He's not Christopher Reeves, but this quadriplegic real estate agent may turn out to be Superman to disabled homebuyers. All he needs is a little help to get started.

Ten years ago, Keith Simmons was a 31-year-old assistant manager at what was then called Revco, now CVS Pharmacy. One day, he was in an automobile accident that would forever change his life. Like Reeves, Simm suffered spinal cord injuries that left him a quadriplegic, but Simmons was a little luckier than Reeves and retains some slight upper body mobility.

"Where the break is determines the type of paralysis," explains Simmons, "Christopher Reeves' injury was a C1, mine was a lower break at C6-C7, so I have some mobility in my arms and limited use of my hands."

Despite his injuries, Simmons drives a car using hand controls, and he can also type on a keyboard. And those two skills are enough to allow him to compete as a real estate agent. But he plans to specialize in an area that might make other agents uncomfortable -- homes for the disabled.

"I just went through the homebuying process, and learned a lot about what I had to do to get my home wheelchair accessible," explains Simmons. "I was talking with a friend, and he said I could put that knowledge to good use by helping others do the same thing. I thought that was a good idea, so I got my license."

Simm learned that he knew what he wanted but not necessarily how to accomplish what he needed -- to have his things within his range. He hired a consultant to help him with the homebuying process who did more than point out which doors needed to be widened to accommodate Simmons' wheelchair. The consultant redesigned Simmons' bathroom and taught him all the nuances that can make a home barrier-free. "I can get up to the sink and do things for myself now," says Simmons, "as opposed to having someone else doing things for me."

The consultant then took Simmons to view other homes designed for the handicapped to see how they rate in the real world. "He asked me what I thought," recalls Simmons, "and I said, 'Thank God I hired you because there were a lot of things that weren't done because they didn't know what to do."

Simmons believes he can help others in wheelchairs to find, remodel and build homes with as much accessibility as possible. He also believes that buyers with limitations is a growing market, and there's plenty of support for that. A federally funded Health and Retirement Study tracks more than 20,000 U.S. boomers, and found that the first wave -- those born between 1948 and 1953 reported worse health at the same age than previous generations born between 1936 and 1941, and 1942 through 1947. As the baby boomers become senior citizens, they are going to have more trouble doing routine things such as climbing stairs and opening cans of food than their predecessors.

Money may also be a problem. Only 25 percent of disabled people are employed compared to 79 percent of the able population, according to the National Council on Disabilities. Simmons, who subsists on social security payments, says he will find ways to help disabled people get financing for their new homes.

He also wants to help disabled veterans, and plans to start his farming with veteran's administration and other groups that assist people with disabilities. "There's a guy down the street who was disabled in training, right before his second tour of Iraq," says Simmons. "I want to help people like that."

Currently Simmons is interviewing brokers to see which would be the best place to hang his license. Not all have been supportive or encouraging, but Simm says he appreciates the tough questions they ask, such as how he's going to show homes and what his business plan will be. Some have also warned him about the serious upfront costs to becoming a real estate agent.

One broker has seemed more interested, and told Simmns he would do some research and help come up with ideas. He says he's going to talk with Simmons again.

"It's a new idea for them and it's new to me as well. I may not be able to go into every home," says Simmons, "but I can explain what buyers need to look for. That's how I found my home. My Realtor suggested that I look out here (Harrisburg, S.C.) so I could get around easily."

Simmons has attendants who come in the mornings and help him bathe and dress for the day, and he says he has friends whom he visits. One friend is also in a wheelchair and doesn't drive, so Simmons is used to picking up his friend and taking him along to go to the movies or out to lunch. "We get a lot of double-takes," he laughs, "but I know I can do the same for disabled clients. Some people may not be comfortable riding with me, but I don't have a problem taking anyone someplace."

Simmons keeps an upbeat attitude, and knows he'll need that to be a success in real estate. "It was the way I was raised," he says simply. "Good friends and family support make a big difference. I have my days like anybody else, but for the most part, things are good."

If you have any ideas for helping Keith Simmons begin his real estate career, or simply wish to contact him and wish him well, please email him at bksimm@ctc.net or call Keith at 704.455.8494.

Published: August 23, 2007

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Blanche Evans is the award-winning senior editor of Realty Times, the Internet's leading independent real estate news service. She is featured daily on the Realty Times Video Network in the "Realty Viewpoint" segment. Blanche has been named one of the "25 Most Influential People In Real Estate" by REALTOR Magazine, and has been twice recognized as a "notable." In 2005, she was named "Top Reporter Covering the NAR" by Delahaye-Bacon's. Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. To contact Blanche, email her at . For more articles by Blanche, click here.