Constructs Lego ramps for wheelchair accessibility: Langen

In the heart of Langen, a German city committed to promoting an inclusive society, the focus on barrier-free access and participation in culture and leisure is paramount. This initiative is spearheaded by the city's efforts, with the support of various organisations such as the social association VdK.

Rita Ebel, fondly known as the "Lego Grandma," has been building ramps from old Lego and Duplo blocks for six years. Her colourful ramps, designed to aid people in wheelchairs, walkers, rollators, or strollers, are seen as an important impetus by Langen Mayor, Jan Werner.

Mayor Werner, with a strong emphasis on barrier-free access in the city center, has been actively collaborating with Rita Ebel. The city of Langen has even signed an agreement to establish the Model Region for Inclusion, a project that includes cities like Dresden, Nuremberg, and Mannheim.

The collection bins for Lego and Duplo blocks were set up at the Langen Recycling Center and the Recycling Acceptance Center in Egelsbach. KBL CEO Uwe Linder and ALEG Operations Manager Juan Lopez Schnecker supported this project, collecting around 480 liters of Lego and Duplo blocks for Rita Ebel's ramp-building project.

Uwe Linder, in acknowledging the social value created by such projects on a local level, stated that dealing with Rita Ebel's purposeful structures is a first mental step towards inclusion. A sense of responsibility for people and the environment is part of the mission statement of KBL and ALEG.

Rita Ebel's dedication extends beyond the city limits, as she is contacted by retailers or their customers who point out the lack of barrier-free access. In response, she creates ramps with company logos on request, further emphasising her commitment to inclusivity.

With the creation of a network advocating for an inclusive society in Langen, in collaboration with the social association VdK, the city is one step closer to realising its vision of a barrier-free and inclusive city center.