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LightHouse News

10% Off all White Cane Products at Adaptations to Celebrate White Cane Awareness Month

10/10/2022 LightHouse Staff

October 15 is White Cane Awareness Day. This day is dedicated to the important symbol of blindness, the long white cane and the independence for blind people this mobility tool represents.

In fact, the entire month of October is about celebrating the achievements of blind people and making the general public aware of blind people’s unique experiences and the tools they use.

To honor that, Adaptations, LightHouse’s blindness products store, is offering 10% off all white canes and white cane accessories all October.

Below, we highlight just a few of the products discounted this month.

Chris Park Ultra Mini Telescoping Cane

This cane is perfect to carry as a spare or if you’re a guide dog user. This nine-section mini cane is made of carbon-fiber and features a smooth handle and a proprietary tip. It comes in lengths from 43 to 59 inches.

Cost: $51.98, plus tax

Revolution Graphite Folding Cane

This is one of the most popular white canes used by blind people. Graphite canes from Revolution are lightweight yet sturdy. The cane features a smooth, flat-sided rubber grip and a push-on style pencil tip. It comes in lengths from 40 to 65 inches.

Cost: $38.70, plus tax

Revolution Cane Tip: Slide-On with Metal Tip

Do you prefer a medal tip over a marshmallow tip for your Revolution cane? This is a push-on style medal tip for standard Revolution canes.

Cost: $9.45, plus tax

There are plenty more white canes and white cane accessories at Adaptations.org. You can order online, email adaptations@old.lighthouse-sf.org or call 888-400-8933. Want to check out the products in person or save on shipping? Email or call to make an appointment to visit the store at our 1155 Market St., San Francisco headquarters.

LightHouse News

LightHouse Community Services Programs to Hold Weekend Retreat at EHC

10/10/2022 LightHouse Staff

Three retreats are being held simultaneously at Enchanted Hills Camp the weekend of November 11 through 13.

Sensing the Seasons: EHC’s Fall Nature Retreat

Our always popular Sensing the Seasons Nature Education retreat returns. This session is open to blind and low vision high school students and recent high school graduates. This time around, we’ll focus on how fall effects the plants, animals, and landscape of the camp and how we sense these changes. From our taste, to smell and even how things feel, fall brings many changes to camp. You’ll learn not only how to sense the changes, but also why they happen.

Cost: $50 for transportation. Thanks to the San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging Services for providing additional funding for this program.

To RSVP, contact Jamey Gump at youth@old.lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7372 no later than November 4.

Youth Employment Services Weekend Workshop: Accessing Advocacy

Youth Employment Services, or YES, is our program for transition-aged youth to learn skills needed for employment and post-secondary education. This program is for blind and low vision students between the ages of 16 and 22.

Daisy Soto, Youth Services Coordinator, describes the retreat: “YES students will spend the weekend hearing from blind and low vision mentors and professionals regarding advocacy in college and the workplace. They will learn about blindness advocacy organizations and get a chance to put their skills to use during interactive activities designed to increase their confidence with many of the new situations we will discuss.”

To learn more and RSVP: Please contact Daisy Soto at DSoto@old.lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7328 no later than November 4. Please note: You will need a Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) authorization or alternate funding source to attend this program.

Weekend Writers’ Workshop Retreat

Are you a blind or low vision adult who loves to write? Then why not share your weekend and your story with other storytellers. Write about a challenge you’ve faced and how facing that challenge transformed you. Discover your own determination and confidence. People who are confident in themselves are better equipped to help others.

Cost: $200 for the weekend. Thanks to the San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging Services for providing additional funding for this program.

RSVP to Sabrina Bolus at SBolus@old.lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7607 no later than November 4.

Transportation for all three programs

Round-trip transportation to EHC will be provided from the Ed Roberts Campus at 3075 Adeline St. in Berkeley. The shuttle to EHC departs at 1:00 pm on November 11 and returns to Ed Roberts Campus at 1:00 pm on November 13.

As a bonus for the weekend: There will be time for attendees of all three programs to mix and mingle with each other. We look forward to having you join us at EHC this November.

LightHouse News

More Audio Described Performances? We say: “yes please”

10/10/2022 LightHouse Staff

By Maia Scott, Adult Programs Coordinator

There’s nothing like flipping down that theater seat and settling in anticipation for an evening of excellent Broadway theater with an earbud stuck into one ear and a receiver clipped on and ready. Having the opportunity to hear descriptions of sets, costumes, stage blocking and even dance variations has been a major game changer for blind theater patrons over the past few years at theaters such as the Orpheum, Golden Gate and the Curran. But what about inclusive options for the other ninety-eight percent of amazing Bay Area performances? Enter Gravity Access Services. They contract with local performance groups to enhance their shows with audio description. To learn more about the audio description process, listen to Jess Curtis talk about it in this video.

