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LightHouse News

Thank You to Our Community Partners

08/03/2016 LightHouse Staff

PHOTO: Blind and Proud sign rises above the crowd at LightHouse Grand Opening Parade.

The LightHouse wishes to thank its devoted friends and community partners who have recently shown their support by providing significant funds to help our programs go further and reach higher:

The Alcon Foundation – for Enchanted Hills Camp
Lisa Carvalho and David Mager – for the Campaign for a 21^st Century LightHouse and General Support
Delong-Sweet Family Foundation – for Enchanted Hills Camp
Joan Dove – for the Campaign for a 21^st Century LightHouse
The Fong’s Initiative – for the Campaign for a 21^st Century LightHouse
Elizabeth Freer and Michael Headley – for the Campaign for a 21^st Century LightHouse
Patricia Heim and Sergius Lashutka – for Enchanted Hills Camp
Jerry Kuns and Theresa Postello – for Enchanted Hills Camp and the Campaign for a 21^st Century LightHouse
Jane and Robert Micks – for general operating support – LightHouse North Coast
Mutual of America – for the Campaign for a 21^st Century LightHouse
Fred Ruhland – for the Campaign for a 21^st Century LightHouse
Michele Spitz – for Superfest and to underwrite tickets to cultural events
Frederic and Kristine Silva – for the Campaign for a 21^st Century LightHouse
Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute – for the Campaign for a 21^st Century LightHouse
Todd Stevenot and Anne Sandbach – for the Campaign for a 21^st Century LightHouse
Telecare Corporation – for Superfest International Disability Film Festival
Toyota Partner Robot Group – for the Innovation Lab Sponsored by Toyota
Wells Fargo – for sponsorship for our Grand Opening Celebration and for Employment Immersion
Workday Foundation – for Enchanted Hills Camp

LightHouse News

Estate Planning 101: Tips I learned from Betsy

08/03/2016 LightHouse Staff 4 Comments

PHOTO: Betsy Cannon speaks to a crowd of LightHouse supporters.

Last month Estate Attorney Betsy Cannon led a workshop for a group of interested LightHouse supporters and students on the basics of planning your estate.

Betsy Cannon is a partner in the firm of Plageman, Lund & Cannon LLP, where she practices in the areas of estate planning, and trust and estate administration. Her talk was informative and fascinating, and the audience was engaged, asking many pertinent questions. Here are some of the things we gleaned from the workshop:

Planning your estate is important. If you don’t have an estate plan, there are a number of undesirable things that will take place, the most glaringly avoidable, costly and unpleasant is that your estate will be subject to probate if your assets exceed $150,000. This will delay your assets being distributed and will give you no opportunity to make charitable gifts through your estate.
If your assets of real estate, currency, stocks, etc. total more than $150,000, it is generally recommended that your estate plan be in the form of a Revocable Living Trust, not a will. This will enable you to avoid probate and its costs. If you´re not looking to sell yet, you can hire lakeland fl property management companies to help you manage your own property with ease.
Don’t fall into a common estate planning pitfall: Once you set up a trust, you need to take the additional step of making sure all of your assets are transferred into the trust.
The takeaway: Another good reason to plan your estate: Having a written estate plan will make things much easier on your descendants. They won’t have to wonder about your intentions, your desires for your health care, or what assets you want passed down to whom. Why not make things simpler for your loved ones?
Charitable gifts through an estate plan can lower your tax burden and make a lasting difference for LightHouse for the Blind, helping us plan our growth, strategize for the future and make an impact on the community.

To learn more about estate planning or how your planned gift can benefit the LightHouse, please contact 415-694-7333 or jsachs@old.lighthouse-sf.org.

LightHouse News

LightHouse Has a New Digital Printer That Will Create the Next Generation of Tactile Maps and Signage

08/03/2016 LightHouse Staff

PHOTO: Naomi Rosenberg (Designer, Accessible Media Specialist), BJ Epstein (Project Manager, MADLab) and Julie Sadlier (Designer, Accessible Media Specialist) stand next to the new UV flatbed printer holding examples of newly printed tactile maps and signage.

The LightHouse, through MADLab, has earned a reputation for producing fabulous tactile maps of all kinds for clients as diverse as South by Southwest, where we created maps of the Austin Convention Center for blind attendees to transit systems such as the Bay Area’s BART system and the City of Calgary, Canada’s Transit system. Up until now, these maps were printed on paper with its limited shelf life. But we wanted to be able to produce durable, physically long-lasting, braille and tactile maps and ADA signage for museums, amusement parks, trailheads and more.

PHOTO: Tactile street map of LightHouse’s new location

Enter our new UV flatbed printer. It’s essentially an inkjet printer that prints melted plastic, accreting layer on top of layer, until the final, tactile image is built up. The new printer can print onto a range of materials including wood and metal.

