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LightHouse News

Free Day-Long Symposium on Making Comics Accessible, August 12

08/03/2021 LightHouse Staff

Adapting Comics for Blind and Low Vision Readers

Presented by: San Francisco State University’s Comic Studies Department, The Program for Vision Impairments, and the Longmore Institute on Disability

Meet the Distinguished 2021 Holman Prize Jurors

07/21/2021 LightHouse Staff

A few weeks ago, we introduced you to the fourteen 2021 Holman Prize for Blind Ambition Finalists. Three from this ambitious group of blind people who want to challenge misconceptions about what it means to be blind will be selected as winners of our fifth annual Holman Prize for Blind Ambition. A special thanks goes to Waymo for sponsoring one of this year’s winners.

But who chooses the winners? Each year a panel of esteemed blindness leaders from around the world come together for discussion and debate to select the winners of the Holman Prize. All committee members are themselves blind.

For the second consecutive year, our committee will meet virtually. The fifteen members of this year’s committee reside in six countries and work in a variety of fields from law to computer science, to academia, to leadership roles in blindness organizations.

Learn more about them below.

The 2021 Holman Prize Committee

Martine Abel-Williamson, QSM
Auckland, New Zealand
President, World Blind Union

Martine is employed as a Senior Human Rights Advisor for the New Zealand Human Rights Commission. She’s on the boards of the Accessible Books Consortium, Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind and Blind Citizens NZ. She also holds pan-disability roles as a board member of Disability Connect, a pan-disability service provider.

Bryan Bashin
Berkeley, California, USA
CEO, LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Bryan has led a diverse life since he graduated UC Berkeley in history and journalism. He first spent 15 years as a journalist in television, radio and print, specializing in science news. In 1998 Bryan was hired as Executive Director of the Sacramento Society for the Blind, where he quintupled the number of hours of teaching and developed innovative programs such as the Senior Intensive Retreat and summer immersion camps. In 2004 he was hired as the Region IX assistant regional commissioner for the United States Department of Education’s west coast branch of RSA, overseeing funding for $500 million in federal disability programs. In 2010 he was hired to lead the Lighthouse for the Blind in San Francisco, leading a staff of 140.

Jason Fayre
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
National Lead, Accessibility and Assistive Technology, CNIB

Jason has been working in the accessibility and assistive technology field for more than 20 years. In his current role at CNIB, he ensures that any staff who are blind are able to take full advantage of the multitude of technologies available to them. He works directly with companies such as Microsoft and Google to assist them in providing the most accessible products possible. Prior to CNIB, Jason worked for Freedom Scientific, one of the largest providers of assistive technology for people who are blind or have low vision.

Karla Gilbride
Silver Springs, Maryland, USA
Senior Attorney, Public Justice

A graduate with honors of Georgetown Law, Karla clerked for Judge Ronald Gould on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Her current legal work focuses on fighting mandatory arbitration provisions imposed on consumers and workers that prevent them from holding corporations accountable for wrongdoing in court. She is also a board member for the National Employment Lawyers Association, and a member of the National Association of Consumer Advocates. She is an avid baseball fan and fantasy baseball nerd and enjoys hiking, cycling and playing goalball.

Georgina Kleege
Berkeley, California
Professor in Creative Writing and Disability Studies, UC Berkeley

Georgina has been teaching at UC Berkeley since 2003. Her recent books include: Sight Unseen, Blind Rage: Letters to Helen Keller and More than Meets the Eye: What Blindness Brings to Art.

Karen Knight
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
General Manager of Client Services, Vision Australia

A proud Australian, Karen spent the first fifteen years of her career as a psychologist specializing in youth suicide prevention and mental health promotion. It is her lived experience and many years involvement in the consumer movement of blind people in Australia that has shaped her views about best practice in blindness service delivery. Karen is passionate about blind and visually impaired people living their dreams without the shackles imposed by others. Being out there telling blind positive stories is one way to change attitudes.

Karen has two young adult children and is a keen ballroom and Latin-American dancer.

Trisha Kulkarni
Dayton, Ohio, USA
B.S. Candidate in Computer Science, Stanford University

Trisha is an incoming senior at Stanford University studying computer science with a minor in creative writing. This summer, she is working as a software engineering intern within the Office Experience Organization at Microsoft, while also proudly serving as the President of the National Association of Blind Students. Kulkarni is humbled to be taking part in this incredible opportunity and looks forward to building our future together.

