What Envision does

Envision, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1933 in Wichita, Kansas, that provides employment, rehabilitation, education, research, and child development services to people who are blind or visually impaired. Its core operations span an ISO 9001:2015-certified manufacturing facility producing plastic bags, can liners, military protective wear, and disaster aid items; Envision Xpress retail stores operating at 16 U.S. military bases across 10 states; comprehensive vision rehabilitation centers in Wichita and Farmers Branch, Texas; the Cathy G. Hudson Child Development Center; the Envision Research Institute conducting applied research in low vision, ADAS driving safety, wayfinding, and AR/VR assistive technology; Envision University providing continuing education; the William L. Hudson BVI Workforce Innovation Center offering digital and workplace accessibility services; and arts, youth, and adult programs.

The organization operates under the AbilityOne program established by the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act, through which its National Industries for the Blind (NIB) associated-agency status gives it preferential access to federal and Department of Defense procurement, including SKILCRAFT-branded products. Revenue is generated from four interlocking streams: hardware and product sales (government and commercial), AbilityOne/NIB government contracts, philanthropic donations and signature fundraising events (Evening with Envision gala, Golf for Vision, White Cane Day), and professional services including printing, call center, fulfillment, rehabilitation, and workforce training. Envision is governed by a board chaired by Sam Williams and led by President and CEO Michael Monteferrante, and it expanded its technology footprint with the February 2023 acquisition of OKRA.ai.

Name

Envision

Legal name

Envision, Inc.

Website

https://envisionus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Envision is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1933 that delivers employment, rehabilitation, education, research, and manufacturing services for people who are blind or visually impaired, operating across Wichita, Dallas, and 16 U.S. military bases through the AbilityOne program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vision Rehabilitation and Disability Services

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Assistive Technology (AT) & Accessible Learning Tools (EDALAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mobility, Positioning & Seating for School Access (Educational Use) (EDAKAIAG), AT Funding, Procurement & Compliance Support (IEP/504 Documentation) (EDAKAIAJ), AT Device Setup, Integration & Technical Support (MDM, IT, Interoperability) (EDAKAIAK)

Keywords

• Vision rehabilitation
• Disability employment
• Assistive technology
• Continuing education
• Contract manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Wichita

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Manufacturing and Product Sales: Envision Industries manufactures products including disaster aid items, military protective wear, plastic bags, can liners, and eco-friendly products. Operates under ISO 9001:2015 certification. Products are sold to government and commercial customers.
2. Government Contracts (AbilityOne/NIB): As a National Industries for the Blind associated agency, Envision fulfills contracts through the AbilityOne program, providing jobs in manufacturing, operations, sales, management, and administration for people who are blind or visually impaired.
3. Donations and Fundraising: 100% of donations directly fund crucial services and programs. Annual events include Evening with Envision gala, Golf for Vision tournaments in Wichita and Dallas, and White Cane Day Walk.
4. Professional Services: Provides printing services, call center services, fulfillment services, vision rehabilitation services, and workforce innovation training to businesses and organizations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Envision is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides employment, rehabilitation, education, research, and manufacturing services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Its product lines include plastic bags, can liners, janitorial, and military gear made by Envision Industries under the AbilityOne Program, and it sells products to civilians and military personnel through Envision Xpress stores on 16 military installations. It also delivers nationwide professional services including a U.S.-based call center, document imaging, and commercial printing, and operates an Envision Research Institute, Envision University, Child Development Center, and Workforce Innovation Center.

Product overview

Envision is a non-profit organization (Envision, Inc.) providing a comprehensive suite of services for people who are blind or visually impaired. The organization operates manufacturing facilities producing plastic bags and military supplies, retail operations through Envision Xpress at military bases and the Everyday Store, and professional services including printing, call center, and fulfillment services. Complementing these commercial offerings are rehabilitation services (Vision Rehabilitation Centers in Wichita and Dallas), the Envision Research Institute conducting low vision research, Envision University providing continuing education and conference programming, and youth/adult developmental programs. The portfolio also includes the Child Development Center for early childhood education and arts programming through the Envision Arts Gallery. The organization functions as a mission-driven business model that generates employment opportunities while funding its charitable programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SKILCRAFT: Products sold through National Industries for the Blind, including office supplies, hardware, and knowledge-based professional services produced by people who are blind.

