Company Supports Accessibility, Inclusion during Disability Pride Month (and Every Month)
With July being worldwide Disability Pride Month, Amramp CEO Justin Gordon takes his cue to emphasize the life-changing importance of access to buildings of all types, especially homes. In particular, the accessibility franchise’s services are crucial to senior citizens, who spearhead the demand for assistive products and building modifications, such as those provided by Amramp Accessibility, Gordon says.
Numbers back him up. In 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau tallied 58.6 million, or 17.7% of the total population, as 65 and older. Some 40% of those seniors reported a disability, according to 2022 data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and limited mobility — reported by one in seven U.S. adults of all ages — was the most common disability. The 2019 American Housing Survey found that nearly one-fifth of the approximately 130 million U.S. households, or 26 million, include a person requiring accessibility assistance. Of course, Amramp also serves businesses, which must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Amramp’s Appeal
Turning obstacles into accessibility makes Amramp a feel-good brand. Its products (quick-to-install rugged steel ramps, stairlifts, vertical lifts and bathing transfers) and services (adding grab bars, widening doors) help seniors and other clients comfortably navigate their homes.
But the accessibility franchise also has an appealing softer side, Gordon says. “Amramp is the last family-owned accessibility franchisor – my dad was the founder – so we’re really personable and flexible. This means that we’ll often travel farther than others, we’ll be there faster than others, and we’ll have a human on the phone with you right away. We’re really setting ourselves apart by being highly responsive, flexible and just there for our customers. I hear a lot of stories of a customer calling another company and hearing it will be two weeks, and then calling us and we’re there the next day.”
Amramp owners’ dedication is the backbone of the 23-year-old accessibility franchise, he says. “Our franchisees are the boots on the ground. They’re the ones meeting with families, assessing homes and installing solutions that let people stay where they’re most comfortable. They really become trusted resources in their communities and often go above and beyond to make sure clients feel safe and supported.”
Financial Considerations
Gordon foresees a bright future for the recession-resistant brand. “Between the aging population and increasing awareness around disability rights and inclusion, accessibility is not just a trend. There’s strong and growing demand, and Amramp is in a great position with proven systems, a strong brand and national reach. We really set our franchisees up for success with fantastic headquarters support, low overhead, B2C and B2B customers, and more.”
In some areas, franchisees and homeowners also enjoy a helping hand from government programs that subsidize accessibility enhancements. “We’re seeing more things like grants – for example, the Rhode Island Home Mod Grant, which is just the first to be passed. We expect Massachusetts to be next among others that will increase the demand for our home modification services like door widening and bathroom remodels that allow people to age in place.”
Those projects often lead to recurring income for franchisees as senior clients’ needs escalate, Gordon says. “For people who like to plan ahead or who don’t know where to start, our bathing transfers and stairlifts are typically the first products we will install for customers. At that point, the customers are still mobile but maybe they live alone and need that assistance and assurance. It’s usually later that they need things like ramps or vertical platform lifts. Our franchisees definitely have the opportunity to create a repeat customer, and it happens quite often in our business. We’ll start with a stairlift and some grab bars, and then we go service that stairlift every so often so we’re in touch, and when they need a ramp, we’re the first company they call.”
Disability Pride Month
Empowering self-reliance is the day-in, day-out goal for Amramp. “Disability Pride Month is a great time to celebrate independence and visibility, but our franchisees do this work all year long,” Gordon says. “Our team is constantly working to remove physical barriers and help people live more fully, whether that’s through fast ramp installations, educating communities about accessibility, or partnering with local disability organizations that assist patients who are battling mobility diseases like ALS [amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease] and multiple sclerosis. “Amramp’s products and services are transformative not only for our clients, but also for their loved ones, who want them to maintain as much independence and mobility as possible for as long as possible.”
To learn more about this accessibility franchise, which is expanding in the U.S. and Canada, visit the Amramp website.