For some productions, Gravity Access Services also offers haptic or touch experiences in which blind audience members may enter ahead of time to hear performers describe themselves and their costumes, handle props and set elements and ask questions about the forthcoming show. This extra knowledge adds a whole other layer of understanding once the performance gets going. When multiple things evolve on stage at once, an audio describer cannot always capture everything in words.

Who is Jess Curtis/Gravity? On their website, a powerful sentence identifies the company’s vision and intent: “Gravity creates, produces and presents engaging body-based art that physically explores and addresses issues and ideas of substance and relevance to anyone with a body.” In recent years, such topics of interest included sensibilities around blindness both for review and insight and even for performers. Director and choreographer Jess Curtis discovered a major gap in the Bay Area performance scene’s options to hire affordable description services. Jess Curtis invited descriptive language and interactions to inform his creative work. Gravity Access Services was thus born, opening doors for blind performance enthusiasts to select from a greater variety of more affordable and socially engaged work. To learn more about the company and its productions, visit Jess Curtis/Gravity.

LightHouse News

EHC Camp Counselor, Hannah, Shares Her Summer Highlights

10/10/2022 LightHouse Staff

Since its opening in the 1950’s, Enchanted Hills Camp has been a home away from home for generations of campers. Nestled in a forest of majestic redwoods, EHC is a place where blind, low vision, Deafblind, and disabled campers can learn, grow, and explore the world around them in an inclusive, friendly, and encouraging environment.

This past summer, first-time EHC counselor Hannah Clemenson, had the opportunity to be part of this special community and shared her wonderful experience with LightHouse.

How did you hear about Enchanted Hills Camp?

The first time I went to Enchanted Hills Camp was when I was 17. I was there for the NFB NABS [National Federation of the Blind National Association of Blind Students] Pacific Seminar in 2019. I was only there for three days, and I was really only there for NFB stuff. I didn’t really get to interact with the camp much as Enchanted Hills, it was just kind of a venue. But I already loved it! I loved the quiet and got the feeling that it was a really welcoming environment. I knew I wanted to go back. I live in the Bay Area now and am a student at the University of San Francisco, and I read the weekly LightHouse newsletter. When I saw they were looking for workers this summer at EHC I thought, “Oh cool! Maybe I’ll do that!” I reached out to Tony Fletcher, and in April I got the confirmation that I would be working at EHC this summer. I was so excited!

Which EHC sessions did you work as a camp counselor?

I worked the Adult Camp, Adults with Developmental Disabilities, then we had to take a break due to the COVID-19 virus. When we returned to EHC I worked Music Camp and the last Family Camp session of the summer.

What was your first impression?

When I first got there it was a little nerve-wrecking. Most of the camp staff had been going there for 4-5, some even 7 or 8 years already. Everyone was very familiar and running around the camp, and I thought, “This is really new to me.” Everyone already knew each other, some even went to high school together, and they would talk about memories and stories from the past. I thought, “Oh, I’ll never fit in here.” But by the second day of Staff Week, I was already hanging out with people, talking a lot, and opening up quicker than I normally do. It was just so great. We continued to bond and by the end of Staff Week I’d already known I had made some really close friends, and that only continued throughout the rest of the summer.

What are your favorite Enchanted Hills Camp moments from this summer?

I really loved working the Adults with Developmental Disabilities session. It was really challenging. I was assigned to a cabin with a camper who is non-verbal, and other campers with severe organizational and mobility challenges. I had never previously worked with members of this population before, but it was so, so fun once I got the hang of it! It was a very humanizing experience working with people so different from me. I loved making coffee for everyone in the morning. The wide array of conversations you can have with people at this session was wild! The scope of human experience there is so awe-inspiring. Even though we were all on different wavelengths, we’re all also visually impaired and dealing with that. I can connect with them on the blindness level and learn so much from their unique thought processes. The non-verbal camper I worked with could only very marginally communicate with other people, but once she sat behind the piano she was playing and smiling and singing every lyric perfectly. It was amazing! She and I bonded over music because I am a musician too. If she was ever feeling stressed, I would start to sing to her, and she would sing with me, and it would calm her down.

I also really loved Family Camp. I liked talking to the parents, especially the ones who were concerned about how their blind child will experience life in the future, what high school and college will be like for them. I was able to share my own experiences and the kids would tell us theirs. It felt so good to really celebrate the kids. We’re all blind, we all deal with it differently, but we’re also all here at EHC, honoring and celebrating our blindness. It felt really good to share that experience with these families.