Jim Kutsch, PhD
Morristown, New Jersey, USA
Retired President, The Seeing Eye

Jim served as President and CEO of The Seeing Eye from 2006 until he retired in December 2019. He served as Chair of the Board of the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF), Chairman of the Morris Animal Foundation Board, President of the Council of U.S. Dog Guide Schools, and Chairman of the Board of National Industries for the Blind. Earlier, Kutsch was a Professor of Computer Science, a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff at Bell Laboratories, VP and Chief Information Officer at AT&T Universal Card Services, and VP of Strategic Technology at Convergys. His degrees include a Psychology BA and a Computer Science MS and PhD, as well as an honorary Doctorate for lifetime service to people with disabilities, including designing the first talking computer.

Jim Marks
Helena, Montana, USA
Program Director, Area IV Agency on Aging, Rocky Mountain Development Council

Previously, Jim served as the Director of Disability Services for Students at the University of Montana and as Montana’s director of vocational rehabilitation. Jim is the President of the National Federation of the Blind of Montana. He lives with his wife, Kathy. They have four adult children and six grandchildren.

Natalina Martiniello, PhD
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Research Associate, Université de Montréal; President of Braille Literacy Canada

Natalina is a Research Associate and teaches in the Graduate program in Visual Impairment and Rehabilitation at the Université de Montréal, in Montreal, Canada. She is the President of Braille Literacy Canada (the Canadian Braille Authority) and a strong advocate for braille literacy and accessibility. As a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist, she has taught braille and access technologies to children, adults and seniors with visual impairments. Her research focuses on braille, adult learning and aging and on developing evidence-based strategies to support working-age and older adults who learn braille. An avid traveler, her most memorable trip was visiting the house of Louis Braille.

Florence Ndagire
Lawyer
Wakiso, Wakiso District, Uganda

Florence is the first visually impaired female lawyer in Uganda. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from Makerere University and a Master of Law in international and European human rights law at the University of Leeds, United Kingdom. She is currently enrolled at Makerere University in partnership with the London School of Hygiene and tropical medicine for her PhD research on access to reproductive health services by persons with disabilities in Uganda. She is the chairperson of the UN Women Regional civil society advisory group of East and Southern Africa. She is the current UNPRPD advisor. Florence is the primary author of “Will the proposed reforms in the mental health treatment act be consistent with Article 12 of the Convention on the rights of Persons with disabilities in Uganda?”

Walt Raineri
Northern California, USA
Partner Emeritus, Fenwick & West LLP

Walt’s legal and accounting professional, academic, philanthropic, entrepreneurial, and adaptive athletic sports careers span 45 years, and counting. He has practiced in the areas of international taxation, multinational mergers and acquisitions, and large group consolidations. Walt is also a CPA, a former Associate Professor at Golden Gate university, former Lecturer at UC Berkeley, and Stanford University. He founded four for profit companies, notably Ariat International, the equestrian clothing and footwear company. He is an alumnus of UC Berkeley School of Business Administration and Georgetown university School of Law. Walt is a Paralympic level athlete in multiple sports and has a passion to help others achieve their fitness objectives. He has helped guide dozens of nonprofit organizations focused on supporting the visually impaired community.

Will Schell, J.D.
Washington, D.C.
Deputy Chief of the Disability Rights Office, Federal Communications Commission

Among other things, Will manages the Disability Rights Office complaints team, drafts various guidance and orders and engages in outreach with the disability community. He also serves as the Designated Federal Officer of the Commission’s Disability Advisory Committee, which provides advice and recommendations to the Commission on a wide array of disability issues within the FCC’s jurisdiction. Prior to that, Will was a disability rights attorney at the Office for Civil Rights and at Disability Rights California where he represented people in litigation to prevent them from unnecessary segregation.

Abby White
Oxford, England, UK
Co-founder and Volunteer CEO, World Eye Cancer Hope

Abby’s mother was raised in France and her father in Kenya, where he was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma in 1946. Her globally scattered family inspired her love for travel and study of geography at university, with emphasis on development in sub-Saharan Africa. Abby co-founded World Eye Cancer Hope, responding to the needs of one child with retinoblastoma in Botswana, and the desire to help many more worldwide. While working with the charity in 2015, Abby’s guide dog, Annie, became the first to visit Kenya – during a conference circuit that also took in South Africa and the USA.

She enjoys audio books, creative writing, open water swimming and long country walks. She lives in Oxford, England, with her current guide dog, Ritzie.

