What is RAMP?

RAMP is a non-profit, non-residential Center for Independent Living (CIL) that emulates the Independent Living Philosophy with a mission to build an inclusive community that encourages individuals with disabilities to reach their full potential. RAMP services enrich individual’s lives. Oftentimes we meet with individuals who have experienced a traumatic or life-changing event (i.e. child recently diagnosed with a disability, accident resulting in permanent disability, etc.). These life-changing events can leave an individual reeling, as well as their family, and not knowing where to turn or what to do. It is this grassroots effort and philosophy to “meet someone where they are at” that drives this organization.

Over 51% of RAMP staff and board of directors are individuals with disabilities and this peer-to-peer support from RAMP staff is a key factor in the successful outcomes RAMP produces. RAMP is the only Center for Independent Living that serves Boone, DeKalb, Stephenson, and Winnebago Counties as well as the only agency providing advocacy AND independent living services for persons with disabilities which supports them in remaining independent in their own homes in the community. Most agencies focus on one disability (such as developmental disabilities or mental illness) and specific services (such as a sheltered workshop or counseling). These services and agencies are very much needed, however; RAMP is different. We provide services to anyone with a disability, regardless of their disability, age or economic status. We wrap our services around each person’s needs versus trying to make them fit specific program guidelines and parameters. We run the gamut from finding one person accessible housing while another learns how to manage their own money, someone else wants to pursue a career and another needs advocacy with being treated equitably.

 1 in 4 people have a disability.

That’s nearly 1 in 4; however, it is not only people with disabilities who are concerned about disability-related issues. Over 20.9% of families in the United States have one or more members with a disability.

Mission & History

Our Mission

RAMP’s mission is to build an inclusive community that encourages individuals with disabilities to reach their full potential. We take a creative approach to find resources and opportunities available to team up with individuals with disabilities to access the community where we live, work and play.

Our History

In 1978, a man named Ken Kerns met Jim Hamilton and Jim was struck by the fact that Ken, this nice, bright, passionate guy who happened to use a wheelchair, was not working. Jim seized the opportunity to enlist his help and together they wrote a grant to begin RAMP.

“It was very seat of the pants. We were doing something that was brand new and because it was people with disabilities doing it, other people with disabilities could relate to us,” explained Kerns, who became the first Executive Director of RAMP in 1980.

Today, RAMP serves over 1,000 people annually from four full time offices serving Boone, DeKalb, Stephenson and Winnebago counties providing over 25,000 hours in community action and advocacy – all because a few people took a chance on an individual using a wheelchair.

Building on that, RAMP now offers a full continuum of services from four offices for individuals with disabilities, any age, any disability, so they can live, learn, work and play in our community.