Access in Action Day – Resources
What is Access in Action?
Access in Action is a hands-on Assistive Technology Demo Fair hosted by BALANCE for Blind Adults. The event brings together blind and low vision community members to explore a wide range of innovative tools—from high-tech devices like AI assistants and smart glasses to practical daily living supports like talking thermometers and kitchen safety gear.
Attendees had the chance to try out devices, ask questions, connect with experts, and discover tools to support greater independence in daily life.
Couldn’t make it? No problem!
We’ve compiled a full list of the tools and resources presented at the fair so you can explore them at your own pace. Scroll down to find device descriptions, purchase links, and setup tips—organized by topic for easy navigation.
Assistive Technology (AT)
Ray‑Ban Meta Smart Glasses with Meta AI – Glasses that See and Read for You
Instructor: Doug Poirier
What they do: AI-enabled smart glasses that describe surroundings, read signs and menus, capture media, translate, and respond to voice commands.
Where to buy:
Meta Store
Ray-Ban Canada
Notes:
Requires Meta View app and a Meta account (via email, Facebook, or Instagram).
Envision Ally App – App that Describes What You See
Instructor: Windy
What they do: Real-time OCR app that reads text, identifies scenes and objects, and connects with remote assistants.
Download from:
Ally/Envision Website
Notes:
Available on iOS, Android, and desktop. Easy setup – just download and go!
NaviLens Labelling System – Colourful Smart Labels That Speak
Instructor: Doug Poirier
What they do: Scannable QR-style labels that speak names, ideal for organizing household or travel items.
Download NaviLens app here:
NaviLens website
Notes:
Request free label codes via the app. For best performance, print labels in colour.
ChatGPT Pro – AI Assistant for Writing, Summarizing, and More
What they do: Versatile AI assistant that can describe images, summarize articles, compose documents, and plan tasks.
Use it here:
chat.openai.com
Note:
Voice access available via 1-800-242-8478(WHATSAPP) in Canada/US (Pro version required).
Seeing AI – App That Speaks What It Sees
What they do: iOS-only app for reading text, describing scenes, identifying products, recognizing people and currency.
Download from:
Apple App Store (Canada)
Kapsys SmartVision 3 – Smartphone with Tactile Keypad and Voice Access
Instructor: Doug Poirier
What they do: Smartphone with physical buttons, touchscreen, TalkBack and voice command integration.
Where to buy:
Kapsys Official Site
Special Needs Computers (Canada)
Amazon Fire HD 8 – Accessible Tablet for Reading and Entertainment
What they do: Affordable Android-based tablet with VoiceView screen reader.
Where to buy:
Amazon Canada
Hable Easy & Hable One – Braille Keyboards for Smartphones
Instructor: Doug Poirier
What they do: Compact, wireless Braille input devices for typing and navigation on smartphones.
Where to buy:
Hable Easy
Hable One
OrCam MyEye – Glasses That Read Text and Recognize Faces
What they do: Clips onto regular glasses to provide instant audio feedback of text, people, products and more.
More info:
OrCam Website
Brailliant Braille Display – Refreshable Braille for Reading and Typing
What they do: Bluetooth-connected Braille display for reading and input on smartphones or computers.
More info:
HumanWare Brailliant
Orientation & Mobility (O&M)
WeWALK Smart Cane 2 – Smart Cane with Navigation and Obstacle Alerts
What they do: White cane with integrated sensors and Bluetooth, offering GPS navigation, obstacle detection, public transit details, and voice assistance (via GPT).
Where to buy:
Special Needs Computers (Canada)
More info:
wewalk.io
Notes:
Works best with the WeWALK app on iOS/Android. Offers turn-by-turn walking routes and indoor navigation in supported venues.
WeWALK Smart Cane 1 – Compact Smart Cane with App Connectivity
What they do: Vibration alerts for head-height obstacles, connects with phone-based GPS through the WeWALK app.
Where to buy:
More info:
wewalk.io
NaviLens 360 Wayfinding – Indoor Navigation via Smart Signs
What they do: Uses printable colour QR-style codes that speak aloud directions or information when scanned with the NaviLens app.
Download NaviLens app here:
NaviLens website
Notes:
Request free 360 route codes directly inside the app. Available on iOS and Android. Works in transit systems, museums, and large venues.
