LightHouse News
LightHouse Volunteer Spotlight: Lauren
April is International Volunteer Month, and every year we celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Week, where we honor and recognize LightHouse volunteers for their dedicated efforts to our students and our organization. This year, Volunteer Appreciation week is April 17 – 24, but why wait? Each week this month, we want to celebrate the helping hands, the “second set of eyes” and unparalleled generosity, and the people without whom so many programs and services would not be possible – our incredible LightHouse Volunteers!
Meet Lauren, a LightHouse volunteer who began working with us in Spring 2021 at one of our COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics. Since then, Lauren has begun working as a Personal Service Volunteer and works with student, Judith.
What sort of support do you provide as a Personal Service Volunteer?
“Once a week I help Judith with tasks that are inaccessible for her. Sometimes that’s sorting mail or filling out tax forms. Other times we’re handling computer tasks or learning new assistive technologies together. We recently figured out how to use Seeing AI.”
What are some of your favorite memories working with LightHouse?
“When I first started, I brought some friends along to volunteer at the COVID clinics and got to see how that helped them bloom as allies. One memorable time was when I went to the San Francisco Public Library with Judith and together we learned to use a braille e-reader that the library had available for her. Another fond memory is the time I introduced Judith and my cat, Mr. Marshmallow. It was love at first sight on both sides and she asks about him every week!”
What has volunteering brought to your life? What have you learned from the experience?
“We hit our one year mark working together this month, and at this point Judith is basically family. I don’t have grandparents left, so it’s wonderful to have an inter-generational connection developed through volunteering. I absolutely count Judith as a role model and aspire to be as brilliant, thoughtful, and self-sufficient as she is through life.
“As someone in accessibility as a profession, I’ve gained so much perspective walking through parts of daily life with Judith. It’s helped me understand how tasks can be made accessible or inaccessible, and how much inaccessible systems affect independence. Understanding barriers that get in the way and also accommodations that work for Judith continues to teach me how I can be a more effective ally.”
Thank you, Lauren, for your time and dedication! You a truly a shining light in our organization!
For more information about our LightHouse Volunteer Program, go to www.LightHouse-SF.org. Learn how you can become a LightHouse Volunteer or request a Personal Service Volunteer.
New Writers Lane Series: First Up, Author Stephen Kuusisto
Calling all aspiring writers! LightHouse is thrilled to announce Writers Lane, an online workshop series that runs semimonthly through August. Each month a visiting author will give students an overview of the genre, give an assignment for the following week, and provide spoken feedback on a portion of the work as well as suggestions for next steps.
This virtual writing workshop series will also help you grow confident in several genres: poetry, personal essay/op ed, journalism and fiction. It will also address professionalism including: how to submit your work, how to pitch ideas to editors, and what it takes to have a writing career.
This month features author Stephen Kuusisto who has been blind since earth. Kuusisto’s works in include: Planet of the Blind: A Memoir, Have Dog Will Travel: A Poet’s Journey with an Exceptional Labrador and Eavesdropping: A Memoir of Blindness and Listening. A Fulbright scholar, Kuusisto has taught at the University of Iowa, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and Ohio State University. He currently teaches at Syracuse University as University Professor; Director of Interdisciplinary Programs and Outreach, Burton Blatt Institute.
Growing up in the 1950s, Kuusisto had been taught to “pass” as sighted using techniques such as pressing a book up against his nose to read and memorizing all the routes he needed to travel. When Kuusisto was 38, he lost his job. He lived in a small town and realized he would need to leave in order to find work. “I’m not going to make it in the larger world unless I know how to actually navigate the larger world,” he said in a 2018 PBS Newshour broadcast reflecting on the epiphany he had when he lost his job in his 30s. He then made the decision to get a guide dog and that changed his life. He chronicles his journey with his first guide dog, Corky, in Have Dog, Will Travel.
Learn more about Kuusisto at StephenKuusisto.com.
Read a PBS News Hour article and listen to an April 9, 2018 interview with Kuusisto.
The workshops with Kuusisto take place April 22 & 29 from 10:00 am to 11:30 am. RSVP online for Writers Lane at LightHouse or contact Sabrina Bolus at SBolus@old.lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-6707.
