NEENAH, Wis. — One in four adults in Wisconsin have a disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Finding housing for people with physical disabilities can be challenging because required renovations can be costly.
Some residential construction students at Fox Valley Technical College are looking to change that.
What You Need To Know
- FVTC construction students built their first-ever house for adults with disabilities
- The new project is being done at the request of Covey
- Those with physical disabilities are disproportionately impacted by the lack of accessible and affordable housing
Ben Fouts is the residential building construction instructor for Fox Valley Tech. Before he started teaching students, Fouts owned a construction company for 12 years.
His students are learning the differences between standard housing and Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA-compliant housing.
“Standard vanity isn’t really going to be the standard here, we’re going to make sure that somebody can wheel underneath it and be able to turn out without having to back out and stuff like that, making sure that things stay convenient,” Fouts said.
A four-bedroom home in Neenah is the college’s first-ever fully accessible mobility-friendly residence.
Construction student Justin Goulash has worked on this project since it broke ground last May. He recently installed wheelchair-friendly closet doors. He said this project is a great learning experience.
“I’ve never been involved in building a house for anyone with disabilities, and it makes you feel good. I’m very grateful that this summer I enrolled in this program and that this is the house we were contracted to build,” said Goulash.
The college is partnering with Covey. That’s an organization providing respite care and disability services in the Fox Valley.
Covey CEO Pam Schutz said thanks to the students’ hard work, this residence will help fill housing needs for those with disabilities.
“So this project helps address that deficit. We will become the home for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, some who also have mobility challenges,” Schutz said.
Fouts said he’s happy his students are adding one more ADA-compliant homes in the Fox Valley.
“It’s a lasting impact and to be able to effect this way, we’re affecting the lives of four individuals that will live here. So it’s it feels great to work on this project,” Fouts said.
A college spokesperson said the project is expected to be completed by June.