Introduction

Back in 1977, Rick was employed in County Government (a Manpower Planner, Employment & Training Dept.). Rick was not too happy with his "paper-pushing desk job". There was little sense of accomplishment. His "Manpower Plans" were designed to help people acquire good job training and employment, but he was too far removed from program participants to feel he truly "made a difference" in their lives.

During that same time, Rick's 19 year old brother, Tom, was likewise not happy with his post-high school, small factory job. In fact, Tom decided to leave that job when he and his best friend both lined up jobs as "Ranch Hands" on a dude ranch in southern Montana. Their plan: work three to four months on the dude ranch before coming back home to Ohio to "settle down" and get serious about their future. Unfortunately, those plans were never realized. On their way to Montana, an accident in Colorado changed Tom's life forever. Tom acquired a severe head injury which took away his ability to walk and talk.

Moving ahead to 1983, Rick was still employed in County Government (now the Assistant Director, Employment and Training Dept.). At 34 years of age, Rick was not happy with the thought of being a "career bureaucrat". He still yearned for some sense of accomplishment, that is, to know that his work made a real difference in peoples lives. Then, he thought he found it: The "VIC-20" home computers were very popular at that time. Rick decided to buy one, join a VIC-20 computer club, and learn BASIC programming. His goal was to develop a VIC-20 home computer based augmentative communication system for his brother Tom. With the help of another club member, Rick was able to present such a system to Tom in early 1984. Although Tom expressed much enthusiasm in acquiring the system, his head injury left him with no ability to initiate communication, and only limited ability to respond to communication. Even though the communication program worked well, Rick missed that sense of accomplishment since Tom was unable to benefit from it.

It was at this time that Rick realized the potential of computers and electronic based assistive devices for others with severe handicaps. He did some research and discovered to his surprise that there was a wide variety of assistive technology devices available. He also realized that most people who were in need of such assistive devices probably did not even know they existed (deduced from the fact that no medical personnel ever told Tom's family that there were commercially available augmentative communication devices). Then it hit him! Here is where he could really make a difference in peoples lives and experience a true sense of accomplishment. Why not start a business with the purpose of bringing a variety of assistive technology devices to people with disabilities? Essentially, start a business to enable the disabled with technology!

The Able-Tech Connection

After one year of research and preparation, and with the moral and financial support of his dear and understanding wife, Rick left secure county government employment to launch his new endeavor, The Able-Tech Connection on April 1, 1985 (yes, the significance of the date did not escape him). This new "one-man" business which Rick operated from the basement of his home in Kettering Ohio, was set-up to offer a variety of computer and electronic based assistive devices to help people with hearing, mobility, learning, vision, and yes, communication impairments. The Able-Tech Connection was structured to be the single source for all types of "high-tech" adaptive devices to enable persons with all types of handicapping conditions.

Although Rick's household income was reduced significantly that first year, he was happy. Finally, he had that sense of accomplishment he was looking for in his work. Every time he was able to provide a customer with a needed adaptive device, he saw first hand that he was truly making a positive difference in that person's life.

In March of 1986, while exhibiting products at a Technology Fair at the Ohio State School for the Blind, Rick met the Mid-West Regional Representative for Telesensory. It was here he learned Telesensory was looking for a person to represent Telesensory's low vision products in Ohio. On April 15, 1986, Rick became the Ohio Representative for Telesensory Low Vision Products. For the next three years, Rick divided his time between representing Telesensory low vision products, and representing all the other non-low vision products carried by The Able-Tech Connection. Eventually, it became clear to Rick that there was a growing need to concentrate on serving those with vision impairment. The demand for Telesensory's low vision products was growing much faster than the demand for other products The Able-Tech Connection carried.

The Visual-Tech Connection

In the summer of 1989, Rick made the decision to devote all his professional time toward representing and supporting Telesensory's low vision products within the state of Ohio. With this decision came the decision to change The Able-Tech Connection to The Visual-Tech Connection, a name more closely associated with the work Rick was now doing.

From the summer of 1989 to the summer of 1998, The Visual-Tech Connection (i.e.: Rick) provided thousands of free, in-home demonstrations of Telesensory low vision products here in Ohio. With close to 9 out of 10 demonstrations resulting in a sale, Rick knew he was making a very positive difference in literally thousands of Ohioans lives, and he was very happy for it. To accomplish all of this however, Rick was working 55 to 60 hours each and every week. The time came in the summer of 1998 to bring on someone else to help with the demonstration of Telesensory's Aladdin line of low vision products. But, this person had to be someone with whom seniors would feel comfortable. This person had to be understanding, courteous and well informed of the varied problems faced by persons with handicaps. Rick came to the conclusion that this person had to be his other brother, Ken.

Our Service Today

Ken joined The Visual-Tech Connection full-time in September of 1998. This was after a month of "shadowing" Rick on his demonstrations. Today, Ken provides free, no-obligation, in-home demonstrations and user training on our low vision products in the western half of Ohio (he lives in the Dayton area) while Rick provides the same for the balance of Ohio (he lives in the Columbus area).

Today, The Visual-Tech Connection strives to be the comprehensive resource for assistive technology products for persons with low vision. We are committed to offer the most innovative and complete array of products and services to our customers. We provide our products and services to private individuals, businesses, local and state-wide agencies and organizations, and governmental entities. We are dedicated to helping individuals maintain their independence by specifically offering free, no-obligation in-home/office/school demonstrations, product set-up, user training and after sales support to all our Ohio customers.

The Visual-Tech Connection, P.O. Box 1996, Westerville, OH 43086
Phone: 614-899-9989 (Toll-Free: 800-589-8835) Fax: 614-899-7553

Last Updated 07/29/05