Vision Dynamics – From Vroom to Zoom
How does an aggressive sports enthusiast who races anything with an engine and co-owns a motorcycle dealership transform himself into the owner/operator of “The One Stop Independence Shop” that focuses on accessibility solutions?
Legally blind from age 13, Charlie Collins signed on at a motorcycle dealership in the early 90’s. Over the next several years, he climbed to the position of Vice President and became a co-owner. In 1996, Charlie realized that he was burning out on the motorcycle industry and he sold his interest in the shop and spent the next year considering his professional options. As an AT user himself he had first hand experience with the way that technology could increase productivity and improve the quality of life. He decided to combine his business acumen with the technology that helped him succeed and created what is now Vision Dynamics in Cheshire, Connecticut.
To what does Charlie attribute the success of his second career? The answer is twofold; first, Vision Dynamics cultivates great relationships with state agencies and the Veterans Affairs office in Connecticut, and second, Vision Dynamics has a fantastic store that displays and demonstrates a full range of accessibility technology.
“Great client relationships take time,” Charlie says, “We visit the VA and other organizations each week to demonstrate our products, provide user training and learn about their needs.” Vision Dynamics also works closely with the Board of Education Services for the Blind (BESB). When an agency manager calls Charlie to ask if he can bring someone by, Charlie answers emphatically, “Of course” and later welcomes the visitors into his impressive 1,200 square foot storefront.
Staffed by Charlie and two low-vision employees, the store offers retail space, a home center, and a training center. Every inch of the space is filled with the latest and greatest that technology has to offer to those with a vision-impairment.
Charlie and his staff use ZoomText 9.0 to operate all of the computers in his store. To accelerate cash register sales and insure accurate transactions, Charlie has employed ZoomText’s new Reading Zones feature, allowing them to hear each line item and sales total with a few simple commands.
These days he’s selling software on CD instead of engines measured in cc’s, and Charlie Collins has become a technology enthusiast. Just talking to Charlie makes you want to go to Cheshire and play with all the products in his store. Praising the feature-rich ZoomText 9.0, he says, “ZoomText has really stepped up.” Thanks Charlie for stepping up and making your vision of a One Stop Independence Shop a reality.