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A Braille Tip to Get Your Fingers Itching to Learn
LightHouse News

A Braille Tip to Get Your Fingers Itching to Learn

Did you know that less than 10% of the 1.3 million residents of the United States who are blind or have low vision are Braille readers? One reason for this is the common misconception that Braille is difficult to learn. Not at the LightHouse! We are setting out to put a stop to this rumor. Here is a helpful tip from Divina Carlson, Braille instructor and tactile reader extraordinaire:
 
“If you learn letters ‘a through j’ in Braille, you also learn the numbers ‘0 through 9’. Imagine, learning the first ten letters of the alphabet in Braille will allow you to access the Braille numbers on the elevator buttons, room signage, Braille playing cards and more! In the short time it takes you to learn the first ten letters of the alphabet, you can now access every combination of numbers in the world.”
 
Want to find out exactly how Braille works? Visit the LightHouse website, or contact Divina Carlson at Brailletraining@old.lighthouse-sf.org. Sign up for lessons today and learn just how valuable (and easy!) Braille truly is. For more Braille tips and tricks, follow LightHouse on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram .

Mount Veder Echoes with the Sound of a Beating Drum as the First DeafBlind Camp since 2019 is Held at EHC
LightHouse News

Mount Veder Echoes with the Sound of a Beating Drum as the First DeafBlind Camp since 2019 is Held at EHC

Last week, 19 DeafBlind campers converged on Enchanted Hills Camp (EHC) in Napa for the first time in three years. DeafBlind people as a group across the world have experienced a different, and arguably more complete form of isolation than many during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the necessary masking and social distancing, a group who relies on touch and proximity to people, to communicate through tactile signing onto hands, lost that connection. The DeafBlind Community was forced to, where possible, adopt and adapt other means of communication, like using phones connected to the internet with attached refreshable braille as their main method of two-way communication. This reduced interaction to a bare minimum. Only being able to interact at a distance or with technologically imposed time delays can be incredibly frustrating.
 
This is why we kicked off the 2022 EHC summer season by inviting this group to be the first to travel to Napa this year to revel in the chance to reconnect and be together, while breathing in the fresh air and enjoying the touch of nature on hands and feet.

COVID-19 safety guidelines were assiduously followed, with all staff, volunteers, and campers required to show proof of vaccination and a negative COVID test before coming to camp. Indoor masking, except when sleeping or eating, was also observed. A talented group of Support Service Providers took part as guides and activity facilitators.
 
The focus for this cohort of adults of a wide range of ages was to socialize and be in the company of other DeafBlind people. An array of activities was available to create that special feeling of achieving, making, or building something as a collective.
 
Campers did paddle-boating, archery, and hiked the trails. There were arts and crafts for the creatives among the group: painters painted while others built wooden birdhouses. Bingo cards in large print and Braille were there for those who like a bit of friendly competition.

The hands-down favorite activity appears to have been musical chairs. Along with the campers, our distant EHC Napa neighbors may have also enjoyed the strong beat of a resonant bass drum that all campers could feel vibrating through their beings. When the beat stopped, campers scrambled for a seat.
 
We hope our DeafBlind campers had a great time and are catching up on their sleep! There’s no rest and not much breathing space for EHC staff as they busily prepare for the next excited group. The newest members of our LightHouse community, the students of our brand new LightHouse Little Learners Program and their families, are taking over the cabins and the trails at EHC only a few days after this group. We wish them a welcome and magical experience.

Visit Adaptations in the Exhibit Hall at ACB, NFB Conventions
LightHouse News

Visit Adaptations in the Exhibit Hall at ACB, NFB Conventions

Editor’s Note: Last week, we told you that our MAD Lab will be at the ACB and NFB conventions. Now, find out more about the offerings from Adaptations, our blindness products store, at both.  
 
By Raqi Gomez, Adaptations Store Manager
 
Adaptations will be selling custom TMAPs on-demand at the American Council of the Blind (ACB) and the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) summer conventions. Stop by booth 20 at the ACB Convention on Sunday, July 3 or Monday, July 4 in Omaha, Nebraska, or visit us on Wednesday, July 6 and Thursday, July 7 at the NFB convention taking place in New Orleans, Louisiana. You’ll be able to purchase your own custom, Braille TMAP at a special convention rate

We will also feature several popular items produced at the LightHouse, including unique greeting cards for all occasions, Unified English Braille contractions booklets, Braille and tactile intersection guides, and other miscellaneous Braille offerings like our Lord of the Rings Middle Earth Map Bundle and Apple Swift Playgrounds containing Braille and tactile graphics. 
 
