About Us - Mission Statement - Who We Are - Highlights

Press Contact:
Leonard Grossman, MD - Chairman
P.O. Box 1164
Maplewood, NJ 07040

Narrative of the CEMF Emergency Accessability Project

Maplewood, NJ -- When one thinks of emergency medical services, the first thing that comes to mind is primary medical care. Often overlooked, is the fact that many children are released from medical facilities to homes that are not designed to meet their special needs. Chronically and critically ill/handicapped children from indigent families are time and again faced with vast accessibility issues. Many of these children return home wheelchair bound to apartments without elevators, or small homes without ramps, bathrooms that can accommodate wheelchairs, or bedrooms with doors sufficient for wheelchairs or other equipment to pass through. These deficiencies create an overwhelming situation for parents and precarious situations for the child. Frequently these families are left with no one to turn to and no where to go.

Realizing the need to assist these families the Children's Emergency Medical Fund of New Jersey of New Jersey has embarked on a mission to make the public aware of accessibility issues through its outreach programs. However, enlightening the public, while important, will not solve the immediate problems so many families in the state face. Beginning in March 2003, CEMF realized the need and initiated the CEMF Accessibility Project.

This year the major priority for the CEMF Accessibility Project is the acquisition of portable ramps. These ramps must be in place prior to structural renovations. The key word is portable. Stationary permanent ramps involve extensive paperwork to secure city permits, this can take months. Many families live in public or rented housing and cannot install ramps that cannot be removed from the building. For families who own their homes, portable ramps allow handicapped children discharged from hospitals, immediate access to their homes while renovations commence. In general, children have day visits to their homes while under renovation.

CEMF has plans underway to purchase five ramps ranging from three to twelve feet. This range should accommodate almost every circumstance. CEMF is pursuing this initiative for safety reasons as well as convenience. Handicapped children must be able to get out of their homes quickly in case of fire or other emergency.

In addition to the ramps which provide provisionary methods of accessing homes, CEMF renovates homes which are inaccessible to disabled children. The first accessibility renovation project involved the gutting of a first floor bathroom and the conversion of a front porch into a bedroom with direct access to the front door. The reward for CEMF was to see Ty G., who had been paralyzed from the waist down after contracting Tranverse Myoltis, return to her home and family after an extended stay at Children's Hospital in Mountainside. This renovation was an overwhelming success and a learning experience for CEMF volunteers.

Shortly after the completion of the first project, Marlon H., age 11, was referred to CEMF by the social work team at St. Barnabas Medical Center. Marlon has End Stage Renal Failure. As a result of his illness, he sustains bone fractures, diabetic episodes, and frequent infections. The first priority was to send Marlon to the top pediatric specialists for evaluation and treatment. The second priority was to secure a wide range of services for him, including Social Security, and Medicaid in addition to the family health insurance. CEMF's ultimate goal was to bring Marlon home from the hospital. This entailed setting up dialysis equipment in the house and making the bathroom accessible. When CEMF volunteers visited the home in anticipation of Marlon's homecoming the team was taken aback at the condition of the house. With huge medical bills draining the family, they could not afford to make repairs to the home; it was obvious that an extensive renovation was necessary. A new roof and heating and electrical upgrades were required immediately. CEMF was determined that Marlin would return to the family environment. An architect and contractor were consulted in order to determine if a renovation could in fact be accomplished. The project was a sizeable undertaking. Once plans were set, CEMF proceeded to request the assistance of Morris Habitat, Allied Builders and Home Depot. Approximately eight months later Marlon's home had a new roof, new bedroom and bathroom, upgraded electric and heat, a new kitchen ceiling, and a working back door. It was now possible for Marlon to receive his dialysis at home in a safe environment.

It would be impossible to plan future structural home renovation projects because they arise on a case by case basis. CEMF's caseload grows monthly, weekly and sometimes daily. The funds must be available so aid can be given to these families immediately. CEMF does not want to move monies designated for emergency medical assistance and financial aide grants.