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LightHouse News

O&M Teachers: Have We Got Maps for You!

During the month of March the LightHouse will begin distributing free maps and Smartpens to O&M Instructors and Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVI’s). The LightHouse has mapped 43 BART stations, three views each: street, concourse and platform; because you want to know not just where trains go, but how to get in and out of, and around stations.

This innovative project, funded by a New Freedom grant, and developed in partnership with Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, is creating audio-tactile maps of each BART station and allows people with visual impairments to independently navigate this essential public transport system, enabling them to be active participants in their communities.

Imagine you’re holding an audio-tactile BART Station Map. You can feel the raised lines and braille symbols. A “b” inside an oval represents a bus stop; a “t” in a triangle a taxi stand; there are distinct symbols for stairs, elevators and escalators. Say you want to learn more about that bus stop. Tap it with the Smartpen and you hear “Bus stop on the East side of Mission Street. Buses from this stop: Muni 14, 14L and 49″. That’s far more information than could be squeezed as braille into the 5/8 inch oval on the page. And it’s printed on a piece of paper that fits into a standard binder.

The LightHouse has mapped 43 BART stations, three views each: street, concourse and platform; because blind travelers want to know not just where trains go, but how to get in and out of, and around stations.

During the month of March the LightHouse will begin distributing maps and Smartpens. If you are an O&M Specialist or TVI in the Bay Area who is currently teaching at least 50% time and would like these materials as aids to help your students develop the confidence to independently navigate this essential public transport system, we would like to hear from you. To receive your free maps and Smartpen please contact Greg Kehret, Director of Access to Information Services at gkehret@old.lighthouse-sf.org. Tell us what school district or agency you work for, and your complete contact information including postal mailing address.

Supplies are limited for this roll-out phase so our priority is to fulfill requests from O&M Specialists or TVI’s before making these maps available to the general public

We can Take Care of your Maps, Braille, Recording and other Needs
From braille, tactile maps and audio products to access consulting, the LightHouse is pleased to assist businesses and individuals in making needed information accessible. For more information on how the LightHouse can help with providing accessibility call Greg Kehret at 415-694-7349 or gkehret@old.lighthouse-sf.org

mielekehretdowneyBART

LightHouse News

Gill Concerts Raise Over $7,000 for Enchanted Hills Special Needs Session

For many years now, beloved former Menlo School teacher Steve Gill, his daughter Anne and a team of talented current and former Menlo School students and faculty, have treated us to two evenings worth of songs by great American songwriters. This year their theme was “Kern and Cahn go to Hollywood” as they performed songs written by Sammy Cahn and by Jerome Kern that were used in various Hollywood films. Wonderful songs such as Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (from the film Roberta), Ol’ Man River (from Showboat) and The Way You Look Tonight (from Swing Time). Steve made the evening even more interesting by giving the audience a little bit of background on each song.

Steve, Anne and “Annie’s Friends” as the group is called, make these performances possible in order to raise funds for the Enchanted Hills Camp Special Needs session. In 1997, shortly after Anne graduated from high school, she was in a near-fatal car accident that left her blind and brain injured. After a long rehabilitation period, the Gill Family found out about the Enchanted Hills session for blind adults who also have other disabilities and Anne began attending. Soon after they began to fundraise for the Enchanted Hills session, and they have now raised over $86,000.

We offer our profound gratitude to Steve and Nancy Gill, Anne and all of “Annie’s Friends” for the great shows they put on to support us.

If you would like to donate to Enchanted Hills Camp, you can do so online at http://bit.ly/donatelh.

LightHouse News

No Drought in Learning – Changing Vision Changing Life Immersion at Enchanted Hills

While we’ve begun the year with a drought, there is no drought in learning and connecting here at beautiful Enchanted Hills Retreat where the end of January Immersion is going on as we write. The uncommonly warm weather and supportive staff are making the current immersion one of the most fun sessions ever. And with every immersion training comes a new twist – for this late January session there are two different LightHouse groups meeting: one, a group of deaf-blind students and the other a group of blind and low vision students. While their paths intersect during meals and going to and from classes, each group of students follow their groups’ curriculum of individual and group training.

Our Changing Vision Changing Life Immersion at Enchanted Hills is proving to be very popular, even in the heart of winter-time. We asked our participants why they are attending and here are some of the (anonymous) comments we received:

  • “I am experiencing both low vision and rapid hearing loss and I am looking at this time as a new adventure in my life.”
  • “I don’t want to isolate myself at home, I am here to learn a little of everything and create a plan for moving forward.”
  • “I want to learn new strategies and about useful tools so that I can continue with my work”
  • “Technology! I am focusing this time (a second-timer) on technology and becoming more self-assured.”
  • “I want this experience to be a jumping block to my future.”
  • “I know that I will learn some new skills, but I need to meet and talk with others who are experiencing and understanding some of the same daily life challenges I meet.”

Sook Hee Choi is facilitating the deaf-blind training which emphasizes tactile communication skills, access technology, mobility skills and independent living skills. Many of the deaf-blind students have already received telecommunication devices through the deaf-blind telecommunication program, and they have brought their devices to become more proficient in using them.

