Meta is donating 1,000 Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses to four organisations in Singapore to help people with disabilities in daily life. The company is also giving US$30,000 for accessibility training. Joel Kaplan, Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, announced the donation on 8 October 2026 at an AI glasses accessibility showcase co-hosted with the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC).

The glasses will go to the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH), Guide Dogs Singapore, the SDSC and Gardens by the Bay. Meta did not say how the 1,000 pairs will be split between them.

Training for people with visual impairments

The US$30,000 grant goes to SAVH to build and run a free accessibility curriculum. Training will cover identifying objects, reading text and using voice commands for everyday tasks. For people who are blind or have low vision, the glasses can read text aloud, identify objects and describe their surroundings.

Cheryl Yeo, SAVH’s Head of Rehabilitation Services, said SAVH will also guide responsible use so the devices fit safely into clients’ lives. Damon Goh, CEO of Guide Dogs Singapore, said the glasses could change how people with visual impairments learn to navigate. Gardens by the Bay said it will explore how the glasses can improve the visitor experience, building on its sensory tours and a pilot of a robotic guide dog.

Government and athlete reaction

Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Social and Family Development, was guest of honour. “Our goal is a Singapore where inclusion is not exceptional, but simply ordinary,” he said.

Paralympian and national para shooter Theresa Goh said using the glasses hands-free has changed how she captures moments and stays connected through the day.