Future workshops in this series:
May 20 & 27: Journalism with Andrew Leland
June 17 & 24: Fiction with James Tate Hill
July 15 & 22: Personal/opinion essay with M. Leona Godin
August 19 & 26: Professionalism with all authors
Simply Sinatra: EHC Benefit Concert at Museo Italo Americano
After the wonderfully successful benefit concert for Enchanted Hills Camp, Simply Sinatra, on March 4, Steve Gill and Alex Perez are back for an encore performance! This time, the concert will be held at the Museo Italo Americano at Fort Mason in San Francisco. Join us on Sunday, April 30, for another fantastic concert to benefit our beloved EHC.
When: Sunday April 30, 4:30 – 5:45 PM
Where: Museo Italo Americano, 2 Marina Blvd., Building C, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco
Tickets: $20 Simply Sinatra tickets can be purchased here
More About the Gill Family Concert for EHC:
These concerts are organized by Nancy and Steve Gill to support Enchanted Hills Camp (EHC). In 1997 their daughter, Anne, was in a car accident that caused blindness and a traumatic brain injury. Nancy and Steve were frustrated with the lack of programs that served people with multiple disabilities until they found out that EHC holds a yearly camp session for adults with developmental disabilities. Anne enjoyed her first time at EHC and has returned as a camper over the years. In 1999 Nancy and Steve organized the first concert to benefit EHC.
KNBR San Francisco Giants Braille Schedules Now Available
For many years, The LightHouse has had a mutually beneficial relationship with radio station, KNBR, the broadcaster for the San Francisco Giants Major League baseball team. In exchange for KNBR’s airing public service announcements for the LightHouse, we supply KNBR with braille copies of their San Francisco Giants broadcast schedule.
The braille schedules are now available, just in time for the start of the 2023 baseball season. You can request a free copy of the braille 2023 KNBR San Francisco Giants Broadcast Schedule by contacting Lee Hammer, Director-Sports Play-by-Play Programming, Cumulus Radio Station Group at lee.hammer@cumulus.com or calling 415-995-6885.
Join LightHouse at CTEBVI
Every year, the California Transcribers and Educators of the Blind and Visually Impaired (CTEBVI) holds a conference for blind and low vision students, their families, and the schools and organizations that support their education. LightHouse is honored to, once again, be invited to co-host the Youth Institute with our fantastic Youth Programs staff and hold informational sessions around tactile maps and graphics with LightHouse’s Media and Accessible Design Lab (MAD Lab) team. Below is an outline of the sessions LightHouse will be participating in this year.
MAD Lab Sessions at CTEBVI
104 The Tactile Graphic Rich Elementary Classroom: Supporting Inclusion and Literacy
Friday, April 21, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Jessica McDowell, Teacher for the Visually Impaired, Marin County Office of Education
Naomi Rosenberg, Senior Designer, Media and Accessible Design Laboratory, LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, San Francisco
Tactile graphics…not just for math and science! They support literacy and a child’s enjoyment and engagement with reading. Early elementary classrooms are filled with books with pictures. How can we support our students in accessing books and instruction? How can tactile drawing skills help our students build skills in interpreting tactile graphics? Discussion will include ways to make a blind student’s drawings on a Draftsman visually accessible to others. Options for tactile graphic creation will be explored with focus on ways to produce unique graphics quickly on-site. Session will include hands-on time making quick and easy tactile graphics.
208 Hands-on Introduction to Reading Tactile Maps Using TMAP
Friday, April 21, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
Jerry Kuns, Frank Welte, Divina Carlson
Tactile Graphics Literacy is an important skill that will contribute to the success of today’s blind and visually impaired students, both inside and outside of the classroom. Participants will learn essential techniques through hands on exercises for reading tactile graphics in general and tactile maps focusing on TMAPs, a unique form of tactile street maps. Each participant will receive a presentation packet to keep. A working knowledge of braille is recommended.
308 Hands-on Introduction to Reading Tactile Maps Using Tactile BART Station Maps
Friday, April 21, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Jerry Kuns, Frank Welte, Divina Carlson
Tactile Graphics Literacy is an important skill that will contribute to the success of today’s blind and visually impaired students, both inside and outside of the classroom. Participants will learn additional techniques through hands on exercises for reading tactile graphics in general and tactile maps as they explore the rich set of symbols and textures that comprise the detailed, multi-level views comprising each tactile BART station map. Each participant will receive a presentation packet to keep. A working knowledge of braille is recommended. Attendance at both sessions of this workshop is strongly encouraged but not mandatory.
