SAN ANTONIO — They were once perfect strangers that have now built a bond made to last.
Local business owner Brad Richard and his client Patrick Sturdivant crafted a friendship through precision and trust.
Richard is the owner of The Cabinet Wizard. He has a small shop in San Antonio and has been in business well over 40 years. He primarily does residential work like remodels, cabinets, entertainment centers, bookcases and custom furniture.
Six years ago, Sturdivant heard an ad for The Cabinet Wizard and contacted Richard about a project. The rest is history.
"I looked him up and read about him online," Strudivant said. "And gave him a call."
As Richard would soon learn, Sturdivant is very particular about what he likes.
"It is a lot of asking questions," Sturdivant said. "I will interrogate Brad."
The process for these two working together is more than meets the eye.
"2D drawings aren't going to cut it for a blind person," Sturdivant said.
Sturdivant was born legally blind with glaucoma. He had some vision but lost it at the age of 14.
"I know there was always a chance," he said. "It was just a matter of when I was going to lose that sight."
One thing is clear, he never lost sight on life.
"When you see someone who is disabled, don't be scared," Sturdivant said. "Think of it as an opportunity to learn about someone who is different."
It was a huge lesson for Richard because he had never worked with someone like Sturdivant.
"He has to describe to me in great detail what he wanted," Richard said. "He knows what he wants. He sees it in his mind and then he will communicate that to me verbally."
Sturdivant has a vision of what he wants and the Richard executes his ideas.
At first, Richard didn't know his now friend was blind until they first met in person.
"He comes walking into the shop with a cane and an Uber driver," Richard said. "I was floored. I had no idea. He walks up and he sits down at my desk. And I have all these drawings that I made. I was like these aren't going to do any good."
The builder had to work around the process, since he wasn't able to show drawings of the work. Instead, how they get what Sturdivant wants is by touch.
"Anything to make a 3D model where I can touch and feel and demonstrate to him," Sturdivant said. "The medium that we can handle, which is both the physical."
The cabinets inside Sturdivant's home were his idea met with Richard's talent. The Cabinet Wizard himself, built them all. He also made the custom furniture inside the bedroom.
"His blindness shouldn't have to be an obstacle in a work relationship that involves making something," Richard said. "I have learned you can't look at people's differences, and just look for how you can connect with them."
"People who are disabled are first people," Sturdivant said. "They are then disabled."
