For many grandparents today, the role of grandparent has become much more than occasional babysitting or family visits.
Across Alabama, countless grandparents are stepping in to raise their grandchildren full-time. In Madison County, one organization recently stepped up to help make life a little easier for a family caring for a 7-year-old girl living with Shaken Baby Syndrome.
Enable Madison County, a nonprofit focused on improving accessibility and independence for aging and homebound individuals, partnered with volunteers from the Redstone Arsenal Silver Chapter of the U.S. Army Warrant Officers Association to design and build a custom wheelchair ramp for the family’s home. According to the organization, the ramp now provides safer, more reliable access for the child and helps ease the daily physical strain on her grandparents.
Before the ramp was installed, the family reportedly faced daily challenges safely getting the child in and out of the home. According to Enable Madison County, the lack of accessibility not only created safety concerns for the little girl but also placed additional physical demands on her grandparents as they cared for her each day. The completed ramp now allows for safer entry and exits while giving the family greater peace of mind and a more manageable daily routine.
Zane Drost, executive director of Enable Madison County, said projects like the wheelchair ramp are about more than construction work.
“A ramp may seem simple, but for families like this one, it can restore independence, improve safety and provide peace of mind,” Drost said. “This project reflects what can happen when community members come together to serve others in a meaningful way.”
According to the organization, Enable Madison County works to remove barriers that make it difficult for aging, disabled and homebound individuals to safely remain in their homes. The nonprofit serves residents across the Huntsville and Madison County area through accessibility projects and community partnerships supported by volunteers and donors.
Those interested in volunteering with or supporting Enable Madison County can learn more through the organization’s website.
Sherri Blevins is a reporter for 256 Today.
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