Blind veterans in North Charleston to receive free Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses

Blind veterans in the Lowcountry, including North Charleston, will be able to receive Ray-Ban Meta Glasses at no cost on Thursday, October 22nd, according to ABC News 4 WCIV.

Meta and the Palmetto Council of the Blind, an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, are partnering to provide these smart glasses to eligible veterans who are legally blind and present a military ID and proof of blindness.

The Ray-Ban Meta Glasses offer features such as hands-free calling, reading text, live translation, and assistance with daily tasks like reading mail or menus, said Andrea Vega, innovation policy lead with Meta.

Jennifer Bazer, president of the Palmetto Council of the Blind, emphasized that the glasses are meant to complement, not replace, traditional aids like white canes or guide dogs.

Bazer, who has limited vision herself, expressed passion for helping blind veterans gain independence through technology, highlighting the significance of this initiative for the local blind community.