The "Mobile Ramps for Gütersloh" project, jointly managed by the City of Gütersloh's Disability Advisory Board and Gütersloh Marketing GmbH (gtm), is entering its next round. Currently, almost 30 stores in Gütersloh offer their customers a mobile ramp and thus contribute to a little more accessibility in our city center. Now the gtm would like to draw the attention of retailers, restaurateurs and service providers to the project once again in order to further promote the topic of a barrier-free city center. "Removing barriers is an important factor in enabling participation," explains Clara Abelmann, who is responsible for the project at gtm.
The project is made possible by the "Hans and Ingrid Diestelkamp Foundation for Accessibility and Life Support for Poliomyelitis". The foundation bears all costs incurred, so participation is free of charge for stores. In addition to a folding ramp made of aluminum with a non-slip surface, which is adapted to the local conditions of the respective store, an information sticker and a radio bell are also part of the basic equipment provided. Anyone wishing to use the ramp can ring the bell to notify the staff, who will then lay out the ramp for use. After use, the ramp can be stowed away again and thus does not represent a tripping hazard.
In 2018, Modehaus Wörmann on Berliner Straße was the first store in Gütersloh to receive a mobile ramp through the project. It was followed by more than 20 other stores in downtown Gütersloh, which are now more easily accessible for people with wheelchairs, walkers or strollers thanks to the project. The most recent additions are the family concept store Kids&Coffee on Hohenzollernstrasse, the fashion store Tredy on Berliner Strasse and the restaurant Bullit on Königstrasse. The listing of all stores that provide a mobile ramp can be found at viewed here.
If you are interested in a mobile ramp, owners of stores close to the city center can contact viewed here or under clara.abelmann@guetersloh-marketing.de contact the gtm. In cooperation with the Disability Advisory Board of the city of Gütersloh, the possibilities on site are being examined. At the same time, citizens can also by means of form Make suggestions on stores where they would like to see access via mobile ramp.
The "Hans and Ingrid Diestelkamp Foundation for Accessibility and Life Support in Poliomyelitis" (formerly: "Dr. Salk Memorial Foundation for the Disabled") was founded by Hans Diestelkamp, a native of Gütersloh, and his wife Ingrid Diestelkamp for the support of people affected by the consequences of polio infection. Hans Diestelkamp, who suffered from post-polio syndrome, was himself a wheelchair user and therefore knew about the barriers that make everyday life difficult for wheelchair users. With their foundation, which until Hans Diestelkamp's death was named after the physician and polio researcher Dr. Jonas Edward Salk, the family wanted to help create accessibility and overcome obstacles of all kinds.
English 
Deutsch