Landscape Architect Articles

LCN August 2008 Off the Clock07-30-08 | News

Arizona Contractor Aids Disabled Child

By Elise Cimino & Diane Saunders

Contractor Tad McCray of McCray & McCray Earthmovers stands on the sidewalk that he and his company built to help those like Sarah Loya (above left), who suffers from cerebral palsy, walk to the playground. Before the sidewalk was built, it was difficult for anyone with a handicap to reach the playground across the sand path. Photo: Eastern Arizona Courier

Recently, Tad McCray of McCray and McCray Earthmovers helped make the life of a little girl a much happier one. Thanks to the generosity of these local contractors and the compassion of Discovery Plus Academy staff members, Sarah Loya will be able enjoy time on the playground with her friends.

The little girl, who just completed first grade at Discovery Plus, suffers from cerebral palsy and uses a walker to aid in her mobility. The walker, however, would not allow Sarah to go with her classmates to the school?EUR??,,????'???s playground because of the terrain. Sarah?EUR??,,????'???s first-grade teacher, Candace Lines, said, ?EUR??,,????'??She would try and try to reach the playground through the sand with her walker. By the time she finally arrived to play, recess would nearly be over. Sometimes she even fell because her walker wheels would get stuck and knock her off balance.?EUR??,,????'??

When she did not attempt to walk to the playground, Sarah would just sit on the bench. Lines said a few children would join Sarah on the bench briefly but would run off to play. Sarah, however, never complained. Lines and her instructional aide, Laura Hollowell, took matters into their own hands. Lines stated, ?EUR??,,????'??Laura wrote letters to many concrete companies asking for donations of cement. CKC returned her call and said they would donate whatever we needed to make the sidewalk to the playground a reality. I asked Tad McCray, owner of McCray and McCray Earthmovers, to donate forms and such. He not only donated the forms, he leveled the area, set the forms, calculated the cement amount and donated not only his valuable time, but the time of seven of his employees to pour and finish the sidewalk.?EUR??,,????'??

Sarah was able to walk on the sidewalk the same day that it was completed, and she has used it every day since. Photo: Candace Lines

LCN was interested in finding out more about this project, and when asked to answer a few questions, Tad McCray graciously offered his time, even though he was minutes away from going on vacation. When asked what his feelings were about the project, McCray stated, ?EUR??,,????'??I felt really good about the project, it had such a positive outcome. We all had a good feeling about what we were doing, and it was great to improve this girl?EUR??,,????'???s life in the school surroundings. It was rewarding to see her do things that she couldn?EUR??,,????'???t do before.?EUR??,,????'??

On plans for future projects similar to this one, McCray continued, ?EUR??,,????'??If there are opportunities like this in the future, we most definitely want to help out in the community.?EUR??,,????'?? McCray also wanted to give credit to others who made this project happen. He said, ?EUR??,,????'??The teachers need to be recognized ?EUR??,,????'??? they started it all. It wasn?EUR??,,????'???t just us; we just helped them.?EUR??,,????'??

The completed sidewalk is 4 feet wide and 147 feet long, requiring more than 8-1/2 yards of concrete, which were donated by CKC. Lines is extremely grateful to McCray and his fellow workers for all of the work that they did. She stated, ?EUR??,,????'??Our school is a small charter school, and we do not get public funding for things like this, as other schools do. Tad had another huge job that he was working on, but he cancelled that for the day so he could work on the sidewalk?EUR??,,????'???He is a very busy man, with several big projects. But, he is such a nice and humble man. Tad and his crew went above and beyond.?EUR??,,????'??

?EUR??,,????'??It was exciting to be a part of it,?EUR??,,????'?? McCray said. ?EUR??,,????'??There?EUR??,,????'???s no better joy than watching somebody (with a handicap) have an opportunity.?EUR??,,????'?? Thanks to McCray and his fellow contractors, Sarah and other handicapped students will be able to use the sidewalk and take pleasure in playground fun with their friends.

Source: Diane Saunders, Eastern Arizona Courier