Blind Veterans Complete Army Ten-Miler Using AI Glasses

A group of blind and visually impaired military veterans successfully completed the Army Ten-Miler race in Arlington, Virginia, with the assistance of advanced AI glasses. These glasses, developed through a partnership between the nonprofit Lighthouse Guild and Meta, provide audible descriptions of the surroundings, enhancing spatial awareness and offering crucial contextual information, such as identifying upcoming landmarks or obstacles. Dr. Bryan Panek, CEO of Lighthouse Guild and a blind runner himself, highlighted how these AI glasses restore some of the contextual awareness typically lost with vision impairment. Panek, who previously completed the NYC Half Marathon using the glasses, shared the emotional impact of hearing a finish line described aloud—an experience previously inaccessible to him. This initiative marks a significant advancement in assistive technology, offering blind veterans tools to more fully participate in public athletic events and daily life. The program, supported by Lighthouse Guild and Meta, is distributing these AI glasses to blind veterans across the country free of charge.

Adaptive SportsOctober 24, 2026

Northwest Association for Blind Athletes Hosts Adaptive Sports Clinics

NWABA is hosting adaptive sports clinics, including rock climbing and bocce, to promote physical activity among the visually impaired community.

Curated

Source: NWABA

Lowie van Eck runs down a brick street toward the finish of the 2025 KPMG Lentemarathon in Amstelveen, smiling with both arms stretched wide. He wears sunglasses, a white running shirt with orange trim, a dark hydration vest with a small camera on the chest, black shorts and bib number 20800 with his name, Lowie. Spectators line the metal barriers beside him, which carry KPMG and Visit Amstelveen banners, in front of a red brick building.

Adaptive SportsOctober 15, 2026

Why I’m Taking My 6% Vision to an International Marathon — Alone

Lowie van Eck, a runner from the Netherlands with around six percent vision due to ADOA, ran his first marathon without a guide in 2025. In 2027 he plans to run a secret international marathon on his own. This is his story about invisible visual impairment and what autonomy means to him.

Original

Source: Lowie van Eck, Running Solo (guest writer)

Adaptive SportsOctober 12, 2026

USABA Seeks New Executive Director to Lead Future Initiatives

USABA is seeking a new Executive Director to lead the organization and support blind athletes nationwide. Applications are open, and candidates can find details on the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee's careers page.

Curated

Source: USABA

Share

Related Posts

Northwest Association for Blind Athletes Hosts Adaptive Sports Clinics

Why I’m Taking My 6% Vision to an International Marathon — Alone

USABA Seeks New Executive Director to Lead Future Initiatives