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LightHouse News

Life Changing Immersion Sessions at Enchanted Hills in Beautiful Rural Napa

Want to get a jump start on living successfully with little or no vision? Would you like to meet students starting their journey like you? And do it in the world class Napa Wine Country? Apply now for one of the spaces available in the Lighthouse’s new immersion retreat at Enchanted Hills Retreat in Napa.

The LightHouse presents a one week immersion retreat for adults new to low vision or blindness. Learn basic, yet essential daily living skills to live confidently. This retreat offers mentoring, peer participation and support in the splendid wine country setting of the LightHouse’s Enchanted Hills Retreat.

Upcoming Session:
June 9 through 14

If you are a Department of Rehabilitation client or are over 55, you may be eligible for these classes free of charge. For more information or to sign up for any of our training classes, please contact Debbie Bacon at 415-694-7357, or dbacon@old.lighthouse-sf.org or visit http://bit.ly/visionclass2013.

Adults-walking-in-woods

LightHouse News

Finding Described TV Just Got Much Easier!

The landmark Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) has begun a revolution in mainstream telecommunications and video technology accessibility. Among its many groundbreaking achievements, the CVAA mandates several of the most popular television networks to make some of their prime-time and children’s programs accessible to viewers with vision loss by adding video description. To help celebrate and promote this achievement, AFB has implemented a Described TV Listings page on our website, an online guide where visitors can determine which shows will be described as well as when they air.

Video description (sometimes called “audio description” or simply “description”) makes television programs and movies accessible for people who are blind or visually impaired. Short verbal descriptions of action or key visual scenes in a program, such as setting, costumes, and facial expressions, are provided to add context. The descriptions are inserted into pauses within a program’s dialog.

Since July 1, 2012, the networks are required to each provide approximately four hours of video description per week include ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, USA, the Disney Channel, TNT, Nickelodeon, and TBS. This expanded array of choices is a much-fought-for complement to the current rich menu of described programming that PBS has offered for many years.

AFB’s Described TV Listings initiative makes it easier to find which shows are described, allowing people with vision loss to enjoy their favorite shows alongside their sighted peers.

To learn which programs are being described and when they will air in your area, and to learn more about how to access them on your television, visit www.afb.org/tv.

LightHouse News

Access to Design Professions Symposium and Workshop

This three-day symposium and workshop aims to:

  • promote universal and inclusive design principles to current and future students;
  • support the recruitment of people with disabilities into design careers;
  • and, promote interaction and understanding.

The symposium will be a public event that will include keynote addresses and panel discussions from leading design professionals, disability advocates, agencies, and organizations in the SF Bay Area and beyond. The workshop will include presentations, activities and exercises for the student participants centered around an inclusive design overview and assessment of the recently renovated SF State Library and the West Campus Green Park scheduled to open in March 2013. Enrollment in pre-workshop orientation and workshop is limited to prospective and current students. Priority consideration will be given to students with disabilities. Please contact ricGomes@sfsu.edu if you would like to register as an observer/non-participant.

When: Thursday April 11 through Saturday April 13

To find out more or to register, click here.

LightHouse News

NFB Programs and Scholarships for Blind Veterans

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) has a number of programs and services to directly assist blind veterans, including:

  • Fast, easy access to services and resources
  • A nationwide network of blind mentors
  • Thirty scholarships for higher education offered annually, generally ranging from $3,000 to $12,000
  • Eligibility for financial assistance to attend the convention of the National Federation of the Blind in Orlando on July 1-6
  • NFB-NEWSLINE®, the largest on-demand audio newspaper service in the world
  • Free advice on finding the right assistive or mainstream technology to meet your needs
  • Training and employment opportunities with the federal government
  • Effective advocacy on issues important to blind veterans, including access to the military Space Available program
  • The opportunity to join in advocacy and fellowship with like-minded blind veterans through the National Association of Blind Veterans, a division of the National Federation of the Blind (http://www.nabv.org)
  • A positive philosophy of blindness emphasizing the normality of the blind and our ability to compete on terms of equality with our sighted peers

For more information on NFB programs for blind veterans, please contact Dr. Joanne Wilson by phone at (410) 659-9314, extension 2335, or by e-mail at jwilson@nfb.org.

LightHouse News

Announcing Transition Summit 2013 – “Next Steps to Becoming the Consummate Professional”

1 Commenton Announcing Transition Summit 2013 – “Next Steps to Becoming the Consummate Professional”

The LightHouse is proud to present the second installment of its Future Leaders series with Transition Summit 2013.

In adhering to our 4T philosophy: THINK, TRAIN, TRANSFORM, and THRIVE, the LightHouse Youth Services Program is offering this intensive three day workshop to blind and low vision youth between the ages of 16-25 who are enrolled with the Department of Rehabilitation.

