We’re offering a boatload of new classes, clubs and events! From support groups to free acupuncture sessions, you’re sure to find something to interest you.
Sign up now! For updated information about our classes, visit our online calendar.
All classes are offered at LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters unless otherwise noted.
New! LGBTQ Support Group
Second Saturday of every month beginning October 13, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
This is a very special opportunity for LGBTQ individuals living with vision loss or blindness. This support group will be a safe and fun place to build community for LGBTQ visually impaired individuals, find new friends, support one another, have fun, increase self-esteem, and engage in your community. All ages welcome.
Group leader Rachel Longan is an MFT intern with 8 years of experience conducting support groups. She currently runs support groups at the Downtown Berkeley YMCA and is an intern at the Pacific Center (serving the LGBTQ community) in Berkeley. Recently she co-facilitated a support group for individuals coping with vision loss. As a visually impaired individual, Rachel works skillfully and empathically with the visually impaired community. Please RSVP to Rachel Longan at rlonganlighthouse@gmail.com or call John Liang at 415-694-7334.
New! The Family Circle – A New Family Support Group
Second Saturday of every month beginning October 13, from 10:00 a.m. to noon
Have you or your loved ones ever felt alone, abandoned, or at a loss in your journey to cope with blindness and vision loss? Have you ever wondered how other families address blindness and low vision as part of their daily lives? Do you have an interest in meeting other families whose lives have also been impacted by blindness and/or adventitious vision loss? If so, you and your family are cordially invited to join “The Family Circle,” a new family support group offered by SF LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Community Services program.
“The Family Circle” offers an informal support group setting designed to provide a comfortable, safe, and non-judgmental place for all family members to openly discuss and share their own experiences and challenges in living with blindness and vision loss. Group sessions will provide an open forum for families to explore a wide variety of topics related to blindness and blindness-related issues, particularly as they pertain to daily living and family life. The primary goals of the “The Family Circle” are to help families seamlessly integrate blindness into daily living as a natural and non-inhibiting factor through strengthening family unity; creating meaningful and sustainable support systems, alliances and networks; sharing resources and best practices; enhancing communication skills; and developing and implementing effective coping strategies.
The group will meet on the second Saturday of October, November, and December 2012 from 10:00 a.m. to noon at LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters. Light snacks will be provided. At this time enrollment is open, yet limited to 4 families. The group will be facilitated by Lynda Johnson, MFT. To RSVP, please contact Lynda at 650-504-1650.
New! Youth Support Group
Mondays beginning October 8, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Find support from people your age at the LightHouse. Are you a blind or low vision teen struggling with important life questions and/or concerns, but feel you have no one to turn to? Do you find yourself at a loss or overwhelmed in adjusting to and coping with the many emotional and social challenges that often accompany life as a blind or low vision teen? Would you like to connect with and support other blind and low vision teens who are also confronted with similar struggles and challenges?
If so, then come and check out the new teen support group happening at LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters. Blind and low vision teens between the ages of 12 to 17-years-old are invited to share their experiences as well as discuss ideas and strategies on how to best overcome these unique challenges while getting the most out of life. The purpose of this group is to provide a safe and confidential environment where teens can come together to support and encourage one another, problem solve, and obtain valuable advice. Topics for group discussion will center on relevant issues that are both important and meaningful to each participant.
This exciting new group will be led by Courtney Mazzola, a young, blind professional. In addition to being an experienced counselor in the San Francisco Bay Area, Courtney is an accomplished martial artist, horseback rider, adventurer, and world traveler. More importantly, Courtney offers practical and meaningful advice for any teen trying to find their way—and identity—in an otherwise complicated and oftentimes confusing world.
If you or someone you know is interested in attending this dynamic support group exclusively for blind and low vision teens, please RSVP to Courtney Mazzola by emailing somacourtney@live.com, or contact Director of Community Services John Liang at jliang@old.lighthouse-sf.org.
New! Free Acupuncture Treatments with Joyce Wu, LAC.
Dr. Wu offers free acupuncture treatments to blind and low vision clients every Friday from 9:00 a.m. through 1:00 p.m. at LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters.
Joyce Wu practices traditional Chinese medical arts, such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, and diet therapy. Joyce has been involved with Chinese medicine for over ten years. Her clinical experience covers many types of acute and chronic illnesses, and her philosophy of treatment is to strengthen the whole person.
A $5 donation is suggested; however no one will be turned away due to lack of funds. Appointments are by reservation only. To RSVP please contact: Joyce Wu, L.Ac. Lic.# AC14078 at 415-810-3217 or joyce@joyceacupuncture.com. Read more about Dr. Wu at www.joyceacupuncture.com.
New! Healthier Living: Managing Ongoing Health Conditions
Every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for six weeks. To RSVP please contact Molly Irish at 415-694-7320 or mpearson@old.lighthouse-sf.org.
Sign up now and take control of your health! This is a program developed by Stanford University School of Medicine and co-sponsored by LightHouse for the Blind, Department of Adult and Aging Services, City College of San Francisco and 30th Street Senior Center.
Chronic diseases—such as cardiovascular disease, arthritis, cancer, and diabetes—are among the most prevalent, costly, and preventable of all health problems. Many people who suffer from multiple chronic conditions feel they lack the skills to manage their own health.
The Healthier Living: Managing Ongoing Health Conditions program encourages participants to maintain and adapt practical coping strategies. The program focuses on providing mutual support to the participants thus building their confidence in their ability to manage their health and thus maintain active lives. After completing the workshops participants demonstrate significant improvements in their self-reported general health, in aspects such as improved attitude and gained skills.
Healthier Living includes a series of 2½ hour workshops presented over a 6-week period by two trained leaders, one or both of whom are non-health professional with a chronic disease themselves. The curriculum includes workshops and appropriate behavior modifications and coping strategies to enable the participants to manage their chronic diseases and medications and increase physical activity levels.
More Community Service Offerings!
Please check out our LightHouse Calendar for more information on new clubs, classes and events in October, including:
- Blind Brewers Club
- LH Blind Backpackers Club
- LH Red Cross Disaster Preparedness Youth Group
- LH Outdoor Adventurers Club
- LH Blind Poets Society
- Chair Massage
- Field Trip to Anchor Steam Brewery
- Halloween Party
- Art Slam
- LH Writer’s Guild
- LH Philosophers Club
- LH Fishing Club
- Beanies for Babies Volunteer Knitters
- LH Volunteer Corps
Joannah and Juliannah had a wonderful time and were able to work with campers of all ages as well as the sighted parents that attend our Family Camp. “Every session was a little different,” said Juliannah. “At family camp we got to talk to sighted parents about some of the challenges their kids might go through. They could see in us successful college students – it’s good for them to see what their kids could become.” She went on to say, “The good thing about camp is that the kids can mix with other kids who are blind and visually impaired. The camp lets them forget about [the fact that they don’t have vision] and just be kids.”
Congratulations to Joseph who started his new job at the end of July. Kate Williams said, “Even though finding work was difficult, Joe kept at it. It just shows that with perseverance and steady determination you will succeed – all it takes in one “yes”.
