (6.3 percent).

— SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, www.census.gov

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