Category Archive

LightHouse News

LightHouse News

Still Time to Register for the CABS Breaking Down Barriers Seminar

Come join the California Association of Blind Students (CABS) for a day of fun and learning.

  • Hear from blind students/professionals who have been successful in science related fields
  • Empower yourself to gain the skills and confidence which will help you achieve success in school and work
  • Learn about the technology which is breaking new ground in accessibility
  • Get tips and techniques on advocating for the things you need
  • Mix and mingle with successful blind people

When:   September 21, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Where:  Sacramento State University, 6000 J Street, Student Union, Orchard Suite, Sacramento, CA 95819

Registration will start at 10:00 a.m. and there will be plenty of time to browse the exhibits before the program starts at 11:00.

To RSVP, please visit www.nfbcal.org/cabs or contact CABS president Angela Fowler at 530-902-0987 or fowlers@syix.com.

 

 

 

LightHouse News

LightHouse Receives Federal Award to Launch Deaf-Blind Telecommunications Project for the State of California

2 Commentson LightHouse Receives Federal Award to Launch Deaf-Blind Telecommunications Project for the State of California

Through a large multi-year grant from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)  the LightHouse will be spearheading a project to help deaf-blind individuals all over California speak easily with their friends and family over the phone. As part of this project, LightHouse will be giving away iPhones and other devices to eligible participants, along with free training.

The LightHouse has been providing training and support to persons who are deaf-blind for over twenty years. LightHouse Deaf-blind Specialist Sook Hee Choi is an amazing force in providing orientation and mobility, independent living skills, communication skills training (braille and ASL) while connecting individuals and families with community resources and support.

While our primary collaborator in this pilot is the Helen Keller National Center’s Southwestern Regional Services and Representative Cathy Kirscher, we couldn’t have taken the lead and represented California without the input and support of:

California Public Utilities Commission
Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program
California State Department of Rehabilitation
California Foundation for Independent Living Centers
Deaf Counseling Advocacy and Referral Agency
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service of Fresno
Northern California Association of Deaf-Blind
California Deaf-Blind Services
Lions Center for the Blind

If you are a deaf-blind Californian (age 15 and over), and low income, you may qualify for this program. Please email: dbep@old.lighthouse-sf.org to receive an application.

LightHouse News

Fine Art Photographer Looking for Blind Subjects

Carrie Levy is a fine art photographer based in San Francisco Bay.  She is seeking volunteers for her new photography series featuring members of the blind community.

Carrie grew up in New York and attended the School of Visual Arts in New York and the Royal College of Art in London.  She says, “I am interested in the collaborative portrait between a photographer and the sitter. My subjects are often depicted as both vulnerable and stoic, and at times I prefer to photograph by subjects shirtless or nude. During my career I have found that those with sight have developed a possessed response to being photographed. Therefore, as an artist I am now more interested in photographing subjects who perhaps have no common response to the lens. I am also interested in capturing the visually impaired within the context of art history, as there are not many paintings or photographs which capture the essence and beauty of the visually impaired.”

For her next series Carrie intends to highlight the reality of those who have never seen their photographic image and how they interact with the camera. She is seeking blind volunteers who would like to pose for her as part of this series. If you are interested in participating please contact Carrie at Carriejlevy@gmail.com or 415-276-5103.

LightHouse News

Enchanted Hills Retreat – The Perfect Place for Your Meeting or Event

Beautiful Enchanted Hills Retreat is located just 25 minutes from downtown Napa on Mount Veeder Road. Want to hold a family reunion but your house is too small and hotels are too expensive? Would your workgroup benefit from an off-site training, team building or retreat? Is your church, club or organization in need of a place to gather where you can get three bountiful meals for a day or a week?

Now that our summer camp season is drawing to a close, we offer rentals of our retreat for groups as small as 20 and as large as 140. For more information and availability, contact 415-694-7310 or email Camp Director Tony Fletcher at afletcher@old.lighthouse-sf.org.

Read more about Enchanted Hills Retreat.

The Gladys Fisher Lodge, one of a group of comfortable and affordable lodgings at Enchanted Hills Retreat

 

LightHouse News

Give a LightHouse Legacy

Planned Giving can be good for you and good for the LightHouse! An advantage to planned giving is that a small contribution made today can yield a much larger gift in the future. Planned gifts involve assets, not income, so they need not cost you anything now. In fact, they can save you money. You can design your gift in such a way that you will obtain the best possible tax and financial benefits.

Planned gifts include deferred gifts, such as bequests and life insurance policies, and current gifts, which are designed to maximize tax credits and minimize taxes on capital gains.

Consider leaving a Lighthouse Legacy with a gift that will help us promote independence, self-reliance and confidence for blind and visually impaired individuals of all ages.

For further information, please call our Development Department at 415-694-7365 or giving@old.lighthouse-sf.org.Employment Summit attendee Dexter Thomas using a Braille notetaker - your bequest will help support worthwhile programs such as our Employment Immersion Program

LightHouse News

Adaptations Featured Item of the Month – Braille VoiceOver Guide for Apple’s Mountain Lion Operating System

Are you eager to use the new Mountain Lion operating system but waiting for a Braille guide to VoiceOver? Look no further than Adaptations, the LightHouse Store and Adaptations Online to purchase your Braille copy.