Joe Xavier
Elk Grove, California,
Director, California Department of Rehabilitation,

Joe Xavier has over 36 years of experience in business and public administration, as well as many years participating in advocacy and community organizations. As an immigrant, a blind consumer, a beneficiary of the DOR’s services, Joe has the experience and understands the challenges and opportunities available to individuals with disabilities, and the services required to maximize an individual’s full potential. Joe: believes in the talent and potential of individuals with disabilities; in investing in the future through creativity, ingenuity and innovation; ensuring decisions and actions are informed by interested individuals and groups; in pursuing excellence through continuous improvement; and preserving the public’s trust through compassionate and responsible provision of services.

LightHouse News

LightHouse partners with SciAccess to launch Mission: AstroAccess

07/21/2021 LightHouse Staff

LightHouse is excited to partner with SciAccess Initiative for the launch of a new program, Mission: AstroAccess. This is a program designed to bring diversity and inclusion to the STEM field in a study that will consist of a group of ten disabled people that will participate in a historic zero gravity parabolic flight. The flight’s blind, low vision, Deaf, and disabled volunteers will complete targeted tasks during the flight to help answer basic questions about how disabled people can safely and accessibly live and work in space.

“Space is not just part of humanity’s future – it is a place where we can rethink life on earth today,” says Mission: AstroAccess project lead, George Whitesides. “With this flight we hope to lay the foundation for future disabled space explorers.”

The goal of this mission is to bring together the largest and most diverse group of disabled crew members in a weightless environment, with the hopes to learn how to adapt and make accessible outer-space travel for disabled space explorers, scientists, and researchers. The Mission: AstroAccess parabolic flight is scheduled to take place on October 17, 2021, launching from Long Beach, California.

“Our mission is to change outer space and change the world. If you are a disabled person who is confident, enthusiastic, playful, and literally willing to float upside down to change the future, we are looking for you!” says Dr. Sheri Wells-Jensen, Associate Professor of Linguistics at Bowling Green State University.

So, what else does it take to be a participant in Mission: AstroAccess? You must be eighteen years of age or older, a speaker of English or American Sign Language, a resident of the United States, and you must be blind, low vision, Deaf, and/or someone who identifies as disabled. Applications are now open and will be accepted through August 15. Mission: AstroAccess will be hosting an informational webinar for all of those interested in applying for a mission slot on July 21. Until then, you can find more information about Mission: AstroAccess on the project website.

“This partnership is the first step in making the people who explore space look like all Americans,” said LightHouse CEO Bryan Bashin. “Blind people have been explorers, scientists and communicators for millennia, and Mission: AstroAccess and the LightHouse for the Blind – San Francisco will help move our contributions into space.”

We are excited and proud to be part of this inclusive change to the STEM field, and encourage all of our students, friends, and mentors within the blind community to apply for a mission slot. Together, the blind community can help make space inclusive and accessible for all.

For more information about the work that SciAccess Initiative does, please visit the SciAccess website. You can apply for a participant slot for Mission: Astro Access by following this link.

LightHouse News

Welcome back, EHC!

07/14/2021 Caitlin O'Malior 2 Comments

As visitors wind their way up Mt. Veeder Road, past the lush redwoods, sparkling lake, and rolling green hills of Napa, the once quiet grounds of Enchanted Hills Camp are again filled with the delightful sounds of happy campers. The crunching of leaves and twigs under excited footsteps, clicking of canes, splashes of water, nays and baas of EHC’s four-legged residents and the jolly echoed shouts and laughter from campers fill the air—it is, once again, summertime at Enchanted Hills Camp!

On July 5, Enchanted Hills Camp reopened its grounds to 45 eager teen campers. After being closed for over a year, EHC has been thrilled to reopen this summer, abiding by CDC state and federal COVID-19 safety protocols. Although the limited campers, mask wearing, social distance, and required vaccinations of both campers and staff has certainly changed the look of camp this summer, the fun and festivities haven’t changed in the slightest!

“Campers are filling their days horseback riding, kayaking, playing disc golf, participating in Teen Talk rap sessions and talent shows. The kids are dancing, hiking, taking overnight camping trips into the woods, solar cooking, and fishing. They can care for our EHC animal friends (milking goats and collecting eggs from chickens) and do some wood polishing and wood working. They are putting on drama productions, training in martial arts and archery, playing goalball and bowling, and making ice cream and arts and crafts, just to name a few activities.” Enchanted Hills Camp Director, Tony Fletcher, tells LightHouse Lately.

