In February of 1994, at the age of 18, my life was totally flipped upside down. I had grown up with the dream of racing dirt bikes professionally and unlike so many that have that dream, mine came true. I began touring the country and racing professional supercross, arenacross and motocross. It took lots of dedication, hard work and support from my family, but I was living my dream. Then on February 6, 1994, I was coming home from the California Supercross when I stopped to ride the Imperial Sand Dunes in Yuma, Arizona. Only a few minutes into the ride, with my brother on the back of the bike, I came over one of the dunes and realized too late that the dune dropped off, a razorback where the wind had blown the sand out. I crashed, landing on my head, leaving me paralyzed from the upper chest down. I endured many months of rehab and regained the use of my arms but not the dexterity of my fingers.

My dream and goals were ripped out from under me. Everything I had imagined doing with my life changed. While in the hospital, my dad bought me a computer to give me something to do; I figured this was a perfect opportunity to learn something new. Since my life revolved around racing, I started there. I began Jyro Sport Gear which was a casual clothing company. I ran this company for a few years and then decided to get a job in the corporate world. I have held jobs with a HVAC company, Earthlink Internet and Impress Design clothing. I have now expanded Jyro Sports Gear into Jyro Signs. We produce high quality signs, banners and decals.

About 3 years ago I started the process of building my own home. In the planning of this, I quickly realized how difficult it is to find products that are compatible to someone in a wheelchair. The standards for accessible design apply mostly to commercial use. Each of us that is confined to a wheelchair knows that there is not a standard for all of us. What works for a para might not work for a quad. What I have discovered is that there are many products on the market that are made for universal design, but there are few outlets for those products to be marketed to the large population that need them. After researching many companies that supply ADA or universal design products, I decided to build my home as a model for individuals, builders and architects to view these products and have a hands on demonstration that is not available in most stores.

Our home is located in Midlothian, Texas which is approximately 25 minutes south of Dallas and Fort Worth. It has been designed and built from the ground up using the latest in universal design and accessibility features. Not only being accessible for the disabled but, also practical for the able-bodied counterpart.

By opening up our home, we hope to share the knowledge we have collected about building an accessible home. A home that is comfortable to any one who lives in it, today or 30 years from now, without limiting it. Most accessible homes look accessible, universal design should be for everyone. One should be able to walk into a house and not notice right away that someone in a wheelchair lives there.

If you would like to schedule an appointment to view the house click here