2023 CTEBVI Youth Institute
Saturday, April 22, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
The day will be filled with interactive activities and challenges that will address concepts that are important to youth such as technology, navigation, and networking. Each lesson will be led by professionals and a group of mentors who are also blind or have low vision.
This year’s Youth Institute is open for all blind and low vision students in the K-12 school system, as well as our transition age college students that are under the age of 22. To register for the Youth Institute, please complete the online form linked here.
If you have questions about this year’s Youth Institute, please reach out to Jamey Gump, Youth Services Coordinator, by email at JGump@old.lighthouse-sf.org or by phone at 415-694-7372.
Other CTEBVI Presentations from LightHouse Youth Programs and Enchanted Hills Camp
206 Taking on the “Real World”: A Conversation with LightHouse’s Pre-employment Program Graduates
Saturday, April 22 from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
Daisy Soto and Jamey Gump
Foundational soft-skills, leadership, and confidence-building experiences are essential building blocks as students begin planning for college, work opportunities and the “what comes next” conversations. During this workshop, audience members will hear from a panel of blind and low vision graduates of LightHouse’s YES (Youth Employment Services) Academy about how they have taken on college and career opportunities after finishing the program. Students will share on what techniques worked best for them, what training experiences they found most valuable, and what they would like to see in future pre-employment programming. Attendees will have opportunities to ask questions of both the YES graduates and program coordinators.
The 10 Truths of Residential Camping for Children and Adults Who Are Blind & VI
Saturday, April 22 from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Tony Fletcher, Mark Lucas and Jamey Gump
This presentation is designed to educate participants about the importance and benefits of why children, youth, and adults who are visually impaired, and their families, should participate in summer residential camping. Co-presenters Mark Lucas from Wayfinder Family Services/Camp Bloomfield and Tony Fletcher from the LightHouse for the Blind/Enchanted Hills Camp utilize research-driven outcomes and testimonials from campers, parents and professionals. They provide their observations from their combined 50 years of providing camping and recreational services for people who are blind to discuss the 10 Truths of Residential Camping for people who are blind and visually impaired.
Enchanted Hills Campers tell why “EHC is the place to be!”
Enchanted Hills Camp is gearing up for summer! After nine months of off-season construction, we cannot wait to reopen our cabin doors, show off the improvements and works-in-progress, and most importantly, have another truly awesome summer with our campers! The location and activities alone make EHC a great place to spend the summer, but it is so much more than just another summer camp. For many of our campers, EHC is a life-changing experience in a nurturing and encouraging blind-positive environment where lifelong friendships and community bonds are made.
“Enchanted Hills has been special to me ever since I started going back in 2010. It’s a place where I was free to be me and be ‘normal.’ I’ve made lifelong connections, and it is a great place for networking, and I have been able to meet new people who have helped me in a bunch of different ways. Because of EHC, I learned about guide dogs and was able to get mine in 2019 and help promote the blind community in [the Disney+ series] Pick of the Litter. Going to EHC changed my life in the best way.” – Camper Liv
“Camp has changed my life from being someone who didn’t fit in to knowing exactly where I belong. I feel confident in who I am. I now know how to advocate for myself. I have made so many lifelong friends at Enchanted Hills who have taught me that my disability doesn’t define me, but my voice and personality do. EHC is the place to be!” – Camper Ellie
“As a camper, camp opened my eyes to all the possibilities of someone who is visually impaired. Before camp, I thought I was alone and awkwardly in-between the blind and sighted world. I thought college and my dream of a teacher was too far for me to grasp. But camp opened my eyes and not only provided friends of same age/experience, but also mentors on staff who I could ask questions, as well as look up to. Camp got me out of a dark place and rut I was in. I now knew I could go away to college, get a degree, and have a family. I thank camp and everyone here for changing my life. I would not be where I am if it were not for EHC, Tony and other staff/campers.” Camper Annalisa
This summer, Enchanted Hills Youth Camp is open to blind and low vision campers in grades 3 – 8 and will be held July 10 – 15. Teen camp session is open to blind and low vision campers in grades 9 – 12 from July 17 – 29. Register for EHC Summer 2023 here.
