In early December 2020, the City of Pickering staff received a call from a resident, Thomas Hammond, for accessibility advice/assistance.
As a recent amputee, Hammond was encountering significant challenges entering/exiting his side-door rental unit. The unit’s ten-inch doorstep created a serious barrier for Hammond to navigate using his new walker and crutches, said the city.
Pickering staff reached out through the Pickering Accessibility Advisory Committee to the committee’s Ajax Pickering Board of Trade representative, John McLellan, for advice/assistance. John McLellan visited Hammond and inspected the doorway within hours of the city’s call.
McLellan measured the entranceway, considered the relevant AODA and Ontario Building Code requirements, and rather than installing a permanent structure, placed an order for a portable aluminum ramp platform.
On delivery of the ramp, John McLellan installed it for Hammond in mid-December, well in time for the festive season. John McLellan Contracting Inc. generously absorbed all costs of purchasing and installing the ramp. A brilliant solution, the portable ramp can now be taken by Hammond to any future residence.
The city says Hammond is reported to be extremely happy with the ramp and phones his new friend, John McLellan, frequently to stay in touch.
John McLellan and his construction firm have a long-held reputation for embracing and championing accessibility in Pickering and the Region of Durham. The case of Hammond is simply one example of John McLellan’s exemplary accessibility leadership, the city says.