Alfred Brown heard from a friend that Habitat for Humanity in Dodge County “had an opportunity for someone who wanted to help himself.”

It was a long shot to apply, but Alfred Brown is used to difficult odds.

Alfred, who suffered a devastating spinal injury in a car accident at age 19, was born and raised in Eastman, Ga., the county seat. Paralyzed from the neck down, with some use of his arms and hands, he has used a wheelchair for 20 years.

“After my accident, I started all over again,” he recalls. “It was like a baby stage. I couldn’t do anything. I was dependent. I was in the hospital for a year and four months and spent two years in residential therapy at Warm Springs. They told me the therapy wasn’t doing any good. But over the years there was slow progress. It took five to six years to get the upper body use back.

“My relationship with God and a strong family kept me going,” he says. “You work with what you’ve got. You learn what works for you.”

One thing that did not work for him was his living space. 

“The house I was living in was not built for a wheelchair,” he says. The house he’s been living in since late last year was custom-designed by Glenmary Brother Tom Sheehy, executive director of Dodge County Habitat for Humanity.

The lower countertops and stove are the perfect height for Alfred. Everywhere there is enough clearance to maneuver the wheelchair through doors, around corners and up to the front-loading washing machine.

The space under the kitchen sink is open, so his knees fit underneath and his hands reach both faucets and the dishes. Kitchen cabinets feature sliding drawers for access to dishes and canned goods. Like the rest of the house, every feature of the bathroom was designed with his input.

The special laminate floor is a perfect surface for easy wheelchair rolling. Exterior doors have zero-clearance thresholds and ramps. Brother Tom got a special Habitat exemption for a carport, so the time Alfred spends getting into the car to go to his communications/customer service job at Wal-Mart does not result in sunstroke or rain-soaked clothing.

The thermostats, electrical panel, wall switches and fire extinguisher are at a convenient height for their owner. “I can get to everything to clean it,” Alfred says. “That’s one of the blessings of having everything built to your specific needs.”

Alfred’s “sweat equity” was earned at the phones in the Habitat office as well as at the construction site. His relatives and friends helped work on his home. The property was donated. The Eastman Lions Club and the Lions Clubs International Foundation provided a large grant. And other contributions and work were supplied by volunteers and generous supporters.

Like every Habitat project, it was a team effort. The mortgage and maintenance represent the final quarter of the game. The principal player is very pleased.

“I feel good,” Alfred says, showing off his living room dTcor in black and pink. “It feels good being independent and able to do things for yourself. It’s great. It’s a great feeling.” 

Susan Stevenot Sullivan