LightHouse Student Anusha Touts the Independence Blindness Skills Training Gives Her
Whether we are working with the families of our Little Learners at a home visit, or our senior students in the Changing Vision Changing Life program, LightHouse strives for mission moments—those pivotal moments in a student’s success, clarity, or independence. For LightHouse student Anusha, that moment happened during an orientation and mobility lesson with LightHouse O&M instructor, Katt Jones.
Anusha moved to the United States from India last year to attend Law School at UC Berkeley. Newly blind, Anusha began to lose her sight four years ago due to a condition that has caused significant damage to her optic nerve. Knowing that Anusha’s plan was to live independently in the US, Anusha’s aunt conducted her own internet research and came across LightHouse for the Blind in San Francisco. She suggested to her niece that she should get in touch. And, after settling into life as a law student, another blind student at the Cal Berkeley Disabled Students Office referred Anusha to LightHouse for services and resources that would help her acclimate to her new environment. Last August, Anusha began O&M lessons with Katt. We asked Anusha to share more of this experience with the LightHouse Lately readers:
What was your experience with blindness services and orientation and mobility before coming to LightHouse?
“I received very basic training in India, but it was not enough for me to be independent. And at the time, back home, I was always around family or friends, so there was not really a need for me to become independent. Between that and COVID, there was not an urgency to learn blindness skills at that time.”
What has receiving O&M services brought to your life?
“It has given me a lot of freedom!” [Writer’s note: When Anusha said this, you could hear the emotion, the smile, and the empowerment in her voice.]
“I don’t have to depend on anyone to go to classes. Back in India, I was always depending on someone to take me to places— to go to classes, to take me back. Always having to depend on someone is not the most… it wasn’t a fun experience, I’ll just say. Now I really enjoy going around on my own. I am still working on my skills, but I go to classes independently, I go around my dorm and my campus independently. It is very liberating. I love having this kind of freedom. I really appreciate the services, and I really appreciate Katt’s training. They have connected me with so many resources, and my life has become so much easier than it was.”
Will you be continuing with any other LightHouse services?
“Yes! I’ve been working with Dawn Leafling on my Independent Living Skills since January. I have also connected with Ed Wong in the Employment Immersion department, and I look forward to starting the employment program with him at the end of March.”
What advice would you give to anyone who is blind or has low vision and is skeptical about receiving blindness services?
“I actually have a friend who is going through this—they are losing their eyesight. I don’t know if they are ready to start classes yet, but they have already spoken to me about my experience with LightHouse. I shared my experience and my own story. I told them how it has made me become free and do things independently. I shared my story of how far I’ve come. I think that helps—sharing your own story. I think it helps people understand, ‘Okay this is someone who is going through something similar, and they have overcome the challenges, and so can I.’
“It is going to be a daunting process going through all the trainings and learning all the skills,” Anusha advises, “but it is worth it, having the freedom and the independence. I know it can be difficult at times. Sometimes I think about all the juggling I have to do—all the skills, the classes, law school—sometimes I am just so exhausted. But then, I look at the end result. I look at all the things I am able to do, and I think, ‘Okay, this is completely worth it.’ Especially working with LightHouse. All of the instructors have been so kind, so compassionate. I love their enthusiasm and love for their work. Even on days when I feel like I don’t want to do it, it is their support that helps me get through.”
To learn more about the programs and services LightHouse provides, please visit the LightHouse website, or email info@old.lighthouse-sf.org for questions, inquiries, or intakes.
Beeping Egg Hunts for Blind Children
The LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired of San Francisco (LHB) is excited to announce its upcoming “Celebrate Spring 2023” event, hosted by the LightHouse Little Learners Program and Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB). The event is specially designed for families with young children who are blind or have low vision, and will feature beeping egg hunts, fun family activities, and more!
Several families who have received companion dogs from GDB’s K9 Buddy program will attend the event. The K9 Buddy Program matches specially selected dogs with people, including children five or older, who are blind or visually impaired to become companions and pets, often in preparation for the guide dog lifestyle.
“We are thrilled to invite families with young children who are blind or have low vision to join us for the ‘Celebrate Spring 2023′ event and celebrate the arrival of spring,” said Sharon Giovinazzo, the CEO of LHB. “Our Little Learners Program is dedicated to providing support, resources, and fun activities for families with young children who are visually impaired, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone to this exciting event.”
The “Celebrate Spring 2023” event will take place on Saturday, March 25th, 2023, from 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm, at the Guide Dogs for the Blind campus located at 350 Los Ranchitos Road in San Rafael.