Among the projects we’ve used it for are mid-Market tactile maps that cover the location of our new headquarters building (see photo, above). We’ve produced maps for the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando for the International Deaf Blind Exposition, we’ve created a variety of ADA signage and we’ve honored our significant donors with acrylic panels that are placed on the walls of our soaring three-level staircase.

PHOTO: A photo of one of the panels of our donor appreciation wall, with our staircase and a view of City Hall prominent in the background.

MADLab Project Manager BJ Epstein told us, “The DCS is a game changer for us, and for the blind and low vision community. Not only can we now produce accessible signage, but also mountable tactile maps. Because of the unique ability to print both visual and tactile elements in one machine, our clients will be able to provide an inclusive experience to their guests, no matter what their level of sight may be. Our expertise at designing for the blind community was developed on our paper maps. Now, we are translating that expertise to more permanent and durable media.

“These maps can be used indoors or outdoors. They are cleanable; a bonus for something that will get touched a lot. And not only are they useful, but they are beautiful objects to touch and to see. We are so excited to be able to offer this amazing product to our clients.”

LightHouse News

New Employment Immersion Sessions

08/03/2016 LightHouse Staff

“Blind people forget that employers need them. We—the blind—have vast skillsets. We are scientists, artists, journalists, you name it. Often our blindness has nothing to do with our careers, except that it can make us stronger, and hiring us adds a diverse voice in the workplace. I remind my students that they truly are assets to any company. It’s not just a line we feed the students; it’s a reality Employment Immersion helps them discover.”—Employment Immersion Program Leader Kate Williams

Join the many LightHouse students who have found work through the LightHouse Employment Immersion Program. The program is for people who are blind or have low vision, from any background, seeking any job.

The next Employment Immersion sessions are scheduled as follows:

August 23 through Thursday, September 22
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

October 11 through November 10
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

January 10 through February 9
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

To learn more, contact Employment Immersion Coordinator Wanda Pearson at WPearson@old.lighthouse-sf.org or call 415-694-7359.

LightHouse News

Get Away from the Hubbub: Take your Group to Enchanted Hills Retreat

08/03/2016 LightHouse Staff

It’s been an outstanding summer at Enchanted Hills. Camp sessions focusing on intensive learning like Music Academy and STEM Camp have been sandwiched between traditional camp sessions for kids, families and blind people of all ages.

Now that the campers are going home to school and work, there are some openings for groups to come and enjoy the beauty and solitude of Enchanted Hills. And your family reunion, wedding, religious group or company gathering will support the life-changing programs of Enchanted Hills.

Enchanted Hills Retreat is intimate and private. Time goes a little slower on Mt. Veeder, filled with peaceful walks through the Redwoods, games of horseshoes, gatherings in the KIVA and delicious meals in our dining hall. There is WIFI if you need it, or you can totally unplug.

Accommodations feature 6 duplex cottages and other lodging. You can even have a campfire and s’mores at your request.

Want to take a tour or check if the dates you are interested in are available? Call 415-694-7310 or visit www.enchantedhillsretreat.com.

LightHouse News

Now Available at Adaptations: the Newest Aftershokz Headphones model, the Trekz Titanium

08/03/2016 LightHouse Staff

The Adaptations Store is an official vendor for Aftershokz products, and to celebrate, we are showcasing several models of their Bluetooth headphones, including the just released Trekz Titanium headphones.

The Trekz Titanium Headphone is perfect for use while exercising – they’re lightweight, sweat-proof, bone conduction headphones that communicate with your device via Bluetooth.

All our Aftershokz headphones rest on your jawbone and send sound directly to your eardrum, without blocking your ears. These headphones are very popular among many different communities, including runners and commuters, but they can be particularly handy for the blind and those with low vision. Folks who navigate the streets using VoiceOver or other audio navigation tools can maintain an awareness of their surrounding environment without compromising their own personal safety.

Adaptations is carrying three styles of Aftershokz headphones: the new Trekz Titanium model ($129), the standard Bluetooth model Bluez 2 ($99.95), and the wired Sportz M3 with Microphone ($50).

To purchase these headphones by phone, call us at 415-694-7301 or take a look at them in person at our new store on the 10th floor at 1155 Market Street in San Francisco. Adaptations is open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Call us at 415-694-7301 or email us at adaptations@old.lighthouse-sf.org with any questions.

LightHouse News

30% & Growing is Your Monthly Networking Meet-Up

08/03/2016 LightHouse Staff

PHOTO: Members of the 30% and Growing Club hang out at the Albatross Pub in Berkeley: (Left to right) Aly Slaughter, Laura Millar, Josh Miele, Christina Daniels and club leader Serena Olsen.

Depending on where you get your statistics, 57-70% of working-age blind people are unemployed. But what if we turned that statistic on its head? What if, instead of agonizing over the dauntingly high unemployment rate among blind people, we reframe and consider that at least 30% of blind people are fully employed? Well we’ve done just that. On the third Thursday of each month, the LightHouse celebrates working blind people at our 30% & Growing blind professionals networking meet-ups in San Francisco and the East Bay.