The Braille VoiceOver Getting Started Guide explains how to use VoiceOver, the advanced screen reader built into Apple OS X Mountain Lion (version 10.8), and includes lists of VoiceOver commands. The LightHouse is the world’s sole authorized distributer of Apple’s Braille User Guides.

Buy your copy in person, over the phone or online at:
http://store.lbvi.staging.wpengine.com.com/p846/Braille-VoiceOver-Getting-Started-for-OS-X-Mountain-Lion/product_info.html

The Adaptations store is located at LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters. Hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Our toll-free number is 1-888-400-8933.Fingers read Braille version of the VoiceOver Guide for Apple’s Mountain Lion Operating System

 

LightHouse News

Right on Target: Blind Archery Teacher Bo Diaz

1 Commenton Right on Target: Blind Archery Teacher Bo Diaz

Connecticut resident Roberto “Bo” Diaz was a U.S. Marine and a firefighter for almost 23 years when he lost his eyesight due to a line-of-duty injury. This has not slowed Bo down. Last year he was the winner of a 2011 NFB scholarship. This year he graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Connecticut and plans to teach American history to at-risk youth.

Involved in archery since he was very young, Bo has been teaching archery to kids with burn injuries, including blind/visually impaired kids, at the Arthur C. Luf Children’s Burn Camp. In 2010 he became the first legally blind state-certified archery instructor in Connecticut. This summer he volunteered to teach archery to Enchanted Hills Campers.Bo Diaz (left) demonstrates archery technique to camper Ian Snow
“At first the kids were apprehensive [about archery], but they got more confident and really enjoyed themselves. Archery is such a great opportunity to build character and self-esteem.” He began by teaching the young campers to use spatial awareness and body positioning to shoot their arrows accurately. “By placing a marker or digging a small rut in the ground and using this to position off of, the kids learned how to hold their bodies so that their arrow meets the target. Some of the campers really took to it. Camper Marissa could make a great certified archery instructor one day,” said Bo.
Camper Marissa Croff pulls bowstring and aims arrow
We’re very fortunate to have Bo’s participation this summer. “With patience and enthusiasm, Bo dedicated hours instructing campers of all abilities and skill levels”, said Camp Director Tony Fletcher. “Having him join our staff this summer was one of our program highlights.”

LightHouse News

The LightHouse is Proud to Announce the LightHouse Access Technology Center

With our expanded capacity, the LightHouse is poised to do more tech training for individuals or small groups. We now have an additional ten computers equipped with ZoomText 10, and Dolphin’s Guide software and the most up-to-date versions of JAWS and Kurzweil 1000. Several of these new computers also have keyboard training software and GW Micro’s Window-Eyes.

The Access Technology Center is brimming with training opportunities for anyone interested in learning Windows-based assistive technology as well as Apple products such as the iMac, MacBook, iPad and iPhone. Trainees can also receive video magnification assessments and training using current desktop and hand held magnification products. If you are interested in Access Technology training please contact Rehabilitation Services Specialist Debbie Bacon at 415-694-7357 or dbacon@old.lighthouse-sf.org.

Are you a savvy tech person with experience in access technology? We are looking for part-time instructors for our Center. If you are interested, please contact Director of Rehabilitation Services Kathy Abrahamson at kabrahamson@old.lighthouse-sf.org.Access Technology Specialist Patty Quinonez works at a CCTV with client Alfredo De La Rosa

LightHouse News

Our Latest Employment Success

The LightHouse is proud to announce another employment success that we have been glad to contribute to.

Employment Immersion Program graduate Lisa Gorden-Cushman has just landed a job as dormitory supervisor at Orientation Center for the Blind (OCB), a residential school run by the California Department of Rehabilitation.

Lisa, who has been blind since birth, credits the interviewing skills she refined at the LightHouse as a critical factor in getting the job at OCB. “The class was very helpful – [before I took it] I didn’t know what to say in an interview,” she says. In addition to attending class and completing homework Lisa took additional steps that helped her succeed. She practiced interviewing outside of class with a fellow student and with her sister. “No wonder she did well! Lisa was a model student – she was determined to get all she could out of the program. She brings an optimistic, positive energy and a dedication to serving people in the blind community to this new job,” said Program Leader Kate Williams.
Marty Nemko holds microphone in front of Lisa Gorden-Cushman at the LightHouse Employment Summit 2011Lisa has a Master’s degree in Counseling with specializations in Rehabilitation and Marriage and Family Therapy, and is studying for her MFT license in March. This job is a perfect fit for her skill set; she works with the OCB’s 36 resident students on practical issues such as navigation and checks-in on how they are doing emotionally and are adjusting to school.

If you are a blind or visually impaired jobseeker we encourage you to talk with Kate Williams to find out if the Employment Immersion Program can help. Call Kate at 415-694-7324 or email her at kwilliams@old.lighthouse-sf.org.