It’s 8:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning and the hot sun is beating down. Saws are carving wood and hammers are striking nails. A group of volunteers spend a few hours building something that will change a local man’s life.
Nonprofit Texas Ramp Project, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, has built over 31,000 wheelchair ramps onto homes across the state. The Denton County branch provides ramps free of charge to individuals who need them. “I’m excited that we’re having the 40th anniversary,” said Ron Anderson, the nonprofit’s
Denton County coordinator. “It’s just so much fun and it’s amazing what you can do in three or four hours for a person who needed help.”
Clients must be referred to Texas Ramp Project by a doctor, social worker or other
provider. Once applications go through the eligibility process, representatives from the nonprofit will visit the home and create plans to build the ramp. Anderson said they aim to provide free ramps to people in need. Once a build is planned, a crew of volunteers will build the ramp onto the home in a matter of hours.
Volunteers must be at least 16 years old but do not need previous construction
experience. Longtime volunteers are available to train new recruits. “We just happen to be very blessed with the team that we have because everybody works well together,” build leader and volunteer Katie Simpson said. Simpson has worked with the organization since 2012. She said the ramps provide clients with freedom because they make it easy for them to leave and enter their homes. She said this also allows them to live independently for longer. “We’re providing them freedom to move, but we’re also providing them freedom to stay,” she said.
Anderson said the ramps are also a matter of safety because they provide an
emergency exit for residents in case of fire. He said this was the initial reason for the
Texas Ramp Project. Anderson also said the ramps are guaranteed as long as a client is in their home, so volunteers are available to make repairs if necessary. Simpson said that several other counties have a wait list of clients, but that Denton County does not because many people don’t know about the referral process. “Every doctor’s office should know that this is available,” she said.
Denton Record-Chronicle, By Camila Gonzalez Staff Writer, Oct 12, 2025