The event is free, but registration is required.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired on events like the beeping egg hunt because they not only provide a magical and rewarding experience for kids, but they also help further inclusion for youth who are blind or visually impaired,” said Christine Benninger, president and CEO of Guide Dogs for the Blind. “This partnership fosters both organizations’ ability to educate and empower more people, including children, by helping them acquire the skills they need to live their best lives.”
“We encourage families to bring their children and enjoy the beeping egg hunt and other fun activities we have planned,” said Giovinazzo. “Our Little Learners Program team will be on hand to ensure that everyone has a great time.”
For any questions or further information, please contact Karen Thompson, LHB Development Officer, at KThompson@old.lighthouse-sf.org or (415) 694-7695.
About the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired:
The LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a non-profit organization based in San Francisco that promotes the independence, equality, and self-reliance of people who are blind or have low vision.
The organization provides a wide range of services and programs, including advocacy, education, and community events, to help people with visual impairments live full and meaningful lives. For more information, visit old.lighthouse-sf.org or call 415.431.1481.
About Guide Dogs for the Blind
Headquartered in San Rafael, Calif., Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) is the largest guide dog school in North America. It is a passionate community that prepares highly qualified guide dogs to empower individuals who are blind or visually impaired to move through the world more safely and confidently.
More than 16,000 guide teams have graduated from GDB since it was founded in 1942. Over the course of 80 years, GDB’s mission has expanded to three kinds of programs: Guide Dog Mobility Program, Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Program, and K9 Buddy Program. GDB not only improves mobility for its clients, but it also furthers inclusion and advocates for policy reforms that change how the world views blindness. GDB’s services are provided free of charge, and it receives no government funding.
The organization was the subject of an award-winning documentary feature called Pick of the Litter, which was developed into a television docuseries by the same name for Disney+.
For more information, visit guidedogs.com, or call 800.295.4050.
Coastline Christian Schools in Alameda Tours Sirkin Center
Friday, March 10, LightHouse CEO Sharon Giovinazzo and COO Brandon Cox welcomed 38 fourth grade students from Coastline Christian Schools in Bay Farms, Alameda for a tour of Sirkin Center.
“We loved welcoming our Alameda neighbors, the Coastline Christian Schools students and staff, to the Sirkin Center. Educating others about the wonderful work LightHouse does by providing opportunity and empowerment to the blind is an important part of our mission,” said Sharon Giovinazzo.
With guide dog Pilot by her side, Sharon led the children around the manufacturing floor of the Sirkin Center facility, as Brandon Cox and Spencer Meyers, LightHouse Industries Technical and Quality Director, explained the different machines and their functions. As cleaning products were being mixed and bottled and tissue rolls cut and packaged, the children learned from our dedicated team of blind and low vision staff at the Sirkin Center how the machinery and tools have been adapted to become accessible and efficient for the employees who operate them.
“It’s not every day we get to be in a manufacturing facility, so that itself was educational and fascinating!” said Coastline Christian Schools Educator, David Chiu. “On another level, the tour helped to further support our understanding surrounding individuals who navigate through life with disabilities. Part of our school’s goal is to cultivate leaders who are compassionate, resilient, and innovative. These are qualities we feel are exemplified in LightHouse and the community it supports/supports it. We hope this field trip will inspire our students as well as give them firsthand interaction with people and topics they study.”
At the Sirkin Center, we manufacture the highest quality eco-friendly cleaning products and tissue packets. Currently, we produce tissue packets which are included in MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) utilized by soldiers and firefighters in the field. We also sell commercial-size sanitary paper rolls for use at camps, schools, and other facilities, and a line of PRIDEClean chemical cleaning products. These products are non-toxic, contain no ammonia and no phosphates and are biodegradable. Producing and promoting the use of eco-friendly products is important to LightHouse Industries, and we enjoy sharing this message with our community. We are also very proud to produce Skilcraft products, which are partnered with the National Industries for the Blind and Ability One Commission – a program that supports LightHouse’s dedication to increasing employment for the blind and visually impaired.
“We are delighted to introduce the students at Coastline Christian Schools to intersection of STEAM career paths and accessibility for the blind community. We hope to inspire young minds to pursue careers in STEAM with a commitment to creating a more universal experience for their peers with disabilities,” comments Brandon Cox.