Who: Adults 21 and older
When: 30% and Growing meets on the third Thursday of each month, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Here are dates for August, September and October.

August:
Thursday, August 18, 6:00 p.m.
Cadillac Bar & Grill, 44 9th St., San Francisco

September:
Thursday, September 15, 6:00 p.m.
Lost and Found, 2040 Telegraph Ave., Oakland

October:
Thursday, October 20, 6:00 p.m.
Upcider, 1160 Polk St., 2nd floor, San Francisco

In a thriving metropolis like the Bay Area, every conceivable profession has a meet up group, but where do aspiring-to-be-fully-employed blind people have the same opportunity?

30% & Growing creates that space where being a fully employed blind person is perfectly normal. It’s a space where busy working blind people can take a quick time out to connect with their peers, enjoy some libations, and argue with their friends about current events—just like any other worker bees at the end of a work day.

With 30% & Growing, we intend to grow the ranks of our fully employed working-age blind people by leveraging this tremendous resource for those coming up in the ranks or even thinking about it. Blind job seekers now have this monthly resource available to them allowing them to learn from those that came before them and cull advice about their professions of interest and the unique experience of navigating a career as a blind person.

But we don’t just network – we laugh a lot. We’re serious and social, taking in the buzz of local watering holes like The Beer Hall and Dirty Water in San Francisco or Lost and Found and the Albatross in the East Bay, sampling craft beers, wines or cocktails and sating our palate with light snacks and appetizers. More importantly, 30% and Growing offers connection, dialogue, relationships, and community, and a time and place to go out with friends and colleagues for happy hour, just like any other hard-working tax payer.

For information on upcoming gatherings please contact Serena Olsen, Evening & Weekend Program Coordinator at solsen@old.lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7316.

LightHouse News

June Sea Kayaking Adventure Packed with Laughter & Learning

08/03/2016 LightHouse Staff

PHOTO: LightHouse kayaker and ETC guide take to the sea during June’s adventure.

In June the LightHouse Youth Program partnered with LightHouse Adult programs to make this year’s sea kayaking trip a memorable and meaningful one for all ages.

Participants, experienced and novices alike, paddled out into Tomales Bay on a beautiful morning, careful to avoid disturbing the eel grass, vital to the ecology, that sways in the water just off shore. After learning kayaking basics under the tutelage of experienced guides from Environmental Traveling Companions riding the best kayaks for ocean, we landed at a nearby beach, enjoyed lunch and set up camp.

The afternoon was reserved for swimming and getting to know one another, followed by a dinner by the shore and an evening hike where we learned more about the local environment. Laughter filled the night time air and talents emerged out of evening games and storytelling. After a hearty breakfast the next morning, an arduous paddle into the wind brought us back to the launch site for reflections and goodbyes.

If you like to get out on the water in the midst of beautiful surroundings, please join us for a late summer water adventure on the American River on September 24-25. For questions or to reserve your spot, contact Serena Olsen, Evening & Weekend Program Coordinator, at solsen@old.lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7316.

LightHouse News

‘The Specialist’ Podcast On Going Blind, and How We Help

07/29/2016 LightHouse Staff

LightHouse O&M instructor Katt Jones was featured on this week’s episode of The Specialist, a new KALW podcast about the important jobs you don’t think about. Host Casey Miner takes us through a day-in-the-life of someone, in this case Jones, who helps blind people learn how to get around. Miner also takes a deep dive with Marco Salsiccia, LightHouse student and Accessibility Specialist at Lyft, about what it’s like to lost your vision all at once, and what happens next. Listen to the whole episode here and tell us what you think in the comments!

LightHouse News

Get Ready for the School Year: Parent and Student Workshop on August 27 [postponed]

07/28/2016 LightHouse Staff

Note: this event has been postponed. For questions, contact jgump@old.lighthouse-sf.org.

Join LightHouse students, parents and teachers for a day-long workshop aimed at helping blind students and their families be more prepared for the coming school year and beyond.

The day will start with a panel of students, parents and teachers who will speak about challenges that specifically affect blind students, such as how to make sure handouts are available in accessible formats and ideas on how parents can help their children with their homework.

Next youth and adults will break into separate groups. Parents and teachers will focus on topics such as Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), the role Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) plays in their child’s education and extra-curricular options for youth who are blind. Students will also learn about how DOR works, discuss transitioning to college, living skills and the importance of balancing work and play.

The day will wrap-up with an opportunity for families to get to know one another.

Who: Families with at least one youth under 18 and at least one family member of any age who is blind or has low vision.
When: Saturday, August 27, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Where: LightHouse Building, 1155 Market St., 10th Floor, San Francisco, 94103
Waiver: Each youth participant must fill out and submit a LightHouse Youth Program Application if they have not done so already.

If you would like more information or to RSVP for this event please contact Jamey Gump, Youth Services Coordinator, at 415-694-7372 or by email at jgump@old.lighthouse-sf.org by Wednesday August 24.