ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Brothers Takoda and Dallas Barlow both live with muscular dystrophy and face challenges in their home housing their large family of 17.
Now, because of a project by the Building Hope for Kids and a large coalition of local organizations, the home has a new first-floor bedroom for the two brothers, along with a bathroom and outdoor ramp that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Building Hope for Kids project completed a home expansion in Allentown for two brothers to increase their home's accessibility
- The two brothers, Takoda and Dallas Barlow, live with muscular dystrophy, and Takoda uses a wheelchair
- A ribbon-cutting featuring the Lehigh Valley Phantoms was held Tuesday to show the family the completed space
The brothers were shown the completed space in a ribbon-cutting ceremony that featured Lehigh Valley Phantoms players and their mascot, as well as representatives from other groups involved in the project.
The expansion also features a second-floor room that will be used as a nursery, according to Jennifer Keeble, executive director of Lehigh Valley Phantoms' charity efforts, Phantoms Charities.
Keeble said Lehigh Valley Health Network initially let the group know about the family's need and that the development took about a year. She said it is the fifth project completed by Building Hope for Kids.
"Many of our subcontractors and local businesses donated their time and labor and materials," Keeble said. "So everyone played a really tremendous role in this project coming to completion."
The building's expansion was led by Butz Construction.
"All the struggles that you go through to get to this day, that makes it all worth it."Peter Schneck, project manager with Butz Construction
"All the struggles that you go through to get to this day, that makes it all worth it," said Peter Schneck, project manager with Butz Construction. "What you spent your time on and the hours that you spent in making sure that everything was lined up so that they're in there, and they're smiling, and they're comfortable."
Mother Desiree Barlow said the expansion will help tremendously, particularly with Takoda and his wheelchair.
"When he goes to his appointments, they'll be able to just go down the ramp," Barlow said. "They'll be able to pick them up over there in the back so that he can have some time to be out and mingle [and] have some friends."
