Omnipotent October

Omnipotent is one of our favorite “O” words, and it helps us to celebrate the month of October with alliteration. Omnipotent means “all-powerful,” and we recognize that none of us can (or even want to be) all-powerful. Nevertheless, we all could use a bit more power at times.

October brings us many blindness-related month and day recognitions, including:

National Disability Employment Awareness Month
World Blindness Awareness Month
Blind Equality Achievement Month
October 15:
- White Cane Awareness Day
- White Cane Safety Day
- Blind Americans Equality Day
And, in the United Kingdom, they celebrate National Braille Awareness Week October 9-15 this year!

This month, we are so excited to highlight information and tools that empower blind/low vision individuals – taking a step toward Omnipotence!

October 1: Harnessing Information Using Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses with David De Notaris
October 8: Advocacy Information and Resources
October 15: White Cane Information and Resources
October 22: Braille Information and Resources
October 29: Employment Information and Resources

This week, we have the privilege of learning about a powerful, and somewhat affordable, new tool for accessing visual information: Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. We sincerely thank national blindness expert David De Notaris for his time and expertise!

What Are Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses?

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses provide users with hands-free access to an AI digital assistant. The glasses also utilize small cameras to survey nearby visual information – thus enabling blind/low vision users to identify objects and text independently. Additionally, these Smart Glasses contain microphones embedded in the arms of the glasses, thereby providing high-quality sound without earbuds or bone conduction headphones.

Who Is David De Notaris?

David De Notaris is a successful, blind adult who provides engaging and impactful training to blind and low vision students and adults throughout the country.

and as national blindness expert

Check Out the Webinar!

On September 30, Bridges hosted a webinar where David De Notaris as he took us on a deep dive into a new, powerful accessible technology tool: Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. David demonstrated the tool and discussed its multiple uses.

David also answered questions and helped us explore the potential of non-visually accessible Smart Glasses to empower blind/low vision individuals of all ages.

Check out the recorded Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses with David De Notaris webinar on the Bridges Helpdesk YouTube channel.

Find Out More

As always, we invite you to reach out to us at the Bridges Helpdesk for more information. Please also consider checking out these glasses and the app for yourself and joining the Facebook group dedicated to this exciting new tool:

Reach Out to Us at the Free Bridges Helpdesk anytime!

Please check out the Bridges Technical Assistance Center Resource Library today!

Contact us

Follow the Bridges Helpdesk Facebook page for more transition tips, and please contact the Bridges Technical Assistance Center’s Free Helpdesk for Maryland Blind/Low Vision Transition Students, Families, and Educators anytime using:

Our Accessible web form
Email: Helpdesk@IMAGEmd.org
Text or Leave a Voice mail message: (410) 357-1546
Bridges Helpdesk Facebook page or Facebook Messenger

This unique project is being coordinated through The IMAGE Center of Maryland, a center for independent living in Towson.