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LightHouse News

Call for Submissions: Superfest 2015

01/12/2015 Andrea Ogarrio

Filmakers – the news you’ve been waiting to hear. The 2015 Superfest International Disability Film Festival will take place November 14th and 15th in San Francisco.

Film submissions will be accepted January 12, 2015 through March 15th, 2015.

This year we are accepting submissions for short (under 45 minutes) and full length films in all categories, including fiction, animation, documentary and children’s films. Please visit the Superfest website, and see our submission guidelines for more details. Early bird discount is available for films submitted before February 15th. Don’t forget to spread the word.

About Superfest
Superfest International Disability Film Festival is a showcase of juried films held in the San Francisco Bay Area. This annual competition celebrates cutting-edge cinema that portrays disability culture in all its diverse, complex, and empowering facets, and is the longest running festival of its kind in the world.

Started in the 1970’s, Superfest is currently coordinated by the Paul K. Longmore Institute on Disability at San Francisco State University and LightHouse for the Blind. The Lighthouse is proud that every film shown at every Superfest is fully audio described for all attendees, one of the key accomplishments in involving the blind in the wider disability film festival.

This November, the Bay Area will once again come alive with the visions of film and media makers exploring the rich diversity of disability culture. Stay tuned for upcoming events and announcements! www.superfestfilm.com.

LightHouse News

Call for Film Submissions: Superfest 2015

01/12/2015 LightHouse Staff

Filmakers – the news you’ve been waiting to hear. The 2015 Superfest International Disability Film Festival will take place November 14th and 15th in San Francisco.

Film submissions will be accepted January 12, 2015 through March 15, 2015.

This November 14 and 15 the Bay Area will once again come alive with the visions of film and media makers exploring the rich diversity of disability culture. Stay tuned for upcoming events and announcements! www.superfestfilm.com.

LightHouse News

“Day of Giving” Blind Blood Drive is Thursday, January 22nd

01/08/2015 LightHouse Staff

On January 22^nd, the Bay Area blind community will band together to give back by giving blood. The LightHouse has teamed up with the American Red Cross, Northern California Blood Services Region for “Giving Blood, Giving Life: Bay Area Blind Community’s 3rd Annual Day of Giving” Blind Blood Drive on January 22, 2015. In addition to the LightHouse, the Orientation Center for the Blind and the Santa Clara Valley Blind Center will be community hosts of this exciting event.

Lisamaria Martinez, who is LightHouse Director of Community Services and is coordinating the drive, told us, “Last year’s Blind Blood Drive collected 108 usable units of blood, and we hope to move that figure up to 150 usable units in 2015. This is not just another blood drive. It’s a unique opportunity for Bay Area blind people and their friends and family to unite with the powerful goal of literally rolling up their sleeves and giving back, saving lives in our community.”

Our staff is excited about participating at our headquarters on January 22^nd. Please join us!

When: January 22, 2015, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Where: The LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 214 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Good news — all blood taken by the Red Cross in the Bay Area on January 22, 2015 will count toward our goal of 150 units! You can also participate at the following locations between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.:

Orientation Center for the Blind: 400 Adams St. – Albany
Santa Clara Valley Blind Center: 101 N. Bascom Ave. – San Jose
San Jose Blood Donation Center: 2731 North First St – San Jose
Oakland Blood Donation Center: 6230 Claremont Ave – Oakland
Contra Costa Blood Donation Center: 140 Gregory Lane – Pleasant Hill
Pleasanton Blood Donation Center: 5556-B Springdale Ave – Pleasanton
Fremont – Newark Blood Donation Center: 39227 Cedar Blvd – Newark

To schedule your appointment at any of the above locations, please log on to redcrossblood.org, enter the Sponsor Code: DayOfGiving or call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767).
If you have questions regarding your eligibility to donate blood, please call 1-866-236-3276.

Stay updated on Twitter with #blindblooddrive15.

