Improving accessibility for people with limitations

COSHOCTON — County residents with mobility limitations and medical equipment needs have an agency that they can turn to for assistance: Since 1990, the Coshocton County Handicapped Society has been there to help.

"People in the community can have the peace of mind in knowing there is some place they can go to get the information, equipment and the help they need," said Betty Larntz, treasurer of the organization.

The Coshocton County Handicapped Society, located at 1005 Main St., is one of United Way's 19 community partner agencies. The all-volunteer organization was founded in 1990 by two people with multiple sclerosis with the mission of helping those with a wide variety of disabilities, said Larntz, who has been with the society since 2012.

The agency advocates for residents of Coshocton County to improve accessibility, and it helps people with various health problems get access to the equipment they need to improve their quality of life and help them save money. The agency has several programs to achieve those goals.

Since the Handicapped Society was founded, its Accessibility Program has built about 200 wheelchair ramps, Larntz said. That breaks down to about 15 ramps per year, and they are built for people who meet certain needs and income guidelines.

"We start building ramps as soon as the weather is nice enough to build," said Larntz, who added the ramps provide peace of mind and help with mobility for people who rely on them to get in and out of their homes.

The Accessibility Program of the Handicapped Society, along with the Society for Equal Access, also advocates for building sidewalk slopes to help people in wheelchairs or those who need other types of mobility devices get safely on and off sidewalks.

The organization is planning on improving sidewalks in various neighborhoods, and it has put together a community questionnaire for residents to help pinpoint areas where handicapped-accessible sidewalks are most needed, Larntz said.

"The biggest advantage (of sloped sidewalks) is being able to get up on and down off the sidewalks without having to drop down off curbs," she said. "This gives people more opportunities to get out and do something and encourages independence rather than them being confined to certain areas and having to wait for others to help them."

The Coshocton County Handicapped Society also provides window air conditioners to people with breathing difficulties that fall under specific economic guidelines. In 2014, 20 air conditioners were installed.

Last year alone, about 900 people also benefited from the agency's Free Medical Equipment Loan Program. People with various health needs can borrow equipment at no charge, including crutches, wheelchairs, walkers, electric scooters, lifts and hospital beds depending on individual circumstances and need.

"We have that kind of equipment here so people can borrow it so they don't have to buy it. They can use it and return it when they are done with it," Lartnz said. "The program saves people a lot of money."

She went on to say that the help of volunteers is a crucial part of the society's ability to reach people in need in the community. People who have skills for equipment repair, office and computer work, fundraising, ramp building and more are encouraged to stop by the office.

"If we don't have the volunteers, we don't have the agency," Larntz said.

United Way

The Coshocton Tribune will highlight each of the 19 United Way partner agencies during the fundraising campaign. The agencies are:

•American Red Cross

•Children's Dental Clinic

•Coshocton CARES

•Coshocton County Handicap Society

•First Step Family Violence Intervention Services

•Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland

•Maternal and Child Health Center

•Boy Scouts of America-Muskingum Valley Council

•Coshocton Senior Volunteer Program

•Rising Tide Aquatic Club

•Salvation Army

•Tutoring, Learning, Contributing of Muskingum Valley Educational Services Center

•Coshocton City Recreation

•Ridgewood Recreation

•Canal Lewis Recreation

•Conesville Recreation

•Roscoe Recreation

•Warsaw Youth Development

•Union Recreation

For more information on the Coshocton County United Way, call the office at 740-622-4567.