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LightHouse News

American Action Fund Free Braille Books Program

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The American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults (AAF) is making its free braille books for blind children available online as downloadable BRF files.

Since 1997, the AAF has provided popular and award-winning children’s books, including titles from popular series, to blind children throughout the United States, as well as to libraries and other organizations that serve blind children.

The books have been and will continue to be distributed by mail, but now readers and libraries will be able to download them from the American Action Fund website. The BRF files are ready to be used on braille notetakers and other braille-aware devices.

For more information visit their site.

LightHouse News

16- to 24-Year-Olds Will Learn How to Work and Play on a Team at This Year’s Transition Summit

As part of our new Future Professionals Training Program, the LightHouse is proud to present Team-Building and Effective Communication, the first of three Transition Summits for 2012. We are really interested in finding youth between the ages of 16 to 24 who are enrolled with the Department of Rehabilitation. Please join us at beautiful Enchanted Hills Camp for Transition Summit 2012.

This exciting three-day workshop promises to be an enriching and educational experience for anyone interested in learning the skills necessary for vocational, academic and personal success. Participants will explore, discuss and engage in a wide variety of adventurous and interactive activities covering such topics as:

•        Team-building
•        Ways to build group cooperation
•        Effective verbal, non-verbal, written and aural communication
•        Effective problem-solving
•        Conflict resolution
•        Leadership skills
•        Strategic planning
•        Goal-setting
•        Networking
•        Time management

Transition Summit 2012 is a fun-filled event including activities such as “Survival Hike,” Role Playing, Evening Team-Building Ropes Course, Tug-of-Wits (variation of tug-of-war) that you won’t want to miss!

When: Friday, May 4 through Sunday, May 6, 2012
Where: Enchanted Hills Camp, Napa, California
**Space is limited to 20 participants
Deadline to apply: April 15, 2012
 
There is no cost to apply for the summit; however, a referral and authorization from your Department of Rehabilitation counselor must be submitted with your application. 

Read about last year’s Transition Summit here.

For more information please contact John Liang, Director of Community Services, at jliang@old.lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7334.

LightHouse News

TSA Helpline for Travelers with Disabilities

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently announced the launch of TSA Cares, a new helpline designed to assist travelers with disabilities and medical conditions prior to getting to the airport.

Travelers may call TSA Cares toll-free at 1-855-787 2227 prior to traveling with questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security checkpoint. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, excluding federal holidays.

When a passenger with a disability or medical condition calls TSA Cares, a representative will provide assistance, either with information about screening that is relevant to the passenger’s specific disability or medical condition, or the passenger may be referred to disability experts at TSA.

TSA recommends that passengers call approximately 72 hours ahead of travel so that TSA Cares has the opportunity to coordinate checkpoint support with a TSA Customer Service Manager located at the airport when necessary.

More information about TSA Cares is available here.

LightHouse News

Sign Up by March 6 for This Week’s Jobsite Series Visit

Each week the LightHouse is coordinating a group of individuals to meet with their employed counterparts working for the Bay Area’s leading businesses and institutions.

Our next jobsite excursion will take place on Friday, March 9. Our meeting is with Gene Chelberg, the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs at San Francisco State University.

Gene received his undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, where he helped establish the country’s first cultural center for disabled students. After graduating in 1992, Chelberg stayed on to become Assistant Director for Disability Services and later ran a program for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender members of the university community.

Prior to becoming SFSU’s Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, Gene was the Director of SF State’s Disability Programs and Resource Center, where he led efforts to create accessible learning, working and living environments for SF State students with disabilities.

Gene also holds an executive master’s degree in management and disability services from the University of San Francisco, has consulted for the National Endowment for the Arts, and served as program chair for the 30th International Conference of the Association of Higher Education and Disability.

Please RSVP by Tuesday, March 6th, as space is limited.

To register for the Jobsite Conversation Series, or to find out more about it, please contact:

Rich Russo
Community Services Program Coordinator
(415) 694-7352
rrusso@old.lighthouse-sf.org

LightHouse News

Access Advisors Open House and Disability Arts Festival

Saturday, March 31: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
deYoung Museum, 50 Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco

Highlights include:

  • Art Studio for a Day: Watch art demonstrations and artists at work
  • Docent tours of the museum, including tours in which blind and visually impaired visitors can touch certain three-dimensional works on exhibit
  • iPad self-guided tours for the visually impaired
  • Art Slam, a slideshow of artwork created by disabled artists

The event is free to people who make a reservation before March 22. To make a reservation or to request additional information or specific accommodations, contact Tish Brown, Accessibility Coordinator at the de Young, at 415-750-7645 or tbrown@famsf.org.

