An injured Marine veteran received the keys and iPad to his customized home in Fallbrook.
Marine Staff Sgt. Jason Ross received his Smart Home Friday morning, made possible by actor Gary Sinise’s foundation, which honors American veterans and safety personnel.
Ross’ specially-adapted home was constructed through the foundation’s Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment program.
Donors from Wounded Warriors Family Support, Ford, Marriott, Home Depot and more contributed to the Marine veteran’s new home.
Ross' home was built specially adapted to his interests, especially his love for cooking.
"I like to cook and the biggest challenges I've had with other houses is just the kitchens are not set up for someone in a wheelchair," Ross said. "Even though some of the places can be set up and say they're ADA friendly, well yeah, you can get a wheelchair in there but there's no space to actually move around."
The home also has wider hallways for easy manuevering and pull-down shelves for higher to reach spaces. Ross can also manipulate his home using the different settings built into his iPad.
Ross joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 2001 and completed his tour in Japan in 2004.
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He then re-enlisted in the Explosive Ordnance Disposal field and was deployed twice to Afghanistan, where Ross lost both his legs after stepping on an improvised explosive device.
He was given a 2 percent chance of survival, but more than 200 surgeries later, Ross has persevered.