Meanwhile the LightHouse Rehabilitation Team is running its program for folks new or fairly-new to blindness. As with previous immersion retreats, we have brought together blind and low vision adults from the Bay Area all the way south to Watsonville and north to Crescent City, for this training. Students learn essential daily living skills; an introduction to braille and access technology; cane travel and mobility basics, and most important, they have the opportunity to connect with other students who are also there to learn.

Additionally, Dan O’Connor, a baker (who is both hard of hearing and low vision) is training in the Enchanted Hills kitchen as he hopes to be working with the crew come the summer. He is working with the teaching team on braille and technology skills in order to set up the kitchen so that it works for him and he can get his job done. What he learns here can also apply to any future work space he may have.

LightHouse Rehabilitation Counselor Debbie Bacon and Peer Mentor Manveen Chahal will be work with each student to develop a plan of action to follow when the week is done. While most students continue training at the LightHouse or in their community, having a plan keeps people committed and focused.

How can our Changing Vision Changing Life Immersion Training help you or someone you know? The next immersion training at Enchanted Hills will be held March 30th through April 4th. To find out more, contact Debbie Bacon at 415-694-7357 or dbacon@old.lighthouse-sf.org.

Teaching braille to immersion students

Juliannah Harris teaching Stacey voice over with the iPhone

Dan O'Connor baking oatmeal cookies for lunch

Class by the warming fireplace: Deaf-Blind student Dorie Lee learns American Sign Language

LightHouse News

Together We Are Saving Lives – Day of Giving Blind Blood Drive Doubles Last Year’s Donations

On January 17, in honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, LightHouse and partnering agencies worked together to save 324 lives during the Second Annual 2014 Day of Giving Blind Blood Drive.

The Bay Area drive was initiated and coordinated by the LightHouse along with the California School for the Blind, Vista Center, Santa Clara Blind Center and the Ed Roberts Campus opened their doors to the blind community and sighted friends, allowing people to walk in and donate blood for those in need. The American Red Cross was able to collect 108 usable units of blood, more than double what we collected last year and which will potentially save 324 lives.

Said LightHouse Community Services Director John Liang:
“(Today) I have received nothing but positive feedback from both within and without the blind community. I truly believe that if we continue to build upon the current foundation and harness the enthusiasm and successes of each successive blood drive, our initial goal of having the Day of Giving Blind Blood Drive go national may soon come to fruition. There’s no reason why LightHouse and American Red Cross cannot and should not be at the vanguard of mobilizing an entire nation of blind and sighted folk alike for such a meaningful and selfless purpose.”

Thank you to all who participated in this year’s blood drive and a very big thank you to the American Red Cross.

 

LightHouse News

Employment Immersion Program Continues to Help Secure Jobs and Inspire Confidence for Those Still Looking

The Employment Immersion Program recently concluded its third year of supporting blind and visually impaired job seekers with deeply-gratifying results. The program has graduated ninety participants from a wide range of backgrounds. The Program provides its participants with a supportive environment in which they can learn skills and techniques specific to conducting a job search as a blind or visually impaired individual. And the program is working. Salaries generated by past graduates have exceeded $1,365,000. But more important than dollar figures is the value our students place on the experience. We asked some of the participants of our most recent graduating class for their feedback.

“Before this class, I felt as though I was among a very small group of visually impaired/blind individuals who could not get a job. I constantly questioned what was wrong with me for not being able to pursue something that many people find very easy to get. As I went through the program, I started to realize that I was not alone in this struggle and that all of the students in the program were very intelligent and highly educated yet had difficulties as well.” – Bona

“Most definitely, I appreciate the time we spent on interviewing. We discussed interviewing throughout the whole program and especially the last week. I felt I gained more confidence by practicing questions and discussing different answers and the simulated interview was very helpful. – Todd

“To those who are thinking of joining the Employment Immersion Program, I’d say that they need to just do it, and to come with an open mind. Expectations are good, but it’s also good to just listen and see what other people have to say…You can get something out of everything you do. Try to be brave – you get more out of discussions when you participate, although there’s nothing wrong with being shy…everyone’s experiences and conditions are different.” – Vicky

Are you ready to find a great job and earn enough to support yourself? Or are you looking for work for the first time? The next Employment Immersion class begins on March 18. It’s a small investment of time – just eight weeks will get you up-to-speed with the latest job-search methods, plus one-on-one counseling and interview practice in a warm, encouraging environment. For more information, call Justine Harris-Richburgh at 415-694-7366 or volunteer@old.lighthouse-sf.org or Kate Williams at 415-694-7320 or kwilliams@old.lighthouse-sf.org.