For more information about our blind community day of giving, please contact Lisamaria Martinez, Director of Community Services, at info@old.lighthouse-sf.org or 415-431-1481.

LightHouse News

“Day of Giving” Blind Blood Drive is Thursday, January 22nd

01/08/2015 LightHouse Staff

Our staff is excited about participating at our headquarters on January 22^nd. Please join us!

When: January 22, 2015, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Where: The LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 214 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Stay updated on Twitter with #blindblooddrive15.

For more information about our blind community day of giving, please contact Lisamaria Martinez, Director of Community Services, at info@old.lighthouse-sf.org or 415-431-1481.

LightHouse News

IRA Charitable Rollover — Act by December 31st

12/23/2014 LightHouse Staff

The president has signed a bill passing the IRA Charitable Rollover, which provides a tax break on charitable donations from IRAs — but only through December 31, 2014. Individuals 70½ or older may donate up to $100,000 directly from their IRAs to qualified charities without having the distribution included in their adjusted gross income.

Clearly, eligible donors must act fast. Click here for a helpful explanation of the charitable IRA rollover and here for IRS information and forms, and consider making a contribution to the LightHouse today.

LightHouse News

Exciting News for People with Disabilities: Senate Passes ABLE Act

12/19/2014 LightHouse Staff

From the San Francisco Mayor’s Office on Disability:

On December 16, the U.S. Senate passed the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2014 by a vote of 76 to 16. First introduced in 2006, and subsequent sessions of Congress, the ABLE Act will allow people with disabilities (with an age of onset up to 26 years old) and their families the opportunity to create a tax-exempt savings account that can be used for maintaining health, independence and quality of life. In addition, ABLE accounts do not count towards the federally imposed asset limits to remain eligible for critical public benefits, thus creating greater financial independence for individuals with disabilities.

The National Disability Institute (NDI) has long advocated for the passage the ABLE Act as a critical path towards a better economic future for all people with disabilities. As the nation’s first nonprofit dedicated to improving the financial health and future of all people with disabilities, NDI has created a list of 10 items about ABLE accounts that individuals with disabilities and their families should know.

LightHouse News

Thanks to our Community Partners

12/19/2014 Andrea Ogarrio

Thank you to the following individuals and corporations who have recently shown their support by providing significant funds to help our programs go further and reach higher:

Dodge and Cox – for unrestricted support
The George H. Sandy Foundation – for Enchanted Hills Camp
Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation – for unrestricted support
Marmor Foundation – for unrestricted support
Packet Fusion – for our campaign for a 21st Century LightHouse

LightHouse News

Navigating her Way to the LightHouse and Into a New Job

12/19/2014 Andrea Ogarrio

Nancy Tabri forged quite a bit of new territory to sign-up for the LightHouse Employment Immersion Program and land her new job at as an Invoicing Clerk at Moe’s Tire and Auto Repair in South San Francisco. “I almost never left my hometown of Foster City and never took BART on my own before I signed up for the Employment Immersion Program,” she says. “But after two years of looking for a job and not finding anything, I decided to sign up and give it a try.” Rosemarie Lang, Nancy’s counselor at the Department of Rehab, steered Nancy towards the Employment Immersion Program, but Nancy had to get there.

Taking BART to reach the program in Berkeley was the first challenge. “I got my ticket, got on the train, but when I got off at the Berkeley station, I took the wrong escalator up. I was so scared. I felt really vulnerable traveling alone. I called Kate [Employment Immersion’s program leader Kate Williams]. She talked me through it. She told me to get up and keep going.”

Nancy found her way to the Berkeley office – and to whole new set of skills. “I learned so much in the program. The first thing I learned was that there were a lot of people who felt isolated and were having trouble finding a job, just like me. That helped a lot. Before the Employment Immersion Program, I thought I couldn’t do things.” After two weeks in the program, she learned how to take BART, use a white cane to travel independently for the first time in her life, and how to write a resume and cover letter. “I learned that I can do things. I just might have to do them differently than other people, and that is fine. Before, I used to worry about traveling alone, and I thought most jobs would be too hard for me. Now, I have confidence. I know I can do things.”