New campers, 17-year-old twin sisters, Madison and Paige from Arroyo Grande, California, share their first impressions and experience at teen camp.

“We heard about Enchanted Hills Camp through our DOR [Department of Rehabilitation] counselor, so we were interested. We loved it once we got here! It is so much fun! There is so much to do, you never feel bored or like you are just sitting around waiting for something fun. Right now, we are working on a play, and we’ve done a lot of arts and crafts. We also tie-dyed bandanas. We are definitely coming back next summer!”

Both girls have nystagmus and ocular albinism and have low vision.

“With nystagmus it is hard to focus my eyes on things, like when I am reading my eyes jump across the page. The ocular albinism makes my eyes very sensitive to the sunlight,” Madison explains.

Aside from each other, neither Paige nor Madison knew any other peers with visual impairments prior to going to camp. Learning more about low vision and the blind community has become an interest and priority for these young women.

“We have never been around anyone with vision like ours or people with less vision. We want to be more involved in the blind and visually impaired community,” Paige says. “We have made a lot of new friends at camp. It is so relieving to be around people like us.”

Madison and Paige reflected on their camp experience:

“Overall, I have learned a lot about people who are visually impaired, and not just about people who have what I have. I have learned so much about adaptability and the blind community, and I am very grateful for that,” Paige says.

“I am also so grateful for camp. I have never seen anyone use a cane before, and it is so interesting to me to see how everyone gets around using their canes. I like how specific people are when they describe how to get to places and how they tap the walls as a guide. I’ve also learned how to guide people who can’t see, and I think it is so helpful and interesting,” says Madison.

In their remaining days at Enchanted Hills Camp Paige and Madison are excitedly looking forward to performing the play, making bath bombs, and trying their hand at archery, as well as hanging out with their new friends and strengthening their bond to the blind and low vision community. “We can’t wait to come back next summer!” they told LightHouse Lately.

There are still available spaces for EHC’s STEM camp, running from July 26 through August 1 for campers aged 13- to 20-years-old. Visit Enchanted Hills Camp STEM Camp Applications to get your application in as soon as possible. We also have limited availability left for Music Camp, also running July 26 through August 1. This session is for campers ranging from high school to college ages. Fill out the Enchanted Hills Camp Music Camp Applications here. For more information about Enchanted Hills Camp, visit the EHC website.

LightHouse News

San Francisco’s Aquatic Park and Pier Wants Your Input

07/14/2021 LightHouse Staff 1 Comment

San Francisco’s scenic and historic waterfront is revamping the space and creating a new community-led project entitled the Aquatic Park and Pier Project. The Maritime National Park Association is working towards realizing this area’s full potential and creating a beautiful and safe recreation area for families and visitors of San Francisco for generations to come, but they need the community’s help.

Last week our Media and Accessible Design Laboratory (MAD Lab) director, Greg Kehret, represented the LightHouse at a discussion attended by several people in the disability rights community. The group discussed the renovation of Aquatic Park and Pier in San Francisco. Those in the disability rights community are concerned with getting input from people with disabilities to ensure the park is inclusive and accessible to all park goers. They have shared a link to a survey, Aquatic Park and Pier Vision Study, and are encouraging the community to provide feedback on the details of the project and desired park features and, as well as general concerns.

The results of this survey, along with an upcoming Visioning Session on August 11, at 6:00 pm will be compiled into a report given to the National Park Service for their consideration. The visioning session is open to the public, so all are welcome to attend. For more information about the Aquatic Park and Pier Project, including getting involved, providing feedback, or volunteering you can visit the website link.

And, of course, if you know of a local park, public space or other large venue whose accessible design could benefit from the tactile maps and input provided by Lighthouse’s MAD Lab, feel free to contact them at madlab@old.lighthouse-sf.org or by visiting our website.

LightHouse News

LightHouse of the North Coast has a New Home

07/14/2021 LightHouse Staff

LightHouse North Coast office has moved to the Grove Building at 317 Third Street in Old Town, Eureka. Third Street borders the Morris Graves Museum, and the cross streets are D and E. After almost ten years of being housed in the Humboldt Senior Resource Center, The Senior Center is expanding its programs and will use the former LightHouse space to continue to grow the many needed programs for seniors and their families. While we at LightHouse say a very gracious thank you to the Humboldt Senior Resource Center and feel fortunate to have worked alongside such dedicated colleagues who continue to develop comprehensive programs for seniors, we will not say Good-Bye as we will still be at a very accessible location in Old Town, and there for any person who is blind or low vision who needs information, support or training.