Stop by for more information, or to learn what’s new at LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired in San Francisco. We look forward to meeting you!
 
Adaptations is now open for in-person shopping by appointment. Call 888-400-8933 or email adaptations@old.lighthouse-sf.org to schedule yours today. You can also purchase products online at Adaptations.org.

Meet Sabrina Bolus: A New member of our Community Services Team
LightHouse News

Meet Sabrina Bolus: A New member of our Community Services Team

1 Commenton Meet Sabrina Bolus: A New member of our Community Services Team

Earlier this year, Sabrina Bolus joined LightHouse as one of our new Adult Programs Coordinators. So far, Sabrina and co-coordinator, Maia Scott, have hit the ground running, creating many new programs and building community for our LightHouse students 18 years and older. We asked Sabrina some questions to get to know her a little better.
 
What type of work did you do before joining LightHouse?
“For 15 years, I was able to develop creative marketing programs for the tech Industry. Among other things, I translated technical information into everyday language through songs and scripted performances at trade shows and other events. In 2014, I graduated from seminary, where I learned to listen with my heart. I spent 1600 hours in clinical training and got to do 400 of them in Ghana, Africa. Visiting the land of my ancestors was a dream come true. I became an interfaith chaplain who worked in recovery and got to walk with people as they reconnected with themselves and others. From this experience, I try not to stay stuck in a problem. I give it space, then live in the solution. I got to teach this for the better part of the last seven years.”

As a person who has low vision, how do you think your own experiences have shaped you?
“My vision journey has been like changing high school in my senior year. I sometimes feel lost and out of place and need new ways to do things. There are times that I am sad or angry about my vision changes. At times, I am afraid. So, I learned to use the energy of fear to my advantage. I became curious about it all, and I paid attention to how things felt and eventually learned to grow and have fun again. As my vision changed, I received great support from the Oakland Department of Rehabilitation (DOR), and my current support group, recommended by UC Berkely Low Vision Clinic. I learn and grow by staying connected with others.”
 
What are you most looking forward to in your new role as Adult Programs Co-Coordinator?
“Now that I finally know what makes me feel whole, I can set an intention for it. After three years of working from home, I am learning how to be in a community again. I am being connected to people, which is why I appreciate working as an Adult Programs Coordinator in the Community Services Department at the LightHouse. I get to support and co-create programs that re-connect people to joyfulness and to others.”

We are delighted to welcome Sabrina to our staff and cannot wait to see how her previous life and career experiences and her valuable insight and positive outlook will shape the blind and low vision community. Please feel free to reach out to her at SBolus@old.lighthouse-sf.org.
 
You can join Sabrina and Maia at any one of our new programs or events for adult students. Check out the LightHouse Calendar to view all our programs and events.

Meet with MAD Lab at the Summer 2022 Blind Consumer Conventions
LightHouse News

Meet with MAD Lab at the Summer 2022 Blind Consumer Conventions

Members of our Media and Accessible Design Laboratory (MAD Lab) team will be on hand at the LightHouse exhibit booths at this summer’s American Council of the Blind (ACB) and National Federation of the Blind (NFB) conventions. They’ll be showcasing our famous TMAP, which is a tactile street map of a specific area or location as designated by the end-user. Frank Welte will be representing the MAD Lab at the ACB convention in Omaha, Nebraska and at the NFB convention in New Orleans, Louisiana.

If you’re going to the ACB convention, stop by our exhibit booth, say hi to Frank and take a look at a tactile map of Omaha.

Those of you going to New Orleans will find it a bit easier to explore the city because NFB and MAD Lab are working to make copies of a TMAP street map of the area near the convention hotel available, including the French Quarter. Make sure to pick up one of those maps.

