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Apprenticeship Success Story
Dedicated Workers Adapt Home for Angelwood Use
By John Carter, Staff Writer
A new Angelwood group home for five severely disabled teens was recently dedicated. The five new residents, who are quadriplegic or have developmental disabilities, began moving in Feb. 1.
Builders Care, the charitable arm of the Northeast Florida Builders Association, transformed a conventional home into a handicap accessible facility in just six weeks.
Bill Wilson of Builders Care said the required modifications were extensive, in part because many of the wheelchairs that had to be accommodated were huge due to extra equipment such as ventilator system attached on back.
"Just about every entranceway and most rooms, bathrooms in particular, had to be modified," he said. "It was a huge undertaking, but everyone was so motivated to do what we could for these young people that it went smoothly. Nothing was going to stop us."
Wilson was also glad that in addition to building rooms for the residence, they were able to build a "respite room" -- a room that can accommodate a disabled person for a night or a weekend to give his or her caregivers some much-needed time off. "It's so tough on caregivers," Wilson said. "People don't realize the toll that can take on people who provide 24/7 care to someone."
Diane Tuttle, executive director of Angelwood, said the teen residence was sorely needed and greatly appreciated. "Working with Builders Care was a pure joy and a real gift for the young people who now live in this house," she said. "The folks at Builders Care are not only competent but also compassionate." The new residence has wheelchair ramps, wheelchair-accessible showers and wide doorways. A fire sprinkler system was donated and installed through the Florida Automatic Sprinkler Training program. Apprentices from each level of the four-year program worked into the night sharing the expertise of instructors to install the system.
Donations by Sisler Johnson Interior Design and ICI Homes helped furnish nearly every room in the house from bedroom to office. The home's four bedrooms required five twin beds and six dressers. UBS Financial services donated $18,000 to the project. The new Angelwood facility will be staffed by at least two caregivers around the clock. Builders Care is a non-profit community outreach program of the Northeast Florida Builders Association. Emergency construction services are provided to low-income, elderly and disabled people who otherwise could not afford these services.
For more Information:
John Carter
E-mail:
Phone: (904) 359-4539