Meta smart glasses give blind veterans in South Carolina a new tool for independence
By Alex Land
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GREER, South Carolina (WYFF) — Blind and low-vision veterans in South Carolina are receiving Meta smart glasses at no cost through a partnership between Meta and the American Council of the Blind.
The glasses use artificial intelligence to help users understand their surroundings and read printed materials. The Palmetto Council of the Blind, South Carolina’s affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, is coordinating distribution events across the state, with help from local Lions Club volunteers.
U.S. Army veteran Jody Stedman lost his left eye after multiple surgeries for a detached retina left him legally blind. He was among the veterans receiving the glasses at Tuesday’s event in Greer.
“It’s more than just technology. It’s freedom. Independence,” he said. “It’s almost like a family member that you have when the family member is not there. It gives you that level of confidence,” Stedman said.
Jennifer Bazer, president of the Palmetto Council of the Blind, said the glasses provide another portable tool for people with vision loss.
“There’s a lot of tools out there. But this being so portable,” she said. “It’s so easy to ask Meta questions, to take photos, to take videos,” Bazer said.
Bazer emphasized that the glasses are meant to supplement, not replace, mobility aids such as white canes or guide dogs.
Four local Lions clubs volunteered at the Greer event, helping support the distribution of the glasses.
Jim Barbare, an international director with Lions Clubs International, said helping people with vision-related needs has been a central part of the organization’s work for 100 years.
Barbare said it was especially meaningful to see veterans receive the technology, including one recipient who was 106 years old.
“To hear his story was certainly heartwarming and encouraging for us as well,” he said.
How veterans can get the glasses Veterans who are blind or have low vision may qualify for free Meta smart glasses.
To qualify, applicants must:
Be a U.S. military veteran. Self-attest that they are blind or have low vision. Provide proof of military service or veteran status. Have a compatible smartphone capable of running the Meta AI app. Attend a distribution event in person. Veterans who missed the Greer event can email the Palmetto Council of the Blind at info@scblind.org to express interest in future events. Bazer said additional distributions may be planned based on community need.
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