Category Archive

LightHouse News

New LightHouse Facebook page. We know you LIKE us!

LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired has a new and improved Facebook page. We encourage all of our 400+ fans to find our new page and “LIKE” us. You can find it at http://tinyurl.com/SFLightHouseFB.

On our new page, you can find cool photos of our Cycle for Sight event in Napa and great photos of past summers at Enchanted Hills Camp.

You can also RSVP to some exciting, upcoming events, such as our Apple Products and Accessibility seminar, which takes place on June 11, and our Summer Bach event, which takes place on June 13.

We would love to see all of our 400+ fans on our new Facebook page because we will delete our old page on May 31.  So, act now and “LIKE” our new page at http://tinyurl.com/SFLightHouseFB

Monthly National Federation of the Blind Meeting at the LightHouse

A message from Jaime Tomasello, Secretary of the NFBC San Francisco

Come one, come all!

The San Francisco Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of California would like to extend an open AND FRIENDLY invitation to all who are interested in joining us for our monthly chapter meeting.

Who: The membership and officers of the San Francisco Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of California (NFBCSF)

When: Saturday, May 15, 2010, from 1:00–3:00 p.m.

Where: LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 214 Van Ness Avenue. San Francisco, CA 94102, (415) 431-1481

Why: To discuss matters of concern, share stories and experiences, as well as become more socially connected to other blind and visually impaired persons in the San Francisco Bay Area

How: Just show up! The LightHouse is located between Grove and Hayes near San Francisco City Hall. It is accessible by SF Muni lines 47, 49, 31 and F Market. Also accessible via BART and Muni metro subway lines at Civic Center station

Questions? Contact our chapter president, Eric Holm, at (415) 425-5613 or ericholm@att.net.

Presentations on Accessible Voting at the LightHouse on May 12

The LightHouse is hosting the League of Woman Voters on May 12 at 1:00 p.m. to talk about the many state and local propositions in the upcoming election. A representative from the Department of Elections will be here at 2:00 p.m. that day to explain accessible voting options and register those who need help.

The LightHouse also has large print and Braille voting information on the Materials Resource Center shelves in the lobby at 214 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco.

For details on accessible voting, read below:

San Francisco, Your Vote is Your Voice! Make Your Voice Heard!

This June, San Francisco voters will nominate candidates for partisan offices in a statewide primary election, as well as vote on 5 state and 7 local ballot measures. Your vote is your voice. Register, get informed and make your voice be heard.

•    Early voting begins May 10 on the ground floor of City Hall.
•    The last day to register to vote is May 24. If you have moved, changed your name or would like to change your party affiliation, you must re-register to vote.
•    The last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot is June 1.

Primary Elections and Party Affiliation Information

In a primary election, voters from each political party nominate candidates from their party to run in the November general election. California has a modified closed primary system. This means that if you registered with a qualified political party, you may vote only for candidates from that party in partisan contests (e.g., Governor, U.S. Senate).

If you did not register with a qualified political party, you may vote in partisan contests if a party allows unaffiliated voters to participate. For the June 8, 2010 primary election, two political parties allow unaffiliated voters to vote on their party’s ballot for all contests except County Central Committee:

•    The Democratic Party
•    The Republican Party

All registered voters, regardless of party affiliation, may vote in nonpartisan contests (e.g., Superintendent of Public Instruction, Superior Court Judge) and on ballot measures.

Your Polling Place May Have Changed

The location of your polling place may have changed since the last time you voted, so check before going to the polls to vote. To find the location of your polling place:
•    Visit sfelections.org
•    Look on the back cover of your Voter Information Pamphlet
•    Call the Department of Elections at (415) 554-4375

Large Print and Audio Format Voter Information

To better assist voters with visual impairments, the Department of Elections offers the Voter Information Pamphlet and Voter Information Guide in large print and audio formats. Large print materials are available in English, Chinese and Spanish, and audiocassettes are available in English only. If you would like to receive large print or audiocassette voter information, please call (415) 554-4375.