If given the opportunity, would you work at EHC again?

Absolutely, yes! I am definitely coming back in the future. I really want to work the Youth and Teen camps next year – especially the Youth Camp! This summer has been such a wonderful experience. I would love to continue to stay as involved with the EHC and LightHouse community as I can.

If you would like to learn more about Enchanted Hills Camp or donate to our Building Blind Ambition campaign to directly benefit EHC, you may visit the Enchanted Hills Camp website.

LightHouse News

LightHouse Welcomes New Chief Executive Officer, Sharon Giovinazzo!

09/27/2022 LightHouse Staff

We are excited to announce that Sharon Giovinazzo has been named as our new Chief Executive Officer and will be joining us in this role on October 25.

Sharon Giovinazzo brings more than two decades of experience leading organizations dedicated to advocating for and serving the needs of the blind and visually impaired. She will join LightHouse after serving as President and CEO of the World Services for the Blind.

“I am honored to join the leadership team at LightHouse as its new CEO,” said Sharon Giovinazzo. “This organization has a long and successful track record of driving and achieving independence, equality and self-reliance for the community. This commitment to a focused driven mission, impact and success mirrors my own values, and I look forward to working with a dynamic team to advance the organization’s priorities and expand its reach.”

In her new role as CEO of LightHouse, Giovinazzo will be responsible for leading the organization’s dedicated team of blindness advocates, educators, and professionals while growing the value of the organization to its members, donors, sponsors, partners, and other stakeholders. She will drive efforts to promote the independence and equality of the community, while strengthening the organization and its programs.

“We’re pleased that Sharon will join us as CEO of LightHouse,” said Dr Sharon Sacks, LightHouse Board Chair. “Her strategic drive and her long, distinguished career advocating for and guiding the community make her the perfect choice to lead the LightHouse into the next phase of its development. We’re thrilled to welcome her aboard.”

Giovinazzo brings extensive experience in organizational management, strategic planning, community impact, public policy and advocacy. Prior to her role as President and CEO of the World Services for the Blind, she served for nearly a decade in various roles for the Raleigh Lions Clinic for the Blind (RLCB) where she assisted in the development and implementation of the agency’s $34 million budget, including determining staffing and operational needs and expenditures.

Prior to that, during her tenure with National Industries for the Blind (NIB), Giovinazzo is credited with providing the leadership for cultivating and understanding the AbilityOne programs with Congress, Federal Executive Branch Agencies, consumer and commercial organizations concerned with disability policy. Throughout her career, Sharon has been an advocate for public policy in legislative affairs and regulations. Prior to the NIB, she held positions with the Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) in Utica, NY; was appointed Chair to the State Rehabilitation Council in 2006 and supervised the operations of a DEPMEDS training facility with the US Army.

Sharon Giovinazzo holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Services Management from SUNY Empire State College and a dual master’s as an MSW and an MBA. Additionally, she holds a Certificate of Management in Business Administration from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.

We look forward to welcoming Sharon Giovinazzo to LightHouse next month!

LightHouse News

Join Us for the Sirkin Center Grand Opening, October 28

09/21/2022 LightHouse Staff

We warmly extend an invitation to the members of our community to attend the Grand Opening of our new Sirkin Center in Alameda. Named after the extremely successful businessman and LightHouse’s most significant donor to date, Donald Sirkin, the Sirkin Center is the entrepreneurial heart of a growing set of social ventures and light manufacturing run by the LightHouse for the Blind.

At the Sirkin Center, we aim to employ individuals who are blind and manufacture the highest quality eco-friendly cleaning products and tissue packets. These products, which serve communities and companies around the world, will provide the utmost utility to clients, and demonstrate our commitment to the employment of people who are blind or have low vision and caliber of our Center.

On Friday, October 28, we invite students, supporters, and local leaders to join the Mayor of Alameda, Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft and LightHouse staff in celebrating the Grand Opening! Tours of our beautiful new facility will be held every 30 minutes from 10 AM to 3 PM. Enjoy exhibits from LightHouse’s Media and Accessible Design Lab (MAD Lab), Adaptations store, Enchanted Hills Camp, and other LightHouse programs throughout the day. The Opening Ceremony will begin at 4 PM with a reception to follow at 5 PM. Light refreshments will be served in the morning, and a wine and beer happy hour will be served during the evening reception. We hope you all can join us in celebrating this momentous occasion! Please see further details below:

What: Sirkin Center Grand Opening
Where: 2175 North Loop Road, Alameda, CA 94502
When: Friday, October 28. Tours will be held from 10 AM – 3 PM, ceremony and reception will be from 4 – 6 PM
Transportation: LightHouse vans will be available for shuttle service from Oakland Coliseum BART station to the Sirkin Center at quarter to the hour, every hour, from 9:45 AM – 3:45 PM.
RSVP: Please register here

For more information, please contact Carin Elam at celam@old.lighthouse-sf.org or by calling 415-694-7681.

