In Germany, 7.6 million people are disabled. Yet wheelchair and disability access is few and far between. One grandmother has taken it upon herself to build wheelchair ramps in her city, and she’s utilising an unconventional item – Lego.
Rita Ebel has been using a wheelchair for 26 years since a car accident left her disabled. After her accident, she was confronted by the number of places she could not access due to the lack of ramps. But when she learnt of ramps made of Lego, Ebel realised the difference she could make with something as simple as a child’s toy. “The tools we need to change the world are right in front of us,” she says. So with her husband, Ebel began creating ramps for her town, Hanau, using old bricks that people donated. As the ramps gained notoriety, she started making them to order and became known as the ‘Lego grandmother’.
Each ramp is unique and available in custom designs done by Ebel; from a company logo to the face of a favourite movie character. The vibrant ramps allow for everyone to feel welcome in spaces they might not have had access to before, especially children. “I want others to use my ramps to promote independence,” Ebel says. Destigmatising disability is crucial to fostering acceptance in communities. Thanks to Ebel, what was once in short supply has become an attraction. Her ramps are making a statement about inclusivity that’s difficult to miss.