The Department of Elections maintains a list of voters who automatically receive a large print or audio format Voter Information Pamphlet before every election. If you would like to be on this list, please let us know.

Edge Voting Machine

For every election, each polling place has one accessible voting machine called the “Edge” that allows voters with disabilities to vote independently and privately. With the Edge, you can vote using either a touchscreen or audio ballot. If you would like to use the Edge on Election Day, please tell a poll worker. The Edge voting machine is also available during early voting in City Hall.

For more information on the upcoming election, please call (415) 554-4375 or email sfvote@sfgov.org

2010 Transition Summit Recap

On May 2, 16 blind teens and young adults from throughout California participated in the fourth annual Transition Summit, a collaborative program with the Society for the Blind in Sacramento, the California School for the Blind, Department of Rehabilitation and the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired of San Francisco.

The LightHouse hosts the Transition Summit at Enchanted Hills Camp in Napa every year. This three-day event attempts to tackle challenges facing transition-age blind students, bringing together successful blind professionals with teens and young adults.

Highlights of the weekend included powerful discussions on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), preparing for one’s first summer job through interviewing workshops, sharing success stories around the campfire, hiking, problem-solving around tough situations, and understanding rights and responsibilities as a consumer of rehabilitation services. These were just a few of the meaningful ways the Transition Summit touched and impacted participants.

Blind lawyers, journalists, counselors, recreation leaders, social workers and advocates played a significant role in shaping the curriculum of the retreat. As the Transition Summit drew to a close, each young adult had the opportunity to share what they got out of the weekend. Youth participants said that the Summit helped them to better understand their employment rights and that they gained confidence through role-playing activities. Kyra Sweeney, who traveled to the Summit from Los Angeles, said she now wants to pursue a career as a disability rights attorney.

The unemployment rate for the eligible, eager-to-work blind person is over 70%. It is our belief that transition-focused retreats are a must in addressing this staggering trend. Each Transition Summit focuses on core lessons in ways to apply oneself to networking and being resourceful. Since the Transition Summit began in 2007, more than 75 blind and visually impaired participants ranging from age 16 to 22 have attended.

Enchanted Hills Camp Turns 60!

Vintage image of Enchanted Hills Camp: Celebrating 60 years!

60 Summers of Community and Connection!

In 2010 Enchanted Hills Camp, a program of the LightHouse, will turn 60! The vision of Rose Resnick and Nina Brandt, the camp has been a place where blind youth, adults, seniors and multi-disabled individuals can explore their independence, learn new skills, build friendships and come away with critical tools that promote educational and career success.

“When I founded Enchanted Hills Camp in 1950, my inspiration to do so came from my own experiences (growing up blind in the middle of New York City didn’t lend itself well to playing outdoors without a care). [Mt. Veeder was] a beautiful, tranquil spot, hilly and woodsy, with a lake and stables and anything a child might hope to find outdoors. Escaping from the city aside, being physically active and spending time with peers who were also blind was critical in developing confidence in myself and my abilities.”    – Rose Resnick, founder of Enchanted Hills Camp

With your help in 2010, we can completely enhance the accessible camp experience:

$500 can pay for the construction of a tactile relief map of the Napa hills and valleys that surround Enchanted Hills Camp.

$250 can buy campers a backpack, sleeping bag and tent for a wilderness trek and night under the stars.

$100 can help outfit our brand new Nature Center with tactile native plants, fauna taxidermy and audio bird calls.

$50 can help us buy archery and other sports equipment for adaptive games, like beep baseball.

$25 can go toward the horse care equipment that allows campers to experience the freedom of horseback riding through woodsy trails and valleys.

Visit us at Enchanted Hills this summer to see firsthand what we can do together and celebrate our 60th anniversary with us on July 3, 2010. To schedule your visit, contact Jennifer at jyeagley@old.lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7333.

