DPCF Wheelchair Ramp Program and Walsh Academy help Des Plaines family

Sarah Rice is thrilled for her son and brothers’ recent mobility with the help of the Des Plaines Community Foundation (DPC) and its volunteer “Ramp Man” Paul Bartholomae.

According to Rosemary Argus, executive director of the DPCF, retired teacher Bartholomae — known as the ‘Ramp Man’ for the DPCF — recently lent his ramp-building expertise.

“Paul coordinates the help of the Walsh Academy students and staff with building the ramps for our Ramp Program,” she said. “This is our 68th ramp the DPCF has built with the help of Walsh Academy students and teachers.”

The Ramp Program at the DPCF is a great asset for the community and also for the students, who are eager to learn construction skills — helping the community is an added boost, said Argus.

For the past 28 years, Bartholomae has volunteered his services working closely with the DPCF and building-trade students to encourage the assembling of metal and wooden wheelchair ramps in the community. He has been retired for the past eight years from Maine West High School, but now works with the teachers and students at the Walsh Academy.

Sarah Rice basically grew up in Des Plaines in her family home of 35 years. She is a mother to four children, Isaiah the oldest at age 10, Liam, age 8, Makiyah, age 5 and Jaxon, who is just 3.

“Isaiah has a very rare neurological condition,” said Rice. “Only 12 people in the world have this genetic condition and he will need to be in wheelchair the rest of his life. He does not walk on his own, but he can stand up.”

He was diagnosed at the National institute of Health (NIH) where they did an extensive study.

“He is a very social kid and loves other people,” said Rice. “This ramp will help him get in and out of the home as he gets older. It was getting difficult for my husband, Travis, to get him down the seven steps at our front door.”

“A family member on Facebook shared with me the DPCF wheelchair program,” Rice said. “I reached out to Rosemary Argus and she talked to me, asked what needs I had and why we would need a wheelchair ramp. She then said, ‘I will send out our ‘Ramp Man’ to do measurements.’”

Rice commented the ramp was so needed, especially with the addition of her brother Thomas Rice living in the home.

“He recently had a below knee amputation and has been fitted with a prosthetic leg.” she said. Both Isaiah and Thomas will benefit from the ramp.

Isaiah has a busy schedule attending the Julia S. Molly therapeutic school in Morton Grove five days a week. The ramp will greatly improve his mobility for the rest of his life, she said.

Kaleen Nazir, special education teacher and Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher at Walsh Academy, as well as a Matt Yaeger school counselor, also assisted with the installation of Isaiah’s ramp.

“What makes the program so successful is the cooperation among the teachers and students of Walsh Academy,” said Bartholomae, a 35-year veteran instructor from Maine West High School.

Walsh Academy students worked on the pre-assembly of the metal ramp parts at the warehouse to put together on-site.

“The plan has been to divide up tasks and bring different strengths to the table. And they work — just like a real-life crew,” said Nazir. “It is really a hands-on experience for some of these students, and the experience can turn into a future career.”

It can take anywhere from six weeks for an aluminum ramp and three months to build a wooden ramp, depending on the size.

The DPCF has funded and built for disabled residents through the guidance and tutelage of Bartholomae. This student crew completed the ramp for Isaiah and Thomas in 12 hours, noted Bartholomae.

“This ramp will serve Isaiah throughout his life,” said Rice. “It really means a lot to me and my family.”

The Des Plaines Community Foundation appreciates Bartholomae, and sincerely thanks him for his work with the Walsh Academy students, said Argus.

Two Walsh Academy CTE students and three staff members put the ramp together with the assistance of Bartholomae. The supplies for the ramp were donated by the DPCF, recycled from another ramp no longer in use.

“The ramps are the most important thing we do for the Des Plaines residents in need,” said Argus. “It becomes a problem when the elderly or disabled can’t get out of their homes to get to the doctor.”

Bartholomae is continuing to volunteer his time with the DPCF board and coordinating the Walsh Academy students and teachers.

The Des Plaines Community Foundation appreciates all the volunteer work by Paul Bartholomae and expresses a special “thank you” to him for working with the Walsh Academy and encouraging the building of wheelchair ramps to help free disabled and elderly people who are trapped in wheelchairs in their homes.

Many of the students have preferential learning styles like hands-on and visual learning. These alternative learning styles help expose the students to experiential learning — for example construction or subcontractor jobs.

“The wheelchair ramps allow folks to go to the park or doctors’ appointments,” said Argus. “The students and teachers have touched the lives of residents, young and old, with various challenges.”

Some of the DPCF programs include Neighbors Helping Neighbors Program committee; Healthy Community/Healthy Youth Program committee; Intergenerational Program committee, and Seasons of Service program committee.

The DPCF has no paid employees and is 100-percent volunteer. Foundation is a 501(c) 3 organization and funds are obtained from individuals, businesses and corporate tax-deductible contributions as well as from other foundations.

For information, call Rosemary Argus at (847) 525-5566 or go to desplainescommunityfoundation.org.