At The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc., we are committed to creating and enhancing opportunities for independence and self-determination for individuals who are blind, DeafBlind, and blind with other disabilities. A critical part of that independence is mobility—being able to move confidently through the world. That’s why we’re excited about Glidance, a company that is reshaping the future of independent travel through its flagship product: Glide. Glide is an innovative, AI-powered mobility aid designed to complement, not replace, traditional tools like white canes and guide dogs.
The Glidance team recently visited The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. to demonstrate the full capabilities of their latest prototype, giving our staff a chance to experience it firsthand. While the Lighthouse has no business relationship with Glidance, we are deeply interested in technologies that promote greater independence for people who are blind. As members of the same community, we recognize the potential of tools like Glide to transform everyday mobility—and we’re watching its development with hopeful curiosity.
What Is Glide?
Glide is an AI-powered mobility aid designed to complement white canes and guide dogs. It offers:
- Advanced navigation: Real-time guidance via gentle steering, haptic feedback, and obstacle avoidance using built-in sensors and AI.
- User-led experience: You guide it—not the other way around—empowering users to stay in control while receiving helpful cues.
- Smartphone connectivity: Glide pairs with a mobile app for customizable settings, firmware updates, and route tracking.
It’s an intuitive tool created to enhance freedom of movement—giving users more choice in how they travel.
A Note on Orientation & Mobility Training
While tools like Glide can add tremendous value, they should never replace formal Orientation & Mobility (O&M) training provided by a certified specialist. O&M training teaches critical skills such as safe street crossings, environmental awareness, and independent problem-solving – skills that no device alone can fully replicate. At the Lighthouse, we strongly encourage anyone exploring new mobility technologies to do so alongside professional training to build a strong foundation for safe and confident travel.
Why Glide Matters to Our Community
Closing Employment Gaps
Many of the individuals we serve face transportation barriers that limit access to employment. Glide can help change that. By improving navigation confidence and reducing travel stress, this device supports our mission to create meaningful and sustainable jobs for people who are blind.
A Personal Impact: Deng’s Perspective
Deng, a member of our Lighthouse community, shared how Glide could change her daily life:
“Glidance’s AI-powered cane has the potential to expand my current world by providing me an additional tool for even greater independence— I feel it’s a new option for new possibilities.”
Created with Lived Experience
Amos Miller, Glidance’s CEO and founder, is a person who is blind himself. His firsthand experience shapes the product’s design—from its tactile feedback to its user-led navigation—making it relevant, intuitive, and empowering for the people we serve.
Opportunities for Greater Independence
At the Lighthouse, we see many ways Glide could enhance
- Orientation & Mobility Training: Incorporating Glide into existing white cane and guide dog programs as a supplemental tool—not a substitute for foundational training.
- Accessible Employment: Providing employees who are blind or DeafBlind with new tools to navigate large campuses or public transit confidently.
- Awareness & Advocacy: Partnering to raise awareness around the importance of inclusive technology that supports self-direction and independence.
Looking Forward
Glide is expected to enter beta testing in late 2024 and will roll out gradually across North America and Europe. For The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc., Glidance offers a meaningful opportunity to pilot leading-edge tools that are built for—and by—the community we serve.
We believe that when the tools are right—and the support is strong—possibilities open. As Deng so powerfully put it, Glide isn’t just about mobility; it’s about expansion:
“Glide doesn’t replace what I’ve learned through O&M training, but it adds a layer of guidance. It lets me stay in control while giving me gentle feedback and so I can worry less about unexpected barriers, and get where I want to go, independently.”
