Innovation, autonomy and inclusion: when technology improves the lives of people with visual impairments

In Italy, it is estimated that over 2 million people live with a visual impairment, and this figure seems destined to increase in the coming years.

The phenomenon is closely linked to the demographic changes taking place: the increase in life expectancy, combined with the aging of the population, has led to the growth of vision-related pathologies , such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 80% of cases of low vision or blindness affect people over the age of 50 , and over 18% of Italians over the age of 15 report more or less serious visual difficulties.

Visual impairment is not only a health condition, but also a social, occupational and economic issue: those who cannot see or have poor vision are in fact more likely to live in conditions of exclusion, with lower participation in the world of work, difficulty in accessing services and severely limited daily mobility.

Statistics show that only 32.5% of people with disabilities are employed, and the percentage drops even further among those with sensory disabilities such as blindness.

Added to all this is the structural difficulty of the Italian system in offering widespread and efficient vision rehabilitation paths . The network of public and accredited centers is limited, often concentrated in large urban centers, and the time required to obtain diagnoses and support can be long.

In the absence of a homogeneous and accessible infrastructure, low-impact and highly effective technological solutions play an increasingly important role. Advanced assistive technologies, if made available and sustainable, can represent a turning point for the quality of life of blind or visually impaired people.

Tools and bonuses for those facing visual impairment

In the Italian context, policies to support people with visual impairments are implemented, in part, through a series of tax breaks, deductions and contributions designed to reduce the gap in access to assistive technologies, housing and working life.

These are tools made available by consolidated regulations (such as Law 104/1992) and by measures introduced or strengthened by the 2025 Budget Law, designed to support autonomy and active participation in society.

Among the main measures, the possibility of obtaining a 19% IRPEF deduction for the purchase of technical and IT aids stands out: a category that includes, in addition to software and digital devices, also mobility tools , such as electronic aids.

To benefit from the deduction, the aid must be functional to improving the autonomy of the disabled person and must be accompanied by a medical certificate attesting to its necessity.

Another important measure is the reduced VAT of 4%, applicable to purchases of aids intended for people with disabilities, including mobile devices, reading, communication and locomotion tools . This is an important relief that makes these tools more accessible even in the absence of direct contributions.

Added to these are the architectural barrier bonus, which allows a tax deduction of up to 75% for structural interventions aimed at making living spaces more accessible , and the benefits provided by Law 104, including work permits, extraordinary leave for caregivers , contributions for personal assistance and facilities for the purchase of adapted vehicles.

In many cases, these incentives are combinable, allowing families and end users to reduce the costs associated with the purchase of devices such as UltraCane , the electronic cane for the blind distributed in Italy by a broker specializing in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.

When innovation meets need

UltraCane is the result of a European project born in the United Kingdom and now also distributed in Italy , where it is gradually gaining attention for its unique characteristics.

It is an advanced technological aid designed to restore autonomy, safety and confidence to blind and visually impaired people, integrating an intelligent obstacle detection system based on narrow-beam ultrasound.

This type of technology, used for the first time in an electronic cane, allows for a three-dimensional reading of the environment , detecting obstacles not only along the path but also at chest and face height, areas usually more exposed during walking.

Its effectiveness comes from the integration of sophisticated hardware and an extremely intuitive tactile interface: two small vibrating actuators in contact with the palm of the user's hand, which transmit immediate feedback on the direction (right or left) and distance of the obstacle.

The higher the vibration frequency, the closer the object. This system, completely silent and non-invasive , allows the user to move while maintaining full use of hearing, one of the main senses for orientation of blind people.

One of the most interesting features of UltraCane is its ability to promote the formation of a dynamic mental map . With each signal received, the user updates his spatial scheme, developing an accurate representation of the surrounding environment.

This translates into greater decision-making readiness , a lower cognitive load and a general feeling of security. In many cases, those who began using UltraCane reported a significant increase in their autonomy, not only in their usual routes, but also in exploring new environments.

From a technical standpoint, UltraCane is designed to be durable, ergonomic and long-lasting . The lightweight fiber construction makes it easy to handle and convenient to carry.

The device is powered by two AA batteries , which guarantee up to three months of autonomy in case of regular daily use. A design choice that eliminates the need for frequent recharging and makes the stick immediately operational , even in the absence of power outlets or connections. Furthermore, the ease of finding the batteries allows the user to replace them independently, without difficulty.

Unlike other aids, UltraCane is not intended as an experimental or hyper-technological tool reserved for a few: it is a concrete device, validated by years of field tests , designed to adapt to the daily reality of blind and partially sighted people. This is also why UltraCane has been distributed in over 28 countries and has received numerous international awards as a virtuous example of inclusive technology.

Lions Support and Sport as a Tool for Inclusion

The spread of UltraCane in Italy was not only made possible by the intervention of the private sector or the availability of tax breaks. One of the determining factors was the direct, continuous and structured support of Lions Clubs International , one of the largest humanitarian organizations in the world, active for over a century in promoting social inclusion and access to educational tools for blind or visually impaired people through LEO , their youth structure.

The project took shape in Italy in 2010, when the Lions Club Verona Cangrande organized the first national course on the use of the electronic cane , involving a French trainer and two blind users. On that occasion, the first two Italian instructors were also trained in the use of the device.

The initiative marked the beginning of a territorial network that in the following years involved other clubs throughout the country, including Udine Agorà, Trento, Brescia and Lugano, leading to the free distribution of numerous devices to people with visual impairments.

The Lions' contribution did not stop at the purchase and donation of UltraCane: each delivery was in fact accompanied by an individualized learning path , in which the user is trained in the use of the device, helped by expert volunteers and supported in building their own autonomy.

An approach that has allowed many blind or partially sighted people to overcome their initial distrust of technology , quickly experiencing concrete benefits in their everyday lives.

In parallel, Lions have always recognized sport as an essential vehicle for inclusion and valorization of differences. For years, the organization has supported sports associations and athletes with visual impairments , promoting Paralympic disciplines such as showdown , torball , judo, athletics, swimming and five-a-side football for the blind.

These projects do not only have a competitive purpose: they aim to build relational and motivational environments in which personal autonomy can be developed and strengthened. Sport, in this sense, becomes an extension of mobility and self-determination.

Many Lions clubs have started collaborations with schools, youth centers, universities and territorial sections of the Italian Union of the Blind and Partially Sighted, promoting school integration, digital training and access to teaching aids. Initiatives such as “To see beyond” or “Tutti al mare” have shown how inclusion also comes from small gestures and shared daily experiences.

The message that the Lions carry forward, also through the support of projects like UltraCane, is simple but profound: technology alone is not enough, if it is not inserted into a social fabric capable of welcoming, promoting and accompanying it .

And thanks to this vision – concrete, participatory, rooted in the territory – thousands of people have been able to improve their quality of life and regain spaces of autonomy, relationships and movement.

Autonomy Technology: A Possible Choice

The integration of technology, social vision and virtuous territorial networks is today one of the most effective models to address the challenges related to disability. UltraCane, the walking stick for the blind , demonstrates that it is possible to design an advanced technological aid that is, at the same time, accessible, humane and effective . We are not talking about a simple gadget, but a traveling companion that truly improves the quality of life.

In a country where urban mobility is complex even for those who can see, and access to personalized solutions is still difficult, having intelligent tools can make the difference .