Phillip Brown, 36, of Ellijay, Georgia, is like many people his age: he works as a firefighter, entertains friends and family and loves to watch Paula Dean on The Food Network. He is known for his skill on the backyard grill and his passion for helping others. What most people don’t know is that he has been blind since birth due to retinitis pigmentosa.
“It’s a lot like looking through a tiny hole in a black piece of paper that is always in front of your face,” Phillip says. “Total blindness can be a problem, but I still live an active, enjoyable, worthwhile life.”
At age 7, Philip had the chance to board a Mac Bulldog fire truck and instantly fell in love with firefighting. “The truck had a big iron bulldog on the front,” he says. “I remember telling one of the guys, ‘This is what I want to do: be a firefighter.’ He laughed and patted me on the head.” Despite the firefighter’s dismissal, Phillip was hooked.
Phillip read everything he could about firefighting.When he moved back to Ellijay, the chief at the Gilmer County Fire Services gave him his chance. “He said, ‘We’ll try it and see how it goes, but we’re worried about safety. You’re going to have to prove yourself ,’” Phillip says. “I don’t blame him, because I’m a blind person coming into a sighted person’s job.”
On Phillip's first day, a firefighter took him around the garage. He felt his way around a truck and said, “Wait a minute. I know this fire truck. This is a 1977 Mac Bulldog.” Impressed, the firefighter asked him how he knew. Phillip explained that the bulldog on the front and the layout of this truck was exactly like the one he’d seen in 1977.
Phillip is certified in basic fire fighting, crash victim extrication and hazardous materials awareness. He has earned numerous training certificates from monthly training with FEMA, including a Professional Development Certificate in Emergency Management.
Phillip now serves as a volunteer firefighter and is an ordained minister for the Gilmer County Fire Services. As a minister, he counsels firefighters, their families and the community. Phillip understands the stress firefighters endure and knows what it’s like to be inside a burning building.
When away from the fire station, Phillip can be found in his backyard grilling up burgers, pork and vegetables. “You can grill just about anything,” he says. “It just takes a little imagination.” He has taken all five of Hadley’s food courses and was impressed with instructor Patti Jacobson. “I started cooking small dishes and then moved on to full meals,” he says. He started grilling hot dogs on a small charcoal grill, eventually upgrading to a larger grill and adding a charcoal smoker to his outdoor cooking tools.
Whether fighting fires, helping those whose lives have been impacted by accidents, or relaxing with friends and family and cooking a meal, Phillip says many people are surprised by his capabilities. “I can sit here and feel sorry for myself or maybe get out and do something I’ve wanted to do,” he says. “I want to make a difference in my life and someone else’s.”
Phillip has taken all five of Hadley's food courses. "You can grill just about anything," he says. "It just take a little imagination."
Phillip’s Grilling Tips
Copyright © 2008 The Hadley School for the Blind. All rights reserved.