Building upon skills and concepts introduced at Transition Summit 2012, this exciting three day workshop at our beautiful Enchanted Hills Camp promises to be another enriching and educational experience for anyone interested in learning the skills necessary for vocational, academic, and personal success. Participants will explore, discuss, and engage in a wide variety of fun yet meaningful interactive activities covering such topics as: cultivating and maintaining a positive attitude in the workplace; the importance of job enthusiasm; professionalism: what it is and what it is not; identifying and understanding workplace etiquette and boundaries; developing strong interpersonal skills; creative problem-solving and critical thinking; non-confrontational conflict resolution, leadership skills, and more.

Transition Summit 2013 will be a fun-filled event you won’t want to miss!

When: Friday, April 19 through Sunday, April 21, 2013
Where: Enchanted Hills Camp Napa, California

Cost: There is no cost to apply for the summit, however; a referral and authorization from your Department of Rehabilitation counselor will need to be submitted with your application. Individuals who are not Department of Rehabilitation clients may apply for a scholarship.

**Space is limited to 20 Participants. Priority will be given to those folks who attended Transition Summit 2012.

For more information please contact Jamey Gump, Youth Services Coordinator at jgump@old.lighthouse-sf.org, (415) 694-7372 or John Liang, Director of Community Services at jliang@old.lighthouse-sf.org, (415) 694-7334.

LightHouse News

Come Cycle for Sight on April 20 and Support Enchanted Hills!

The Napa Rotary Cycle for Sight ride will be held on Saturday, April 20. Sign up to ride as a cyclist and enjoy the beauty of scenic Napa and the challenge of a 15, 25 or 50 mile route with 2,000 other cyclists. Register today at www.cycle4sight.com and ride for Team LightHouse! Proceeds support Enchanted Hills Camp.

Where: Beautiful, scenic Napa. Go to www.cycle4sight.com for route information, start times and to register
When: Saturday, April 20 starting and finishing at Justin Siena High School in Napa

Join Team LightHouse! Interested in piloting a tandem bike for a blind stoker? Or, are you a blind stoker in need of a pilot? Contact Tony Fletcher via email at afletcher@old.lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7319 to join Team LightHouse today!

Blind cyclists wishing to register can do so simply by calling the lighthouse at 415-694-7348 and speaking with Chuck to walk you through the online registration.

If you want to give to a very special cause, please consider supporting Team Lighthouse in this year’s Cycle for Sight ride to be held on Saturday April 20. To sponsor a rider or make a donation, go to www.lbvi.staging.wpengine.com.com/donate and choose Cycle for Sight as your designation. Thank you for supporting Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind!

Check out our Facebook Event page!

LightHouse News

Personal Services/Driver Volunteer Positions Available

Are you looking for a volunteer position that will make a profound impact in someone’s life? Do you prefer to work with people one-on-one rather than in large groups? More importantly, would you like to make a significant contribution to the life of a blind or low vision person in as little as two hours per week?

If so, you may be interested in becoming a Personal Services/Driver volunteer. Our clients may need assistance with: reading mail, books, newspapers and periodicals; writing checks, letters and correspondence; home organization; grocery shopping or errands; or attending cultural, social or sporting events.

Volunteer at the LightHouse! Visit  www.lbvi.staging.wpengine.com.com to complete a volunteer application.

LightHouse News

Have You Taken A Major Open Online Course?

Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) is investigating experiences, both positive and negative, of users of Major Open Online Courses (MOOCs) available through web sites such as Coursera, Udacity, and EdX. If you are legally blind and have taken or attempted to take one of these courses, DRA would like to hear from you.

To share your experiences, please contact Michael Nunez by phone at 510-665-8644 or by e-mail at mnunez@dralegal.org.

LightHouse News

Blind Chemistry Camp for High School Students

1 Commenton Blind Chemistry Camp for High School Students

Would you like to learn how blind people tackle the very visual subject of organic chemistry successfully? Do you have a general love for science? Are you a blind or low vision teenager considering a career in chemistry? Then the 2013 California Chemistry Camp is for you!

During this exciting and action-packed 3-day experience, students will get to learn how blind and visually impaired people use chemistry in their careers. We will explore techniques to make chemistry accessible. Take part in hands-on chemistry experiments, apply chemistry to cooking, and do magic with chemistry.

When: Friday, May 3, 2013 through Sunday, May 5, 2013
Where: Enchanted Hills Camp in Napa, California
Who: Up to fifteen blind high school students ages 14-18 will be selected to participate
Fee: Free

Transportation will be provided to and from Enchanted Hills Camp from pick-up points in the Bay Area and in Sacramento. Campers will arrive back at drop-off spots at 4 PM on Sunday, May 5. Or parents can choose to drive their child to and from Enchanted Hills Camp.

For an application or questions for this free camp, contact Angela Fowler, Director of Planning, Accessible Science at fowlers@syix.com or 530-902-0987. We hope to see you this spring at Enchanted Hills!