LightHouse News

And the 2022 Holman Prizewinners Are…

09/15/2022 LightHouse Staff 5 Comments

We are pleased to announce the winners of the sixth annual Holman Prize for Blind Ambition. The Holman Prize awards up to $25,000 each to three blind people who have ambitious ideas that challenge misperceptions about blindness while also challenging themselves. The Holman Prize is named for James Holman, a 19^th century blind explorer who was the most prolific private traveler of anyone, blind or sighted, before the era of modern transportation.

In July, an international panel of 10 blind leaders spent two days selecting the three winners of this year’s prize.

Introducing The 2022 Holman Prizewinners

Abby Griffith, 28 – United States

Photo caption: Abby Griffith sitting at her desk

Griffith will empower blind and low vision youth in Ethiopia by providing Braille reading and writing devices to students at the School for the Blind in Wolayta. When told over Zoom that she had won, Griffith covered her face in astonishment and cried tears of happiness, grateful for the opportunity to fund services for economically disadvantaged blind youth in her native Ethiopia.

Holman Prize judge and blind chemist, Dr. Hoby Wedler said, “Abby is a truly extraordinary blind leader. She came to the United States, learned how to use assistive technology, and wants to bring her learnings of access tech and braille back to her homeland! This is truly remarkable and game changing.

Cassie Hames, 33 – Australia

Photo caption: Cassie standing at a bus stop wearing a reflective vest and holding her cane

Hames will develop “See Me,” an app that communicates with bus drivers to request them to stop to allow a visually impaired person to board, making independent travel on public transportation safer and more accessible for the blind. Hames’ exact response upon being told she is one of this year’s winners was, “Holy moly!” followed by an eruption of laughter and tears of shock and joy.

Holman Prize judge and blind author, Dr. M. Leona Godin, said, “I was struck by Cassie’s tenacity demonstrated in her 90 second video pitch. Cassie is a woman with a clear and important project, and the will and ability to make it happen.” 

Tafadzwa Nyamuzihwa, 38 – Germany

Photo caption: Tafadzwa speaking into a microphone

Nyamuzihwa, an experienced DJ, will open recording studios in Zimbabwe and Uganda that will employ and train blind and low vision people to become radio presenters. When informed that he had won, Nyamuzihwa began dancing around the room.

Sarah Harris, Disability Rights Advocate and Holman Prize judge said, “Tafadzwa’s insight and passion to change perspectives and stigmas in regard to blindness are thoughtful and heartfelt.”

LightHouse is thrilled to have Waymo as a partner and thanks them for their generosity in sponsoring of one of the three prizes this year.

For more information contact
Christina Daniels at 415-694-7315 or press@old.lighthouse-sf.org
About the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Founded in 1902, LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired is the largest organization in Northern California providing skills, resources and community for the advancement of all individuals who are blind or have low vision.
Email: info@old.lighthouse-sf.org and visit:
old.lighthouse-sf.org/Holman-prize

LightHouse News

Polishing to Perfection Now Meets In-Person

09/13/2022 LightHouse Staff 1 Comment

Over the last few years, many blind and low vision teens and young adults who attended Enchanted Hills summer camp have learned the wood crafting skills needed to polish a piece of wood into a piece of art. Throughout the pandemic, these dedicated students of the Polishing to Perfection club met virtually to keep up the hobby and stay connected with their blind and low vision friends. Now that many are feeling safe enough to gather for in-person programs, we are excited to host Polishing in the Park.

These new polishing parties in the park will take place on the third Saturday of the month from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at rotating parks around the Bay Area. Each gathering will have time dedicated to students to update each other about their projects, learn a little about that month’s mentor, and most importantly, time to hang out and polish with their blind and low vision friends. Students who sign up for the program will receive the basic materials and equipment to get started with wood polishing. Students who remain active in the program and improve their skills will become eligible for additional raw materials that they can turn into art.

So, pack up your woodworking gear and join us Saturday, September 17, for Polishing in the Park at Lake Merritt in Oakland! See full event details below:

Who: LightHouse youth who are blind or have low vision
When: Saturday, September 17, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Where: Lake Merritt Amphitheater at Lake Merritt (near the intersection of Lake Merritt Blvd and 11th St)
RSVP: Please contact Jamey Gump by email at JGump@LightHouse-sf.org or by phone at 415-694-7372. Light refreshments and polishing supplies will be provided for students who RSVP by Friday September 16.