Products and services

• Envision Vision Rehabilitation Services Comprehensive vision rehabilitation (adult and youth), orientation and mobility, occupational therapy, optometric low-vision clinical care, and assistive-technology training for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, delivered through locations in Wichita, Dallas and Olathe, plus the TX DPS-licensed program for vocational rehabilitation and food service.
• Envision Child Development Center and Low-Vision Clinic On-campus Child Development Center and Low Vision Clinic serving children from ages 0 through adulthood, with on-site certified low-vision and clinical care for early-intervention and pediatric clients who are blind or visually impaired.
• Envision University Continuing Education Continuing-education courses, conferences, and on-site facility rentals for the low-vision community, delivering approved continuing-education credits (ACM, ACVREP, AOTA, ASHA, CRCC, State of Kansas) for vision rehabilitation therapists, COMS, OTRs, COTAs, teachers of the visually impaired, and other allied professionals via online and on-site options.
• Envision Research Institute Applied research institute that conducts research into vision loss, accessibility, and ADAS, advancing assistive technology and low-vision knowledge that informs Envision's rehabilitation and education programs.
• Envision Industries Manufacturing Contract manufacturing for federal, state, local, military, and commercial customers under the AbilityOne Program and JWOD framework. Products include plastic bags, can liners, janitorial, and military gear, employing people who are blind or visually impaired. Envision has been an AbilityOne-approved manufacturer since 1953.
• Envision Xpress Retail Stores Retail stores on 16 U.S. military installations selling Envision-manufactured products and related items to military personnel and civilians on or near-base.
• Envision Professional Services (Call Center, Document Imaging, Commercial Printing) U.S.-based nationwide call center, document imaging, and commercial printing services producing small overnight print jobs through large commercial print runs, employing people who are blind or visually impaired.
• Envision Workforce Innovation Center Workforce development and supported-employment program that connects individuals who are blind or visually impaired with employment opportunities, internships, and related career resources across Wichita and Dallas.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90 years of service to the blind and visually impaired community
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Industries for the Blind (NIB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIB is dedicated to enhancing opportunities for people who are blind, primarily through employment. Envision is an NIB associated agency. NIB's impact is made possible through SKILCRAFT products and services produced by people who are blind, including thousands of offerings from office supplies to knowledge-based professional services.
• AbilityOnecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished by the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act, AbilityOne allows federal departments to purchase goods and services from nonprofit organizations employing people who are blind or visually impaired. Envision advocates for increasing AbilityOne utilization to drive employment for people with vision loss.
• AmazonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmazon partners with Envision to prioritize accessibility and improve processes on the CSBA program, supporting inclusive practices.
• Corza MedicalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to advance inclusive innovation in eye care, combining Corza Medical's expertise with Envision's mission.
• Butler County Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership supporting workforce development and training opportunities for people with visual impairments.
• Wichita State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for research collaboration, accessibility innovation, and workforce development including student programs and internships.
• WSU TechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical education partnership providing culinary training and accessibility programs for individuals with vision loss.
• Bosma EnterprisesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBosma Enterprises Postdoctoral Research Fellow program supporting vision research and rehabilitation research.
• Pitt PlasticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPitt Plastics Research Fellow program supporting research at the Envision Research Institute.
• LC Industries FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLC Industries Postdoctoral Research Fellow supporting vision research at ERI, focused on development patterns in infants with visual impairments.
• IBVI (Industries for the Blind & Visually Impaired)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBVI Research Fellow program supporting research on wayfinding and navigation expertise of people who are blind.
• ADS, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerADS Research Fellow supporting research on dual-sensory loss and rehabilitation training methods.
• 6 MeridianminorOthersCorporate partner supporting Envision's mission and programs.
• Exploration PlaceminorOthersScience museum partnership for educational programs and community engagement.
• American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvision Dallas serves as the new home for the AFB Center on Vision Loss, providing comprehensive vision services.
• OKRA.aiminorOthersEnvision acquired OKRA.ai, an AI company founded by Loubna Bouarfa in February 2023. Loubna later launched FactTrace from stealth.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Industries for the Blind (NIB): National umbrella nonprofit of which Envision is an associated agency. NIB centralizes AbilityOne contract management and SKILCRAFT product distribution for ~100 associated agencies including Envision, making it the parent-scale organization on the same business model.
• Perkins School for the Blind: Historic Watertown, MA institution providing education, rehabilitation, and research for blind and visually impaired students across the lifespan. Comparable as a comprehensive BVI services organization with strong research arms and national brand recognition.
• American Foundation for the Blind (AFB): National nonprofit providing advocacy, research, and services for people with vision loss; Envision Dallas hosts the AFB Center on Vision Loss. Comparable as the broad national voice and resource provider in the BVI space, complementing Envision's local service delivery.

Direct peers

• Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired (IBVI): Wisconsin-based nonprofit manufacturing and employment services agency for people who are blind, an NIB-associated agency that partners with Envision on a Research Fellow program. Operates very similar manufacturing, training, and AbilityOne contract fulfillment lines.
• Lighthouse Guild: New York-based nonprofit providing vision rehabilitation, behavioral health, education, and assistive technology services for people with vision loss. Comparable to Envision in operating a comprehensive continuum of vision rehab, research, and accessible services within a major metro.
• Bosma Enterprises: Indianapolis-based nonprofit providing employment, rehabilitation, and manufacturing services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Bosma is a fellow NIB-associated agency and explicit Envision research partner, operating the same AbilityOne-driven business model across overlapping service lines.
• The Chicago Lighthouse: Chicago-area nonprofit serving people who are blind or visually impaired through employment, manufacturing, rehabilitation, and assistive technology programs. Direct comparable in scale, multi-service portfolio, and NIB/AbilityOne participation.
• Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind: Washington DC-area nonprofit serving people who are blind or visually impaired through rehabilitation, education, and employment programs, with NIB/AbilityOne participation. Directly comparable multi-service BVI nonprofit operating in another metro market.
• LC Industries: Durham-based nonprofit affiliated with NIB providing employment and manufacturing for blind and visually impaired individuals. Partners with Envision on a postdoctoral research fellow, with highly comparable AbilityOne manufacturing, call center, and contract packaging operations.

Emerging players

• Vispero (Freedom Scientific / Optelec / Ai Squared): Commercial assistive technology vendor producing screen readers, magnifiers, and braille displays for blind and low vision users. Comparable as a provider of low-vision assistive technology products that Envision sells through its Everyday Store, but operating as a for-profit technology company rather than a nonprofit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HelpEnvision
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HelpEnvision
• Facebookfacebook.com/HelpEnvision
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1112738

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Envision