LightHouse News

Study Seeks Adults with Stargardt’s Disease

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Individuals who are at least 18 years old and have Stargardt’s Disease are invited to participate in a study by Jennifer Bryan in the Department of Psychology at the University of Houston. The study is designed to gain insight into the life experience of those with Stargardt’s, one of the most common forms of juvenile macular degeneration.

This project involves completing three questionnaire packets and three brief writing sessions.　The packets will take approximately 60 minutes each to complete. After completing the survey at home, participants will receive their topic for writing. There will be two follow-up surveys three and six weeks after the final writing session. Upon full completion of the study, participants will be entered in a lottery for a prize basket.

If you meet the qualifications and would like to participate, please click the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PHFTSLL.

This project has been reviewed by the University of Houston Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects, which can be reached at 713-743-9204.

LightHouse News

Entries Due April 30 for Onkyo Braille Essay Contest

2 Commentson Entries Due April 30 for Onkyo Braille Essay Contest

The Onkyo Corporation and The Braille Mainichi are sponsoring a braille essay contest for people of all ages. Winners will receive cash prizes ranging from $500 to $2,000. The contest is being administered by the National Federation of the Blind on behalf of the North America-Caribbean Region of the World Blind Union.

Essays must be written by contest participants in English or their native language in braille and must be completely original in nature. Entries should be no fewer than 800 words and no more than 1,000 words in length. There will be two groups of competitors: a junior group, age 25 and under; and a senior group, age 26 and up.

Essay topics:
1. How do you acquire knowledge and information through braille or audio devices? (Illustrate with some interesting personal stories/episodes.)
2. How can blind persons become independent by learning braille or music?
3. Individual concept about world peace from the viewpoint of persons with disabilities.

All essays must be received by April 30, 2012.

Visit http://nfb.org/onkyo-braille-essay-contest for more information and an application. Please contact Trisha Tatam at 410-659-9314 (ext. 2510) or ttatam@nfb.org with any questions.

LightHouse News

LightHouse Labs

Are you an inventor with an idea you think would help the blind community?  Are you a blind person with an idea you would like a company to fabricate? Is there an app you would love to have built?
In 2011 the LightHouse for the Blind launched LightHouse Labs, the premiere venue where technologists and savvy blind consumers meet to invent and prioritize possible products, technology or software which could make a real difference.  We are currently seeking  participants from across the greater Bay Area to help make our  tech aspirations come true.  If you would like to be considered for appointment to our group, please contact LightHouse CEO Bryan Bashin at 415.694.7346 or email him at bbashin@old.lighthouse-sf.org

LightHouse News

NFB California Announces 2012 Blind Parents’ Seminar

On Saturday, March 10, 2012, the National Federation of the Blind of California will conduct its first-ever Blind Parents’ Seminar. There will be informal discussions on a wide variety of topics ranging from self-advocacy to gaining and maintaining your child’s respect for you as a blind parent. There will be plenty of time to network with other blind parents and ask questions. Parents are encouraged to bring their children.

When: Saturday, March 10, 2012, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: California State Capitol, Room 317, 1400 10th St., Sacramento, CA 95814

There is a parking garage at 10th and K. Parking is approximately $5 for the duration of the seminar.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact Angela Fowler at 530-902-0987 or via email at fowlers@syix.com.

LightHouse News

RSVP by Feb. 27 for Jobsite Series Visit to California Center for Sleep Disorders

Each week the LightHouse is coordinating a group of individuals to meet with their employed counterparts working for the Bay Area’s leading businesses and institutions.

Our next jobsite excursion will take place on Wednesday, February 29th. Our meeting is with John Debenedetti, President and CEO of California Center for Sleep Disorders.

Since receiving an undergraduate biology degree from Stanford University and an MBA from The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, John has focused exclusively on healthcare-related businesses, including medical devices, biotechnology and healthcare services companies. His business experience includes cardiac testing services, pulmonary and home medical services, and sleep disorders testing. John also serves on the board of the UCSF Department of Ophthalmology, is a San Francisco native and is an avid sports participant and fan.

Please RSVP by Monday, February 27th, as space is limited.

To register for the Jobsite Conversation Series, or to find out more about it, please contact:

Rich Russo
Community Services Program Coordinator
(415) 694-7352
rrusso@old.lighthouse-sf.org