Students Help Build Project
After 25 years of use, the wheelchair ramp in front of a Wellsville family’s home was falling apart. But thanks to USU students, they now have a new ramp.
George and Connie Casselman have a history of helping out children in need, having had around 300 foster children in their home over their life and providing respite care, said Jake Dinsdale, one of the students who worked on the project.
George Casselman said they have eight biological children and three adopted disabled children, and they have had legal guardianship for five foster children and 29 grandchildren. While their biological children have grown and moved out, their three adopted children still live at home.
Shane, one of their adopted children, is considered a “total care” case. Shane has cerebral palsy, can’t walk, talk or feed himself, has severe hearing problems and is legally blind.
Shane became part of the Casselman family in 1985 after George and Connie saw a TV show where children were introduced in an effort to find adoptive parents, Dinsdale said. The Casselmans were interested and were able to adopt Shane, who at first could be picked up in his chair and carried inside. As time passed, they were no longer able to carry Shane, so a neighbor built a ramp for the wheelchair, Dinsdale said. Casselman had to fix the ramp a few times and said it was definitely in need of repair.
“It’s heaven sent, perfect timing,” Casselman said. “We needed to do something, and then we got this phone call.”
The group of 11 students is doing the project as part of their management class and heard about it through the Bear River Activity and Skill Center, Dinsdale said. Dinsdale met with the family to hear their background, and then measurements were made for the ramp. Group member Katie Christensen, interior design major, made the blueprints for the ramp to fit the Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
Donations were obtained from the community, including building supplies, money and thank-you space in the newspaper, Dinsdale said. After the donations were made, each student had to raise $30 to cover the rest of the expenses.
Last Wednesday, the students laid cement to complete the walkway, Christensen said. Saturday the group gathered again to take out the old ramp and install the new one.
“My favorite part was taking out the old ramp and seeing how bad it was, knowing it would be worth it. There were three layers of moldy plywood,” Christensen said.
Casselman pitched in to help the students with the project and said he and his wife are so grateful and thankful for the work the students have done to make it easier for them to take Shane places.
-alison.baugh@aggiemail.usu.edu