Finding Confidence Through Work and Independence at Envision

“The first day I started at Envision was the first day I got a white cane.” 

For Bryan Jane, that moment was more than the start of a new job. It began a new chapter. After losing most of his vision in his 20s, he spent years trying to adjust without the training or tools he needed. “Before that, I had no independence,” he said. “I had to rely on my wife to guide me everywhere.” Now, as an Envision Xpress employee at McConnell Air Force Base, he recognizes the difference every day. “Just knowing that I can come to work and get where I need to go without having to rely on somebody has been a big help. It gives me confidence,” Jane said. 

Bryan began with Envision in 2009 in manufacturing, where the production floor helped him build routine and learn what worked. In 2012 he moved to Envision Xpress at McConnell Air Force Base, a role with more variety and public interaction. “Manufacturing was a good start for me, but it was the same thing every day,” he said. “Here at the base store, I get to meet so many people and show them what is possible.” 

Employment at Envision gave Bryan access to the tools and training he needed to move forward. Surrounded by colleagues who were blind or visually impaired, he began learning strategies and resources that helped him adapt. With computer training, mobility support and encouragement from others who had faced similar challenges, he realized that vision loss did not mean the end of opportunity. 

For Bryan, the impact of employment reaches far beyond daily tasks like price changes, stocking shelves, and assisting customers. Each interaction is also a chance to set expectations about what blind professionals can do. “A lot of times this is the first chance people have had to interact with someone who is blind, and they see that I can still do things,” he said. Young service members often comment on how fast a screen reader can sound and how efficiently he works.  

Bryan’s mobility story moved with his career. He did not use a cane at first and relied on guiding arms, memory, and walls. His path shows how the right role, tools, and training support performance. Tasks get done on time, customers are served well, confidence grows with competence.