Become a fan of the LightHouse on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

This Saturday, join the LightHouse at a FREE RESOURCE FAIR for OLDER ADULTS and caregivers.

Saturday, May 8, 12:00–4:30 p.m.

San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102-4733
(415) 557-4400

The fair will be an informative and entertaining afternoon that will give attendees the chance to learn about programs, services and volunteer opportunities offered by San Francisco institutions. The fair will be peppered with bursts of live music, prizes and other fun activities. Among the topics offered are medical and financial information, educational opportunities, residential and environmental programs, and culture and leisure activities.

In addition, free hearing screenings will be offered by the Hearing and Speech Center of Northern California. Other medical screenings will also be offered. The LightHouse will have a representative on hand to talk about our services and Ed/Rec programs.

This is a “Library Wise Up!” program for learning and living well at any age.

iPhone User Review: iBart Live

Image: iBART Live user touching an iPhone screen

BART logo
by Lisamaria Martinez, LightHouse Public Affairs Coordinator

I have been a BART rider for 11 years. I usually know when trains arrive at certain stations – like the station closest to work or home. But, on occasion, I deal with delays or am at a new BART station and can barely hear the announcements over the roar of trains arriving and departing. What do I do?

Usually, I ask the nearest person what the next train is or what time such-and-such train will arrive. But this doesn’t always work.

I’ve recently purchased an iPhone and have fallen madly in love with its apps, including iBART Live.

For only $3.99 you can download iBART Live, a third-party app that allows iPhone users to check for real-time arrivals and plan trips. While there are other BART-related apps that are free, my experience with this particular app has been worth the cost.

iBART Live includes Trip Planning, Map and Arrival mode features, which each have their pros and cons in terms of accessibility, but overall can make BART travel much more seamless.

One of my favorite features is the Arrival Mode, which tells me when a train is due to arrive at a stop, helping me determine whether I need to run like a madwoman or can nonchalantly stroll.

For a demo of iBART Live features and many other useful iPhone apps, visit our free iPhone Interactive Workshop on May 8th, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the LightHouse.

Note: You do not need to own an iPhone to participate.

To learn more email lmartinez@old.lighthouse-sf.org.

NBP edition of “Internet Your Way to a New Job: How to Really Find a Job Online”

National Braille Press now offers a Braille version of Alison Doyle’s book “Internet Your Way to a New Job: How to Really Find a Job Online”

If you are looking for a new job in today’s competitive market, using online job search tools is an absolute must. But where do you start? Which online sites are best, or most important to your search? And how can you use these online tools effectively and correctly?

Alison Doyle’s “Internet Your Way to a New Job: How to Really Find a Job Online” tells you how to:
– Create your professional presence online
– Market yourself as a strong candidate for employers
– Connect with contacts who will help you with your job search
– Help prospective employers find you
– Use sites like Facebook, VisualCV, and LinkedIn to your advantage

In braille (2 volumes), and PortaBook (CD and downloadable), $11.95

Read the table of contents for this book, or order it, at
http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/JOBONLINE.html

Visit NBP at http://www.nbp.org

NBP edition of "Internet Your Way to a New Job: How to Really Find a Job Online"

National Braille Press now offers a Braille version of Alison Doyle’s book “Internet Your Way to a New Job: How to Really Find a Job Online”

If you are looking for a new job in today’s competitive market, using online job search tools is an absolute must. But where do you start? Which online sites are best, or most important to your search? And how can you use these online tools effectively and correctly?

Alison Doyle’s “Internet Your Way to a New Job: How to Really Find a Job Online” tells you how to:
– Create your professional presence online
– Market yourself as a strong candidate for employers
– Connect with contacts who will help you with your job search
– Help prospective employers find you
– Use sites like Facebook, VisualCV, and LinkedIn to your advantage

In braille (2 volumes), and PortaBook (CD and downloadable), $11.95

Read the table of contents for this book, or order it, at
http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/JOBONLINE.html

Visit NBP at http://www.nbp.org