Going somewhere else on vacation this summer? No problem! You can purchase TMAP tactile street maps and other unique MAD Lab products at the Adaptations Store. Visit www.adaptations.org or call 888-400-8933 for more information.For inquiries or questions for the MAD Lab, please contact madlab@old.lighthouse-sf.org or visit the MAD Lab page on the LightHouse website. We look forward to meeting you at this year’s summer conferences.
Sunshine, Bubbles and Bugs! A Garden Party for LightHouse Little Learners
LightHouse News

Sunshine, Bubbles and Bugs! A Garden Party for LightHouse Little Learners

By Pam Chapin, LightHouse Little Learners Program Director

On May 9, the LightHouse Little Learners team hosted their first ever Garden Party event for children and their families on the patio of Ed Roberts Campus in Berkeley, where LightHouse has its East Bay office. Children poured over tactile and Braille books and delighted in exploring the toddler-sized Braille keyboard and letter sounds of a Braille Buzz by American Printing House.  Expressions of joy and wonderment abounded as children put their hands in a sensory tray filled with dried beans and plastic colorful bugs, to catch with a net, or view with a magnifying glass. Giggles and bubbles floated through the air as children used an accessible switch to play with a bubble frog machine. To engage little ones’ senses, children planted silk flowers into edible soil made of cocoa, flour, and a dash of oil to create a kinetic sand-like texture. Delicious snacks and lemonade-making were also part of the festivities.

Parents enjoyed meeting other families and taking family portraits thanks to the amazing photography skills of Early Childhood Blind and Low Vision Specialist, Emmalaine. Families took home little flower pots their children had planted, balloons and spring baskets. One parent shared afterwards, “I wanted to say how wonderful the garden party was today. The three of us had such a fun time and it was so great to see [our daughter] practicing a little independence. The activities that you all had out for the kids were just perfect.”
 
The LightHouse Little Learners program is designed to help young children, birth to age three, who are blind, DeafBlind, have low vision or a neurological visual impairment, or whose developmental delays include blindness or low vision. To find out more, visit the LightHouse Little Learners webpage.

Introducing the 2022 Holman Prize Finalists!
LightHouse News

Introducing the 2022 Holman Prize Finalists!

1 Commenton Introducing the 2022 Holman Prize Finalists!

LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired is thrilled to announce the ten 2022 Holman Prize for Blind Ambition finalists. 
 
Named for 19th century blind explorer James Holman, the prize awards up to $25,000 each to three blind people each year with ambitious ideas that will change perceptions about blindness worldwide.
 
This year we have five women and five men as our finalists.
 
We would also like to thank Waymo for their sponsorship of one of this year’s three Holman Prizes.
 
The finalists, in no particular order, are:
 
Abby Griffith, age 28
Country: United States
Proposal: Empower blind and low vision youth of Ethiopia by providing Braille reading and writing devices to students at the school for the blind in Ethiopia
 
Josh Tseng, age 24
Country: Singapore
Proposal: Produce an online video series “Blind Guy Tries Everything” that will document adventures and try as many things as possible that would be considered unfathomable for people who are blind or have low vision
 
Fiona Demark, age 45
Country: Australia
Proposal: Video series “Dougherty Dares Downunder,” will challenge blind perceptions by completing a series of dares and activities

Ernie Heredero, age 33
Country: Philippines
Proposal: Open a “Dining in the Dark” style restaurant in Palawan and employ all staff who are blind or have low vision
 
Flor Jimenez, age 46
Country: United States
Proposal: Promote and support adaptive sports for blind and low vision youth in Latin America
 
Arron George, age 32
Country: Trinidad and Tobago
Proposal: Record seven studio albums and provide studio time, instrumental creation, mixing and mastering, social media marketing, website creation, photo shoots and music videos for blind artists
 
Oluwakemi Odusanya, age 29
Country: Nigeria
Proposal: Provide leadership training to women who are blind or have low vision in Nigeria
 
Kesah Princely, age 24
Country: Cameroon
Proposal: Blind Youth Leadership Development Program will provide blindness training and advocacy to youth in Cameroon who are blind or have low vision

Cassie Hames, age 33
Country: Australia
Proposal: Create “See Me,” a fully integrated app that communicates with bus drivers and notifies drivers of approaching bus stops, making independent travel on public transportation safer and more accessible for the blind
 
Tafadzwa Nyamuzihwa, age 38
Country: Germany
Proposal: “Shining Star” will open recording studios in two African countries that will employ and train blind and low vision people to become radio and audio entertainers
 
What happens next? This July, a panel of judges from all over the world will gather virtually to choose the three winners; stay tuned to find out who they will be.

