*Able Eyes Wins the 14th Annual Deucey Small Business Superstar Award*

Innovation often starts with a simple question: “How can we make this better for everyone?”

For Evan Winters and the team at Able Eyes, that question has guided their mission from day one. By combining technology, accessibility, and storytelling, they’ve created a platform that helps people confidently explore spaces before ever stepping through the front door. That commitment to inclusion and innovation recently earned them a major honor—the 14th Annual Deucey Small Business Superstar Award.

What’s even more impressive? This was Able Eyes’ first-ever Deucey nomination.

And they didn’t just make the ballot. They took home the trophy.
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*Making Accessibility Visible*

At its core, Able Eyes exists to make the world more accessible.

Through interactive virtual tours, the company allows users to explore buildings, parks, attractions, workplaces, and public spaces from anywhere. But unlike traditional virtual tours, Able Eyes focuses on the details that matter most to individuals with disabilities and accessibility concerns.

Can a power wheelchair comfortably navigate the entrance? How high are the counters? What does the restroom layout look like? Where are the paper towel dispensers located?

For many people, those questions can determine whether a visit feels welcoming or stressful. By providing answers before someone arrives, Able Eyes helps remove uncertainty and replace it with confidence.

Their growing portfolio includes projects with state agencies, parks, universities, tourism organizations, and community destinations throughout Michigan. From initiatives connected to Pure Michigan to partnerships with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, their work is helping redefine what accessibility looks like in the digital age.
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*A New Approach to Storytelling*

While their virtual tours have already transformed accessibility planning, the project that captured attention during this year’s Deucey Awards took things even further. Instead of simply showing a space, Able Eyes began integrating video storytelling directly into their virtual experiences.

The award-winning project, featuring Michigan State University’s Abrams Planetarium, starts with a professionally produced video embedded directly into the virtual tour experience. Before visitors begin exploring the facility, they are introduced to the people, mission, and culture behind the organization.

The result is something far more engaging than a traditional walkthrough. It’s an experience.

The video provides context. The tour provides exploration. Together, they tell a complete story.

As Evan explained during the Deucey Awards livestream, the process itself was surprisingly straightforward. A brief interview. Some B-roll footage. A collaborative editing process.

What emerged was a powerful tool that complements everything Able Eyes already does. By combining visual storytelling with virtual navigation, organizations can now showcase not only what their spaces look like, but what they feel like.
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*Helping People Feel Comfortable Before They Arrive*

One of the most exciting applications for this new approach is recruiting and hiring. Job seekers often face uncertainty when considering a new workplace. Questions about accessibility, culture, physical layout, and overall environment can create hesitation—especially for individuals with disabilities or anxiety-related challenges.

Able Eyes’ enhanced virtual tours help eliminate many of those unknowns. Potential candidates can virtually explore a workplace, understand its environment, and gain a sense of the organization’s personality before applying.

That confidence matters.

According to Evan, existing virtual tours have already helped people reach a point where they felt comfortable enough to submit an application. For employers seeking to create more inclusive workplaces, that’s a powerful outcome.

It’s not just about recruitment. It’s about belonging.
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*Winning the Deucey*

The Small Business Superstar category is always one of the most competitive at the Deucey Awards. This year’s field included outstanding organizations doing remarkable work throughout the community.

Yet voters connected strongly with Able Eyes’ story. Their combination of innovation, purpose, and real-world impact resonated across the board, ultimately earning them the title of Small Business Superstar Video of the Year.

The recognition serves as validation for a company that’s doing much more than creating virtual tours. They’re helping organizations think differently about accessibility. They’re helping communities become more welcoming. And they’re proving that technology can be a bridge rather than a barrier.
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*Looking Toward the Future*

Like many successful entrepreneurs, Evan isn’t spending much time looking backward. He’s already focused on what’s next.

Able Eyes plans to continue expanding its recruiting and hiring solutions while growing its presence throughout Michigan and beyond. Future goals include building stronger relationships in cities like Grand Rapids, Traverse City, and Jackson while extending services into neighboring states such as Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania.

The vision is ambitious, but so is the mission. As awareness around accessibility continues to grow, organizations are increasingly recognizing the importance of creating experiences that work for everyone.

Able Eyes is positioned to be a leader in that conversation.
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*More Than an Award*

Winning a Deucey Award is always special. But the story behind the award often matters even more.

For Able Eyes, this recognition represents years of dedication to solving real problems for real people. It’s about reducing anxiety. Creating confidence. Expanding access. And helping organizations tell their stories in a way that welcomes everyone.

The 14th Annual Deucey Small Business Superstar Award celebrates creativity, innovation, and impact. Able Eyes embodies all three. And if their first nomination ended with a trophy, there’s little doubt this is only the beginning.

Congratulations to Evan Winters and the entire Able Eyes team on an incredible achievement—and on continuing to make the world a little more accessible, one virtual tour at a time.