How Technology is Changing Life for People Who Are Blind

AUDIO VERSION

At the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC), we believe technology should empower, not exclude. Over the past decade, innovation has transformed what independence and inclusion look like for people who are blind, Deafblind, or partially sighted. From navigating city streets to connecting with colleagues, technology is opening up new ways to live, learn, and participate fully in society.

Smartphones as Everyday Tools

What began as a convenience for most has become an essential tool for many who are blind. Today’s smartphones come with built-in accessibility features such as screen readers, voice assistants, and magnifiers that make communication and navigation possible at any time.

Apps like Seeing AI and Be My Eyes turn a phone into a multi-purpose device that can read text aloud, identify objects, recognize faces, or describe photos. For many, the phone has replaced dozens of separate tools, from talking calculators to bulky magnifiers, consolidating independence into a single device.

Artificial Intelligence at Work

Artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly important role in accessibility. AI tools can now describe images, read handwriting, and even provide real-time feedback about a person’s surroundings. Navigation apps powered by AI can guide users through unfamiliar streets, public spaces, or transit systems with impressive accuracy.

Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses are built with Meta AI features that include hands-free voice control, real-time descriptions of one’s surroundings, and a “Call a Volunteer” feature (via Be My Eyes) so users can get help from sighted helpers when needed.

They also recently added the option for detailed responses, which allow the glasses to provide more vivid and descriptive information about the environment — what surfaces look like, what objects are nearby, etc.

These advances aren’t just about convenience; they’re about access. When technology can describe what’s on a screen or in front of a camera, it removes a barrier that once required sighted assistance.

Accessible Design is Becoming the Standard

Another major shift is cultural: accessibility is now recognized as a core part of design, not an afterthought. Tech companies, developers, and organizations are learning that inclusive design benefits everyone. Features like voice control, text-to-speech, and high-contrast interfaces help not only people with vision loss but also users who are multitasking, driving, or aging.

This progress is fueled by advocacy. AEBC and other organizations across Canada continue to push for stronger digital accessibility standards — in government services, workplaces, and the private sector — to ensure technology truly serves everyone.

The Power of Community and Collaboration

Behind many of these advances is a vibrant community of blind and low-vision innovators who test, adapt, and shape the technology they use. Accessibility improvements often come directly from users who understand what real inclusion looks like.

Online forums, advocacy groups, and user networks have become powerful spaces for sharing knowledge and influencing design. The message is clear: when people who are blind have a voice in the creation of technology, the results are smarter, fairer, and more human.

Looking Ahead

The future of accessibility is moving fast — from AI-driven assistants that understand context and emotion, to wearable devices that translate visual data into touch or sound. These innovations aren’t just helping people who are blind “keep up”; they’re helping shape a more inclusive digital future for all Canadians.

At AEBC, we’ll continue to advocate for accessible technology that empowers people to live, work, and connect on equal terms. Because real progress happens when everyone can participate fully — and technology is one of the most powerful tools we have to make that possible.