Clew / Soundscape – Wayfinding and Location Memory Apps
What they do: Clew allows you to record and retrace walking routes. Soundscape offers 3D spatial audio to describe surroundings as you walk.
Available on:
iOS only
Note:
Soundscape has been discontinued by Microsoft but open-sourced. Clew is still available for free.
Pathfinder 360 Cane Tip – Rotating Tip for Better Feedback
What they do: A durable rotating cane tip that improves terrain scanning and tactile feedback.
Where to buy:
Ambutech (Canada)
Urban Xplorer Folding Cane – Foldable Lightweight Travel Cane
What they do: Lightweight, portable mobility cane with high-contrast red reflective shaft, designed for travel or daily use.
Where to buy:
Awarewolfgear (Canada)
OKO App – App That Tells You When It’s Safe to Cross
What they do: Detects pedestrian traffic signals and gives haptic/audio alerts when it’s safe to cross the street.
Download from:
Apple App Store (iOS only)
Adaptive Daily Living (ADL)
Liquid Level Detector – Audible Liquid Alert Tool
What they do: Detects the liquid level when pouring into cups or bowls and emits beeps or vibrations before it overflows.
Where to buy:
Independent Living Aids
Ceramic Boil Alert Disc – Audible Boil Indicator
What they do: A small disc placed in a pot that rattles when water reaches a boil, alerting via sound.
Where to buy:
The Blind Kitchen
Victor Reader Stream – Accessible Audio Book Player
What they do: Portable player for DAISY books, text files, music, podcasts, and voice notes. Designed for ease of use with tactile buttons.
Where to buy:
HumanWare
Auto-Measure Spout – Dispensing Spout with Fixed Volume
What they do: Attaches to oil, vinegar or syrup bottles and automatically dispenses 1 tablespoon per tilt.
Where to buy:
The Blind Kitchen
Eschenbach Smartlux Digital – Digital Magnifier with Adjustable Contrast
What they do: Portable digital magnifier (3–15x zoom) with a 5” screen and multiple colour contrast modes.
Where to buy:
Eschenbach Website
Talking Thermometer – Audible Temperature Reader
What they do: Speaks the temperature aloud, designed for low-vision or blind users. Audio only; no display.
Where to buy:
The Blind Kitchen
PenFriend Voice Labeler – Multi-Purpose Audio Labeling Device
What they do: Records voice notes tied to adhesive labels, ideal for food, files, clothing and more.
Where to buy:
PenFriend Website
Heat Gloves – Kitchen Safety Gloves for High Temperatures
What they do: Protect hands from oven racks and hot pans with heat-resistant material and extended cuffs.
Where to buy:
The Blind Kitchen
Tactile Kitchen Tools – Tools for Safe Food Prep
What they do: Includes finger guards, strainers, slicers, and scooping trays designed for tactile orientation and safety.
Where to buy:
The Blind Kitchen
Amazon Canada
Adaptive Utensils & Dishes – Utensils with Non-Slip Grip and Scoop Plates
What they do: Utensils with thick, ergonomic handles and high-lipped plates that assist with independent eating.
Where to buy:
Amazon Canada
Cut-Resistant Glove – Safety Glove for Knife Work
What they do: High-strength woven glove that resists knife cuts when preparing food.
Where to buy:
The Blind Kitchen
Slip-Resistant Mats – Anti-Slip Drawer and Surface Liner
What they do: Rubberized mats to stabilize items while prepping food or opening containers.
Where to buy:
Amazon Canada
Stand Magnifier with LED – 5x Magnifier with Light
What they do: Compact handheld magnifier with built-in LED illumination and a 5x zoom lens.
Where to buy:
Amazon Canada
Oven Rack Guards – Silicone Barriers for Oven Safety
What they do: Silicone sleeves that fit over oven racks to prevent forearm burns when reaching in.
Where to buy:
The Blind Kitchen
Tactile Measuring Set – Stainless Steel Measuring Cups and Spoons
What they do: Easy-to-grip tactile measuring tools for precise scooping and pouring in the kitchen.
Where to buy:
Canadian Tire
Ready to Learn How These Tools Can Work for You?
We’re here to help you explore and get started with the assistive tools that fit your goals.
If you already receive services from BALANCE, simply let us know which device or app you’re interested in and we’ll guide you through setup and training.
If you are a new client:
Please fill out our service request form here to get started.
Email: info@balancefba.org
Phone: 416‑236‑1796 ext. 0