We can’t wait to see you at the very first Polishing in the Park!

LightHouse News

Another Great YES Summer Academy Completed

09/13/2022 Caitlin O'Malior

Photo 1: YES Academy students gather together at a Muni station in San Francisco. From left to right: Daisy Soto (YES Coordinator), Monse, Adam, Heriberto, Omar, Nicole (mentor), Eman, Katya, Rocco, Jisselle (mentor), Andrew (mentor), and Dlan

Photo 2: YES Summer Academy students Rocco, Hari and Adam pose together in front of a heart sculpture at Pier 39 in San Francisco

This summer, eight high school and college students joined LightHouse for our annual YES (Youth Employment Services) Academy. LightHouse Youth Services Coordinator, Daisy Soto, recaps the experience:

This year’s YES Summer Academy students spent 28 days learning and honing skills that will help prepare them for the workforce. During their first week, students received lessons from LightHouse staff on Orientation & Mobility (O&M), Independent Living Skills, and Access Technology essentials for employment. The second week focused on community-building and navigation skills. With the support of Youth Program staff and mentors, participants independently navigated new locations such as Angel Island, San Francisco State University, and Peer 39. They had the opportunity to take a variety of public transit systems (BART, Muni, cable cars, ferry, etc.) and worked on problem-solving strategies when exploring all of these new locations.

During their last two weeks, all students successfully completed their work experience practicums, which included some working as janitorial and food safety assistants and internships at LightHouse Sirkin Center. Weekends were filled with cooking challenges, walks on the Golden Gate Bridge and around Lake Merritt in Oakland, and an abundance of karaoke nights! YES participants left the program with not only an updated cover letter, resume, and job experiences in hand, but with increased pride and confidence as they take on employment and educational goals. It was certainly a summer filled with laughter and learning for all!

Photo 3: YES Academy student Hari explores a tactile map with LightHouse Orientation & Mobility Instructor Joshua Lopez

Photo 4: YES Summer Academy students and staff member cooking dinner in the accessible kitchen at LightHouse. From left to right: Dlan, Katya, Devin Upson (LightHouse Orientation & Mobility Instructor), and Rocco

As we wrap up a successful summer, the LightHouse Youth Programs team welcomes a new season filled with an array of educational, social, and recreational programs for youth and transition-aged students. Join like-minded blind and low vision academics for College Spaces, create cool art with fellow woodworkers in-person with Polishing in the Park, or hang out with your LightHouse and EHC besties every Friday night for the weekly virtual Daredevils watch party. Also this fall, LightHouse students ages 16 – 25 have the opportunity to join the LightHouse Youth Council. Do you have an idea for future programs or want to make a positive impact in your community? Learn more about the LightHouse Youth Council here. We look forward to an awesome autumn with the LightHouse Youth Programs team!

LightHouse News

Navigating Campus with the SunuBand from Adaptations

09/13/2022 LightHouse Staff

As many of us are heading back to school or back to work after the summer break, there’s no better time to sharpen your independent traveling skills. Whether you are exploring a new campus or commuting to a familiar space, the SunuBand is a super helpful device for any blind, Deafblind, or low vision traveler.

The SunuBand is worn like a watch and contains a small sensor that detects objects within a set distance. Set it to Indoor Mode to detect objects like furniture and doorways at a close distance, and Outdoor Mode extends the detection range to several meters. Simply turn your wrist to aim the sensor. When the unit is quiet, the path is clear—if it begins to vibrate, the user knows they are approaching an obstacle in their way.

Waiting in line at the campus bookstore? The SunuBand can help you keep your spot in line while still remaining a respectful distance from the person in front of you. The tiny sensor will vibrate to indicate when you are too close, and as the vibration subsides, you’ll be alerted that the line is moving forward.

Navigating busy streets, sidewalks, and crosswalks has never been easier. The SunuBand will alert you to both moving and still objects in your pathway. It’s a favorite of Orientation & Mobily (O&M) professionals around the world, and it can add a layer of dimension to a blind person’s travel that helps avoid those objects at face-level that our canes miss. The device also pairs seamlessly with a smart phone app, making setting and controlling alerts from the device even easier. Whether you are a cane-user or have a guide dog, the SunuBand is the perfect companion device.

Pick up your SunuBand from Adaptations by ordering online for the unbelievably low price of just $179. You can also call 888-400-8933 or email adaptations@old.lighthouse-sf.org to have it shipped to you, or to make an appointment to buy it in person. Order yours today before they sell out!