People move to Columbus for many reasons: To accept a job, to attend college or even just for a change of scenery. Others have decided to call Columbus home because of the handicap-accessibility that the city provides.

Many cities still do not enforce policies that require buildings to be equipped with wheelchair ramps and elevators making it possible for the handicapped to get around. In Columbus, however, that is not the case. Besides having access to every building, sidewalk and bus, those who move to Columbus with a disability have the option of residing at Creative Living.

The organization, which is comprised of two assisted-living facilities, operates as a non-profit group. Its mission is to encourage independent living for adults with severe disabilities by providing wheelchair-accessible housing and assistance.

The facilities are located on W. 10th Avenue and Perry Street. The two facilities house 16 residents and 18 residents, respectively.

Most residents move into these apartments to attend Ohio State, and because of this Creative Living focuses on the transition that its residents are making from attending high school and living with their parents to attending college and living on their own for the first time.

According to Gloria Maser, executive director of Creative Living, approximately 70 percent of the residents are OSU students. “Some have been here from the outset. They have attended school, graduated and now work in the community,” Maser said. “Others are currently working toward their degree and our facility helps them to learn to live independently.”

The two facilities are basically standard apartment complexes with a main office. The apartments are designed to accommodate wheelchairs, which means some surfaces are lower in order for residents to reach things, the entry ways are larger for wheelchairs to fit through and the showers are roll-in to allow residents to shower using special chairs, similar to wheelchairs.

Mike Shumate, a resident of the West 10th Avenue facility, feels that the shower accommodation is the most important. “The roll-in showers are a great help. It allows me to shower on my own with plenty of space,” said Shumate, who has been a resident at Creative Living for 13 years. He moved to Columbus to attend OSU and graduated with a triple major in political science, history and secondary education.

“I like school,” he said. “I enjoy learning and the fields of my majors were quite interesting.”

Shumate currently works in the claims department for Nationwide Insurance. He moved to Columbus in part because of the assisted-living program and its location close to campus. “I chose to attend Ohio State because I’ve always been a big Buckeye fan and also for the fact that not many colleges in Ohio have the handicap-accessibility that both Columbus and Creative Living provide.”

Creative Living opened its doors on Perry Street in 1974, and the W. 10th Avenue facility opened in 1985. The organization participates in Housing and Urban Development subsidized housing. The organization reviews an individual’s monthly income and determines if that person is eligible to receive funding for a portion of their rent. The amount people can receive varies with their income.

As far as special services, Maser said Creative Living is unique from other facilities of its kind because of its Resident Assistant Program. This program provides light assistance to residents at any time of day, everyday of the year. The assistants help residents with such tasks as opening doors and assisting personal care providers with bed transfers.

Residents can contact these assistants through a phone system that is accessible in every apartment. This way, if an assistant is away from the main desk on a call, they will be able to contact them in other apartments.

Megan Estok, a senior in speech and hearing, has worked in the R.A. Program for almost three years. “I was originally a physical therapy major when I began working here,” Estok said. “I changed my major soon after, but kept my job because I enjoy it. I feel like I am making a difference.”

Maser said that the R.A. Program costs approximately $180,000 per year to run, with one-third of the total cost paid by the residents and the other two-thirds come from fund-raising.

“We have four major fund-raisers each year,” Maser said. “There are many ways to contribute and be involved. We have volunteers who help organize the events, participants, sponsors and donors.”

The four fund-raisers are the PT5000, a letter-writing campaign, a golf outing and a wine-tasting event.

The PT5000 is a 5K walk, run or wheelchair race through the OSU campus. It is planned and sponsored by the Physical Therapy Department, and all the proceeds from the race are donated to Creative Living.

The letter-writing campaign is a letter sent out to regular donors of the organization or friends of Creative Living.

The golf outing raises money through team entry fees and corporate sponsored events.

The other fund-raiser is the wine tasting and silent auction, which will be held on April 26 at Cardinal Health Inc., in Dublin, Ohio.

Maser explained that fund-raising is crucial to operating the facilities and staffing the R.A. Program. “Without our resident assistants, this organization could not exist.”

Residents also employe personal assistants to aid them in preparing meals, bathing and cleaning. “Because part of our mission is teaching our residents to live independently, they are in charge of hiring and firing their personal assistants,” Maser said.

The assistants are usually not employed full time, but rather, come to the apartments for a few hours in the morning and a few hours at night. Most residents have more than one personal care assistant working for them because their availability may vary. Creative Living makes it possible for disabled students to function as independently as possible and the organization is seen by many as the “bridge to the future.” By helping its residents to adjust to living on their own, it is, in part, making the future possible.