LightHouse of the North Coast continues our 20-year tradition of serving the low vision and blind community and their families from our new location. We are excited to be in our new building which houses several other non-profit organizations, as well as the office of U.S. Representative of California, congressman Jared Huffman.

While our doors are currently closed to in person services, we continue to provide resources and numerous classes via Zoom. If you or someone you know lives in the Humboldt, Del Norte, or Trinity counties, please contact us to take advantage of some of our remote classes until we open our doors later in September. We anticipate opening our doors in early September. Our services include:

Lighting and magnification assessments
Home safety and mobility instruction
Assistive technology training
Independent living skills training and beginning Braille.

Please feel free to contact Janet Pomerantz, MSW, for further information at jpomerantz@old.lighthouse-sf.org or by calling 707 268-5646. We look forward to hearing from you and meeting you when we reopen in September.

LightHouse News

LightHouse offers personal safety seminars with Martial Arts Instructor, George Freeman

07/08/2021 Caitlin O'Malior 1 Comment

In response to an increase in anti-Asian violence and apprehensions among LightHouse students venturing out after over a year of very limited travel and sheltering in place, along with the hesitation of schools, businesses, and social and recreational spaces reopening, LightHouse felt it was important to develop an inclusive personal safety workshop that would instill confidence in our community as we approach the post-pandemic world.

On Saturday, June 26, LightHouse’s Belonging, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (BIDE) task force partnered with martial arts instructor, George Freeman of KATMA Defense in Savannah, Georgia, to bring the members of the blind and low vision community the first of three new self-defense workshops, Your Personal Safety: Getting Back to Normal.

Instructor George Freeman has been teaching and practicing martial arts professionally for over a decade. He sought to develop a 3-part series of safety seminars that would cover strategies, techniques and approaches for feeling more confident being out in the community again. LightHouse participant, Jane Y., joined the Zoom seminar and found the experience to be positive, empowering, and educational.

Jane is in her early seventies and has low vision. Her first class with the LightHouse was in February this year when she attended Changing Vision, Changing Life, she says it lived up to its name.

“I found a tribe of supportive, knowledgeable, compassionate and genuine people in both staff and participants. in the past few months, LightHouse has graced my life with Yoga Support Group, one on one Tech Training, Low Vision Training, Tactile Training. In mid-July I start Orientation and Mobility training.”

She also signed up for the Self-defense class and found it very worthwhile and informative.

“The communication skills and integrity of the moderator and the presenter were superb! The format was very effective with direct participation, very informative videos and thoughtful Q & A. I was especially impressed with the self-empowerment messaging, ‘Use our own voices and actions to take charge of our lives whenever possible.’”

We are excited to offer two more of these important safety seminars, the next on August 28 at 1 pm and final on October 16 at 1 pm, to the LightHouse community and their friends and family this year. The courses will be open to all— people who are blind, low vision and sighted.

For more information about the upcoming seminars in August and October, look out for postings in future publications as those dates approach and be sure to visit our online calendar. For more information about George Freeman and the work he does, you can visit the instructor page on the Kombative Academy of Traditional Martial Arts website.

LightHouse News

Things are going real “well” at EHC

07/08/2021 LightHouse Staff

Thank you for joining us for the first two Enchanted Hills Camp Give Back concerts of the season! If you missed them, you can watch both on the EHC Facebook page.

Our next concert is taking place on Friday July 16 from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm starring Mariana Sandoval Lintz.

This year our goal is to raise $20,000 for a new well at EHC.

A new well will allow us to be more self-sufficient and less reliant on water from our spring. The well will ensure that we have adequate water for campers without worry and enable us to store and pump water for the driest seasons. In the driest years, the spring has just barely covered our water needs during the busiest camp sessions. One year, alarmingly we had to truck in water. With a drought upon us once more, we sought to remedy this issue by prospecting for a new well. We did it! We struck liquid gold, in the form of H₂O. The well production is estimated at 20,000 gallons of water per day which is enough to fill the EHC swimming pool daily.