Register for the EHC Leadership and Counselor in Training Program
LightHouse News

Register for the EHC Leadership and Counselor in Training Program

The Enchanted Hills Camp (EHC) Summer Leadership Summit focuses on developing leaders who are blind or have low vision in an immersive training environment through soft-skills development and exploration of careers. Participants will gain a better understanding of how to be an effective self-advocate and develop social and independent living skills that will prepare them for transition and post-secondary education program options. Training takes place through discussion, role modeling, and practice under the supervision of experienced LightHouse and EHC staff.
 
The program will start with a week of training where participants will take part in job site readiness exercises that will help participants prepare to become a Counselor-in-Training (CIT) during the summer programs at EHC. In the second week, participants will be assigned to a group of youth campers as a CIT, where participants will apply their new skills learned in the first week of the series with the support and supervision from summer Camp Counselors and experienced camp staff. Throughout the program, CITs will also participate in discussions with leaders from the greater blind community as well as successfully employed blind adults about career opportunities, blindness philosophy, life hacks and many other important topics.

This summit is for teens ages 16 to 18 years old who are blind or have low vision and are serious about improving their leadership skills by learning to work with children in a rigorous camp setting. As part of the program application process, students must complete a student intake form, conduct an interview with program staff and commit to participating fully in the program at EHC. We welcome prospective participants who possess a variety of previous camping experiences or have an interest in exploring the social and recreational work profession to consider applying.
 
Please read the full description, including program objectives, outcomes, and expectations, and learn about costs and how to apply.
 
We are asking prospective participants who are eligible for Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) services to work with their counselors to gain entry to this program.
 
Week 1: June 20 through 24: Leadership Development and Staff Training
Week 2: July 11 through July 16: Counselor in Training Practicum
 
For further information about the Summer Leadership Summit, please don’t hesitate to contact Jamey Gump, Youth Services Coordinator, at JGump@old.lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7372.

LightHouse To Host COVID-19 Booster Clinic for 1st & 2nd Booster Shots
LightHouse News

LightHouse To Host COVID-19 Booster Clinic for 1st & 2nd Booster Shots

Members of the LightHouse community, their friends and families, and members of the wider community are invited to receive either their first or second COVID-19 vaccine booster shot on Tuesdays, June 7 and June 14. Each vaccination clinic runs between 1:00 and 4:00 pm at our 1155 Market Street San Francisco headquarters.

To register to attend the LightHouse vaccination clinic at 1155 Market Street, you will first need to make an appointment by calling 415-694-7648 or by emailing info@old.lighthouse-sf.org. Voicemail messages can be left for callback outside of these hours.

This line is available to speakers of both Spanish and English. Other language interpreters are available once you leave a voicemail requesting a callback.

Please note: Any COVID-19 vaccines can be used for booster vaccination, regardless of the vaccine product used for primary immunization. Both Pfizer & Moderna booster vaccines will be available during the two clinic dates.

These clinics are for booster vaccinations only and the clinics are for people ages 18 and older. Vaccines for children ages 5-11 years old will not be available at the LightHouse. However, staff can refer to other sites in the city offering pediatric vaccines.

Eligibility For Those Getting Their First Booster at LightHouse

Pfizer-BioNTech & Moderna COVID-19 vaccine recipients

The CDC recommends a booster of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

  • For most people, at least five months after the final dose in the primary series
  • For people who are moderately or severely immuno-compromised, at least three months after the final dose in the primary series

Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine recipients:

The CDC recommends a booster of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

  • For most people, at least two months after the primary dose of the Johnson & Johnson Janssen COVID-19 vaccine
  • For people who are moderately or severely immuno-compromised, at least two months after the additional dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

Eligibility For Those Getting Their Second Booster at LightHouse

Pfizer-BioNTech & Moderna COVID-19 vaccine recipients

People in the following groups can choose to get a second booster of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least four months after the 1st booster:

  • Adults ages 50 years and older
  • People who are moderately or severely immuno-compromised

Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine recipients:

People in the following groups can choose to get a second booster of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least four months after the 1st booster:

