The accompanying photo of Association member David Grightmire was featured in a recent issue of the Kingston Whig Standard. He is accessing the Coffeeco store on King Street using a custom-build temporary ramp made by volunteers from StopGap Kingston. The local chapter of this group has installed these ramps at 10 businesses in downtown Kingston and StopGap ramps are now found in some 20 communities across Canada. They make entrances with a small (15 centimetre) step accessible for those in wheelchairs.
David, a member of the Accessibility Advisory Council of Kingston City Council, cut the ribbon at Coffeeco and was the first to use the new ramp. He praised Kingston’s leadership with respect to accessibility issues. He noted that local lumber businesses donated the wood and members of the Kingston Senior’s Centre woodworking club built the ramps. David hopes to see more ramps installed in Kingston and we commend this retiree for his efforts in helping to make Kingston accessible.