Situated near the Rec Field, the new well will ensure that we have adequate water for campers. It will also enable us to take on projects never possible before such as leveling the Rec Field and getting rid of the ankle-twisting divots and bumps and irrigating the field for beep baseball, audible soccer and other team sports. Growing fruit trees and vegetable gardens that campers will tend will also be possible.

Great news! The five largest donors to this project will have the special honor of choosing names for EHC’s newest residents, five baby goats! Donate today to help us dig and erect this well, put in the pipes and pumps to carry the water where it is needed.

We are hoping to raise $20,000 to harness this precious natural resource and we need your help. You don’t need a ticket or even a Facebook account to enjoy these concerts, but we do need your support to help us sink this well.

You can also Support the EHC well project by purchasing an EHC tee-shirt. Or text any amount to give for the EHC well project to 415-707-7864.

LightHouse News

Learn More about MAD Lab, Adaptations and LightHouse Services at NFB, ACB Conventions

07/01/2021 LightHouse Staff

LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired in San Francisco will be making appearances at the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and American Council of the Blind (ACB) virtual Conventions this July.

LightHouse at the NFB Exhibit Hall
LightHouse Breakout Session at NFB Convention
LightHouse at the ACB Convention

LightHouse at NFB Exhibit Hall

LightHouse will be in the NFB Virtual Exhibit Hall to talk about our services the following dates and times:

Tuesday, July 6: 6:00 am to 2:00 pm Pacific (9:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern)
Wednesday, July 7: 6:00 am to 2:00 pm (9:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern)

NFB Exhibit Hall Zoom url: https://lighthouse-sf.zoom.us/j/97124211821?pwd=K1pJMFQ5cEE2MmYreUtRc1Z3akxBZz09
NFB Exhibit Hall Zoom Meeting ID: 971 2421 1821
Password: 982034
Dial toll free in the United States: 1-833-548-0282

Additionally, the Media and Accessible Design Laboratory will have a breakout session on July 6 from noon to 1:00 Pacific (3:00 pm to 5:00 pm Eastern):

LightHouse Breakout Session at the NFB Convention

LightHouse Presents: Tactile Maps and More!
LightHouse in San Francisco invites you to hear how our MAD Lab TMAPs can help you learn a city block or navigate a new neighborhood and how tactile intersection diagrams can enhance O&M instruction. Find out how you can touch the news and learn about our online Adaptations store.
Hosted by Sheri Albers, Community Outreach Coordinator, San Francisco LightHouse
Tuesday, July 6 from noon to 1:00 Pacific (3:00 pm to 5:00 pm Eastern):

NFB Breakout Session Zoom meeting URL is https://zoom.us/j/92618487109
NFB Breakout Session Zoom meeting ID: 926 1848 7109
Dial toll free in the United States: 1-833-548-0282

LightHouse at the ACB Convention

LightHouse will be in the ACB Virtual Exhibit Hall to talk about our services the following dates and times (in Pacific):

Monday, July 19 through Thursday, July 22 from noon to 2:00 pm Pacific (3:00 pm to 5:00 pm Eastern) daily

Join Zoom Meeting: https://lighthouse-sf.zoom.us/j/94402436903?pwd=elJWcFVINmJVYlNlMkcwdHE5WU5UZz09
Meeting ID: 944 0243 6903
Passcode: 035006
One tap mobile +16699006833,,94402436903# US (San Jose)
Dial toll free in the United States: 1-833-548-0282

So if you’re attending one or both the conventions, we hope you’ll stop on by and hang out and ask many questions of our friendly, skilled staff.

LightHouse News

New Rules Allow You to Deduct $300 or $600 from Your Taxes – Even if You Don’t Itemize

06/30/2021 Caitlin O'Malior

While LightHouse always relies on the generous support of community members like you, in 2021 there is extra incentive to support LightHouse programs.

The recent stimulus package that was signed into law extended many of the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act provisions, including charitable tax incentives. For 2021, taxpayers who take the standard deduction may also deduct up to $300 in cash charitable donations ($600 for joint filers). For those who itemize, you can now deduct cash gifts up to 100% of your adjusted gross income.

This makes 2021 a great year to support LightHouse programs that help people adjusting to changing vision learn blindness skills such as navigating with a white cane, using a cellphone in a new way, reading braille. It also funds camperships at Enchanted Hills Camp for blind teens this summer.

If you would like to learn more about giving opportunities at LightHouse including vehicle donations, estate planning or donations of stock, contact 415-694-7365 or giving@old.lighthouse-sf.org.

Donate to LightHouse!