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 When Ron Thomas and Tari Ricci move into their new house in Plymouth next month, Ron will - for the first time - have a home that truly fits.
Ron has been quadriplegic since he was 15. He uses a wheelchair and has some use of his arms and hands. A home designed with his abilities in mind would provide ease and independence in his daily life.
Now, thanks to a partnership with Habitat for Humanity, Ron and his fiancé are about to own a home that fits the bill.
"It's great," said Tari. "It is a wonderful feeling. It's hard to put it into words!"
Habitat worked closely with Ron and Tari to outfit the home with special details tailored just for them. Cupboards with shelves that slide out, lowered light switches, counter space with room underneath for Ron to wheel his chair, and specially positioned windows that will help keep Ron's delicate body temperature in balance, were all researched and designed specifically to the couple's needs.
Every Habitat homeowner must put hundreds of hours of sweat equity into building their new home, and in Ron's case, the partnership was tailor-made. Habitat tapped into Ron's knack for photography to work toward his home. He took hundreds of snapshots of the Habitat volunteers and progress on his home.
"He braved pretty rocky terrain to come out here and take those photos," said Sharon Rolenc, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity spokeswoman. "And we've already utilized the photos in some of our publications and so it's exciting to be able to offer those opportunities to Ron and to be able to use his talents as well."
Rolence sees a great need for more affordable housing for people with disabilities. Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity sells about 50 homes a year, but it has been five years since they last worked on a home for someone with a disability.
For the soon-to-be homeowners, it's a life changing step.
"The big thing for me is it's gonna be home," said Tari. "This is our house."
Jennifer Anderson
Channel 12
July 11, 2008
Photo by Amy Furan, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity
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