  • Anyone who got a Johnson & Johnson J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine for both their primary dose and booster
  • Adults ages 50 years and older
  • People who are moderately or severely immuno-compromised

Dates & Location

Dates
Tuesday, June 7 and Tuesday, June 14, both from 1:00 to 4:30 pm
Address
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
San Francisco headquarters
1155 Market Street, 10th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103

Accessibility

  • ASL interpreting will be available at the clinic.
  • LightHouse volunteers will be on site to provide instructions and help navigating

Getting to Your Appointment

Please visit the directions to San Francisco LightHouse webpage for detailed information on how to get to your appointment by public transit and rideshare.

Please note masks are mandatory indoors at the LightHouse and we practice six feet social distancing. The LightHouse is proud to be able to offer our headquarters as a central, easy, and welcoming location for our extended community to receive booster vaccinations and we welcome back volunteers and nurses from the San Francisco Department of Public Health for a second COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Clinic.

Accessible Pedestrian Signals – Are They Working For You?
LightHouse News

Accessible Pedestrian Signals – Are They Working For You?

By Sheri Albers, Community Outreach Coordinator

Many years ago, during my initial Orientation & Mobility training, I was taught to cross an intersection by listening for the “surge” and always going with parallel traffic. This was in the days before an Audio Pedestrian Signal (APS). The intention of the APS was never to replace my learned blindness skills, but to enhance my safe travel experience. Sometimes when I am downtown in San Francisco, there is so much noise from people, music, or construction, that it can be difficult to discern the traffic patterns with an elevated level of confidence. Intersections are also more complicated due to the high volume of hybrid vehicles which eliminate the phenomena of the “surge” because there is a lack of sound. I am always relieved to find an APS as a backup to let me know that it’s safe to cross. I was also elated to learn of the vibration feature to notify DeafBlind people!

One of the organizational goals of LightHouse is to strengthen partnerships with state and local agencies, and advocate for our community. We have worked on many projects with San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), including the most recent “Safety – It’s Your Turn” Campaign to help make intersections safer for pedestrians as they are crossing streets when there are drivers making left turns. Discussions to increase communication with SFMTA on intersection safety ARE ongoing, and the focus has now turned to APS. LightHouse is concerned that there is a need for more APSs throughout the city, that there is little known about how to request an APS, and that the SFMTA website is confusing to navigate.

What is an Accessible Pedestrian Signal?

An Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS) is a pedestrian push button that communicates when to cross the street in a non-visual manner, such as audible tones, speech messages and vibrating surfaces. Read more on the SFMTA website about APS.

Watch a short video where Polara partnered with LightHouse to show how APS work in San Francisco.

There was an SFMTA policy established in 2010 that required the transit agency to report to LightHouse on a semiannual basis the number of APS installations, status of request for APS, and status of APS maintenance requests. Through my discussions with the SFMTA APS Team, I was able to convey the importance of this report and re-establish this practice. These reports will begin to be distributed starting July 2022 and updated every six months.

Is there an intersection in San Francisco near you or the places you frequent that needs an APS? How do you request one?

There are two ways to request an APS. The first is to call 311. The second way is to fill out an online form at the San Francisco 311 Customer Service Center website. If outside the city, call 415-701-2311. When you call, all you need to do is submit your name, contact information, the desired intersection and the format in which you wish to receive a response. SFMTA will respond to you withing 90 days with the status of your request.

Is there an APS near in San Francisco that needs repair?

Any maintenance concerns regarding APS buttons, including volume, should be submitted by contacting 311 as noted above. SFMTA will make any necessary repairs typically within 24 hours of receiving the maintenance request.

Learn All About San Francisco APS by Listening to an Interview and Attending an Online Discussion

To learn much more about APS in San Francisco, please listen to my interview with Bryant Woo who is a Senior Traffic Engineer on the SFMTA APS team. According to Mr. Woo, as of March 31, 2022, 33% of all intersections with traffic signals in San Francisco have an Accessible Pedestrian Signal. SFMTA is proud to say that our city is the leader in the country for this statistic. Woo goes on to say, “We are not happy until we hit 100%!” If you have any questions for Mr. Woo about matters concerning APS, you may contact him by email at Bryant.Woo@sfmta.com.