R.A.M.P. hands out its first accessibility stamp

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) –A new program in Rhode Island is hoping to pair accessibility with visibility at businesses across the Ocean State.

The R.A.M.P. stamp of approval was presented for the first time this year, making sure Rhode Islanders know that any business with the stamp has been fully tested and is accessible to community members.

“So many of them will say that they’re accessible and I’ll get there and they’re like, ‘It’s only one step!'” RAMP CEO Tina Guenette said. “Well, you walk through that wall, and I’ll do one step.”

Guenette added that thousands of Rhode Islanders use mobility devices to get around, and even at businesses that say they’re accessible, it can be a mixed bag

“You’re seeing it, understanding that even if you have the sticker and the right square footage, if it’s all in the wrong order and not usable, it doesn’t work for us,” she said.

The first stamp was given out to the Steel Yard, an industrial art center in Providence.

“We are super proud to receive the first R.A.M.P. stamp in recognition of our widely accessible studios for welding, ceramics, and jewelry,” Executive Director Howie Sneider said. “We also see that this is a reminder that accessibility is ongoing work and that we have a commitment to making sure that everyone in our community can participate in programs at the Yard.”

There are more than 200 businesses in line as the program ramps up.

“It’s open to any business out there that wants to be inclusive and wants to be accessible,” Guenette said. “When you’re accessible, it works for everybody. Everybody can get into an accessible restaurant.”

She added that Rhode Island is one of the first states putting a program like this together, and for businesses concerned about some of the costs involved, the program has them covered.

“We have a grant with the Secretary of State’s office that gives every business $5,000 to start the process, and once you start the process, it’s $15,000 worth of tax breaks each year that you can take to keep the process going,” Guenette said. “It’s ‘accessibility for dummies.’ When you don’t know what you don’t know we take the guesswork out of it.”

The program is open to any businesses to get involved, who can reach out to R.A.M.P. to have them perform a roll-through of the business, sign a contract, and then get the stamp.