Community members, veterans and local supporters gathered on January 10 at Newsome High School to celebrate a new Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) build in Lithia. The ceremony marked the beginning of a custom home that will be donated to Army Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Cornelius, who was severely injured while serving in Iraq.
The home is being built through Homes For Our Troops, a national nonprofit that builds and donates specially adapted, mortgage-free homes for severely injured post-9/11 veterans. The custom home is being constructed by Elizabeth Evans Custom Homes. For Cornelius, the project represents more than a place to live; it represents safety, independence and stability after years of navigating a world not designed for someone who is blind.
“There’s always a possibility of hurting yourself on something because it’s not made for your disability,” Cornelius said during his remarks.
Cornelius enlisted in the U.S. Army at 19, motivated by a desire to support his young family and continue a strong family tradition of military service. He was married for 14 years and said he met his wife while living in California, though she was born and raised in Sarasota. Cornelius is the father of five daughters.
“My outstanding youngest one is here with me, still standing by me,” he said. “She’s actually my official caregiver as well, doing outstanding things for me.”
During his third deployment to Iraq in 2008, Cornelius was serving as a platoon sergeant when an improvised explosive device detonated beneath him, causing catastrophic injuries that left him blind. While still recovering from those injuries back home, he suffered another devastating loss.
“She was given some wrong medicine from a doctor and died in her sleep,” Cornelius said of his wife. “So, that was on top of everything I’d been going through. So, me and my youngest here came together.”
Despite these immense personal trials, Cornelius refused to be defined by them. As he adapted to permanent vision loss, Cornelius leaned on family support and discovered an unexpected outlet through music. What began as therapy became a passion, and he now works locally as a disc jockey. He also became a certified massage therapist, “because they said I probably couldn’t do it — but I did it anyway,” he said, and an active participant in the Wounded Warrior Project, through which he surfs, bikes and sails.
Living in a traditional home not designed for someone who is blind presents daily challenges. HFOT homes are built with more than 40 major special adaptations and exceed ADA standards, incorporating open floor plans, widened hallways and doorways and accessibility features designed to reduce fall risk and restore independence.
“Rails along the walls that help me guide myself around the home, so I’m not tripping and falling over things,” Cornelius said.
Bathrooms, where falls are most common, were a major focus of the design. The integrated guidance features will allow him to move through the space safely.
In the kitchen, features were selected to minimize burns, spills and heavy lifting. The home will include an induction cooktop that automatically shuts off when cookware is removed.
“It’s not going to turn on unless I try to cook something, and when I take it off, it turns off,” Cornelius said. “Cool safety features.”
A pot filler near the cooktop will eliminate the need to carry heavy containers of water across the room.
“They talk about how cool is that, so I don’t have to carry water around,” he added.
HFOT homes are typically four-bedroom, two-bath, energy-efficient builds measuring just over 2,800 square feet designed to support family life while keeping long-term utility costs manageable.
“This place is huge,” Cornelius joked. “I’m going to have to put a clapper on my guide dog.”
Security, particularly at night, was one of the most important considerations in the home’s design.
“The whole thing for me is safety,” Cornelius said. “It sounds kind of weird, but at night, when you’re blind, you hear everything.” He added, “No one should feel unsafe in their own home.”
Voice-activated technology throughout the home will allow him to open, close and lock windows without moving through the house, providing greater control and peace of mind.
Cornelius chose to build in Florida to remain close to family, particularly his daughter Gabby. Finding a suitable lot near his current home in Bradenton proved difficult due to extensive wetlands that limit buildable land for an HFOT project.
Instead, he selected a lot in Lithia on the same street as close friend and fellow HFOT veteran Rusty Carter, who received his adapted home in August 2024.
Retired Army Brig. Gen. Tom Landwermeyer, president and CEO of Homes For Our Troops, said the organization’s mission is centered on restoring independence for veterans whose injuries make everyday life challenging in traditional homes.
“These veterans need assistance with many of the little things most of us take for granted every day,” Landwermeyer said. “Those challenges add up and take a tremendous amount of time and energy.”
Construction on Cornelius’ home will continue over the coming months. When completed, the home will allow him to move through his own space safely and independently Those interested in volunteering or donating can visit www.hfotusa.org.
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