The most helpful part of the program, she says, was interview practice. She learned “to follow the voice and not to worry about making eye contact. I also got comfortable talking about my disability. I used to avoid talking about it, but now I can, but also don’t feel like I have to. I learned how to navigate illegal or uncomfortable questions about my disability.”

Kate Williams noticed Nancy’s grit and determination: “Nancy has jumped every hurdle and faced every challenge with enthusiasm and a ‘can-do” attitude. Give her a challenge and she will take it on. Prior to attending the Employment Immersion Program, Nancy had never ventured outside of her neighborhood using a cane. Now she travels from her home in Foster City to all points independently. We are so thrilled the program could facilitate her tremendous growth. We look forward to watching her continue to grow. Her work commute on Caltrain involves a transfer, but characteristically Nancy is taking the challenge.”

Nancy said, “I made a new friend in the Employment Immersion Program, learned new skills and built my confidence. I like my new job. My employer has been very accommodating, and I love my coworkers. I recommend the program to anyone – I got up and found my way, just keep going and you’ll get there too.”

Looking for work for the first time? Is it time for you to re-enter the job market? Our next Employment Immersion session runs from Tuesday, January 27 through Thursday, February 19 at our office at the Ed Roberts Campus in Berkeley. For more information, please contact Kate Williams at kwilliams@old.lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-324.

LightHouse News

Adaptations Store Sale to Honor Louis Braille in January

12/19/2014 Andrea Ogarrio

Portrait of Louis Braille Louis Braille was a 19th century French educator and the inventor of the system of reading and writing for use by the blind or visually impaired that was named after him.

In honor of his birthday on January 4th, Adaptations is offering 15% off all Braille products and accessories for the entire month of January. That includes slates, styli, dymo tape labelers, pocket braille money keychains, and more. Stock up on these essential supplies for the discerning braillist now.

For more information call us at (415) 694-7301 or stop by Adaptations at 214 Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays.

Slate and stylus

LightHouse News

Calling all East Bay Residents – Volunteer in the New Year with the LightHouse

12/19/2014 Andrea Ogarrio

If you live in the East Bay, the LightHouse is looking for you. With the New Year, there’s been an increase in requests for services from those we serve that live in the East Bay. What better time than now to join the LightHouse as a Personal Services Volunteer.

Longtime friend and student of the LightHouse Lori Castner, who lives in the East Bay told us, “Unfortunately for us, our former LightHouse volunteer has moved out of the area. He was wonderful – he worked with me and my husband for ten years and in that time became more than a volunteer, he became a friend. He assisted us in so many ways – for example, during the elections he helped us complete our absentee ballots. He helped us get birthday, anniversary and holiday cards out on time. With the help of a Personal Services Volunteer, it just takes us so much less time to run errands and get through tasks like sorting through mail and completing paperwork. It makes a huge difference in the amount we can accomplish. We’re definitely looking forward to being matched with someone again here in the East Bay.”

Another LightHouse student, Employment Immersion graduate and East Bay resident Dennis Shepard and his wife Debrah Willard were just recently matched with a LightHouse Personal Services volunteer. “We’re thankful for our new volunteer. Our house runs 100% better when we have someone to help us every week. Especially with running errands and minor household projects – which can be interesting with two guide dogs in tow. We coordinate our schedules so it’s easy for everyone involved.”

There are many reasons to volunteer. Volunteering feels good and allows us to do our civic duty, gain experience that can be put on a resume and exercise our innate, human need to feel needed. The LightHouse has students in the Oakland and Berkeley East Bay area waiting to connect with and hear from you. Start 2015 off right by volunteering as a Personal Services Volunteer. Contact our Volunteer Engagement Specialist, Justine Harris-Richburgh, at volunteer@old.lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7320.

LightHouse Student Dennis Shepard and his Guide Dog Harvard