LightHouse Employment Immersion Program Leader Kate Williams speaks to student

LightHouse News

Employment Immersion Program Receives $30,000 from Wells Fargo

In January LightHouse was honored to host representatives from Wells Fargo for the presentation of a $30,000 grant to benefit our Employment Immersion Program. The grant will help 60 blind jobseekers in 2014 find gainful and satisfying employment. This gift from Wells Fargo will also be used to support the program’s outreach efforts aimed at hiring managers at top Bay Area companies, as well as cover the costs of program materials and accessible technology tools. WellsEmploymentImmersionCheck

LightHouse CEO Bryan Bashin said, “The LightHouse is thrilled to have this strong vote of confidence by Wells Fargo in the achievements of our Employment Immersion program.  Developing a diverse workforce is something we are both committed to achieve and the tangible support we received today will make it easier to support more blind jobseekers in their journey toward full employment”

For more information on the LightHouse Employment Immersion Program, call Justine Harris-Richburgh at 415-694-7366 or volunteer@old.lighthouse-sf.org or Kate Williams at 415-694-7320or kwilliams@old.lighthouse-sf.org.

 

LightHouse News

Stressed Out? Join our New Meditation and Stress Reduction Class

Learn to manage your stress through meditation. We meet every Wednesday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. It’s a drop-in group, so please feel free join in whenever you are able.

When: Wednesdays, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Where: LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters

Our meditation class is non-denominational and is open to everyone. The techniques in this class will help practitioners to achieve a healthier mental state and corresponding physical ease. We will learn a variety of meditation practices and whether you are familiar with meditation or a complete newcomer, this class is right for you.

About the instructor: Jeffrey Schneider is a meditation teacher who has lived, practiced and taught at the San Francisco Zen Center since 1978. He coordinates the Zen Center outreach programs and has taught meditation in prisons, drug and alcohol rehab facilities, in senior living complexes, to homeless youth and others. He has led classes, retreats and workshops here in San Francisco as well in other California locations, in Texas, Missouri and North Carolina.

To participate please RSVP with Molly Irish at mpearson@old.lighthouse-sf.org or call her at 415-694-7320.

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LightHouse News

Send a Braille Card to Your Valentine

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, our friends at the Chicago Lighthouse have produced braille valentine’s cards that we will carry in our Adaptations Store. The cards are part of the inBraille line of greeting cards, celebrating the beauty of braille.

Designed by artist Alisa Singer, the pattern of the contemporary art design on the cover of each card corresponds to the embossed braille message included inside the card. The Valentines, in three distinct designs, all include the message “XOXO” – hugs and kisses.

Proceeds for the sale of these cards go to support LightHouse programs and services. We will be selling the cards in early February, for $3.50 each.

Three Valentine’s Day Cards: The first shows a drawing of a wooden fence painted pink, with the letters XOXO and hearts drawn on the fence in chalk. The second shows a drawing of red and turquoise heart lollipops, surrounded by a red, turquoise and yellow boarder. The third shows a drawing of a pink and red bordered box of chocolates, with the letters XOXO below.

LightHouse News

Our Funniest Valentine’s Day Dance Ever – For Youth Ages 13 to 24

An artfully drawn image of a red heart

Whether you’re a romantic at heart, or just want to have a blast hanging with your BFFs as you dance the night away, come join us for what promises to be a fun and festive evening.

Bring a friend, sweetheart or special someone to share in Valentine’s Day themed food, sweets, music, games and memorable moments. There will also be a very special guest appearance by Cupid himself. The party begins at 5:00 p.m. and will wrap up at 8:00 p.m. Valentine’s Day themed attire is strongly encouraged.

For more information or to RSVP please contact Jamey Gump, Youth Services Coordinator, at (415) 694-7372, or by email at jgump@old.lighthouse-sf.org. Please RSVP by February 10, 2014.

Who: Low Vision or Blind Youth and a Guest (Ages 13 – 24)
What: Valentine’s Day Dance
When: Saturday, February 15, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Where: LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters
Waiver: Each participant must submit a LightHouse Youth Program waiver form, if they have not done so for a previous outing.
Food: Provided by LightHouse. Please include information about any food allergies when you RSVP.
RSVP: Jamey Gump, Youth Services Coordinator, at jgump@old.lighthouse-sf.org or (415) 694-7372.

LightHouse News

Planned Giving Guide Can Help You Reduce Taxes, Have Income For Life and Make a Difference

The LightHouse for the Blind announces the publication of a new resource for you and your family, the LightHouse Planned Giving Guide. The Guide outlines and compares a variety of methods of estate planning vehicles and the benefits of each. You have the opportunity to ensure that future generations of blind children, teens, adults and seniors receive the training and support they need to life their lives to the fullest. With your investment in the LightHouse, we can help blind and visually impaired people gain confidence and attain skills to find employment, become self-reliant, and fulfill their dreams. You can make a difference, and there are many gift options from which to choose, ranging from bequests to gifts that pay you income for life. Check out an electronic copy of our new LightHouse Planned Giving Guide here. To receive a printed or braille copy, please contact us at giving@old.lighthouse-sf.org.

Want to discuss planned gifts opportunities or notify us of your intentions? Please contact Jennifer Sachs, Director of Development, at 415-694-7333 or jsachs@old.lighthouse-sf.org.