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LightHouse News

LightHouse Blind Blood Drive a Great Success!

Blind community members and their sighted friends visited the LightHouse and other Bay Area locations to participate in the first annual Bay Area Blind Blood Drive. They ultimately gave 54 units of usable blood, more than twice the number of units considered by the Red Cross to constitute a successful drive. The drive was so successful, LightHouse for the Blind intends to make this day of giving an annual tradition.

The event took place on January 9th, in conjunction with the Martin Luther King Day of Service 2013, and we were proud to honor and commemorate the great work of Dr. King in this manner. Watch a short television news clip on the drive here.

Before the drive, LightHouse CEO Bryan Bashin said, “Often in the past people have thought of the blind as a group who are the recipients of others’ generosity. We’re hoping to change a bit of that perception by rolling up our sleeves and giving back to the same philanthropic community who has long helped us.”

The LightHouse, along with Lions Center for the Blind, Orientation Center for the Blind, Vista Center for the Blind and all of the Bay Area Red Cross centers, would like to thank and commend those of you who participated in the drive. If you have been inspired to give, please consider checking out the myriad ways you can support the LightHouse, including volunteering. Just visit: www.lbvi.staging.wpengine.com.com and click on GIVE to learn how you can get involved.

LightHouse News

Lions Host Crab Feed 2013 on February 9

The Castro Lions and the San Francisco Park Presidio Sunset Lions are cohosting a Crab Feed to benefit a host of charities including LightHouse for the Blind, AIDS and Breast Cancer Emergency Funds and Guide Dogs for the Blind.

When: Saturday, February 9. Cocktails at 6:00 p.m. followed by dinner and dancing between 7 and 10:00 p.m.
Where: St Anne of the Sunset at 850 Judah St. at Funston (easy transportation on the N Judah line)
Cost: $50.00 per person, Special Guest Appearances TBA

Buy your tickets at 1-800-858-5006 or go to BrownPaperTickets.com.

LightHouse News

California Blind Advisory Committee Seeks Members

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The Department of Rehabilitation is seeking nominees to serve on the Blind Advisory Committee.

The Blind Advisory Committee provides advice to the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) on means to increase competitive employment, enlarge economic opportunities, enhance independence and self-sufficiency, and in methods of improving services for persons who are blind or visually impaired. The committee develops, in conjunction with stakeholders, an annual work plan to identify and address areas for improvement in services provided by the division to persons who are blind and visually impaired.

The DOR Director-appointed committee consists of a diverse membership interested in, and representative of, Californians who are blind or visually impaired. The DOR Director appoints representatives of specified entities to a four-year term.

All qualified applicants are urged to apply. Applications must be received no later than February 15, 2013. If interested, please contact Brian Connors at 916-558-5380 or brian.connors@dor.ca.gov.

LightHouse News

Online Survey on Emergency Communications

The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies (Wireless RERC) is asking for individuals to take its new online survey on emergency communications. The survey questions address emergency services, public alerts and warnings, and social media use during emergencies.

The Wireless RERC conducted this survey once before, almost two years ago. Because technology is changing so rapidly and new government rules are being implemented, RERC think it’s the right time to conduct the survey again. The data will be of great interest to regulatory authorities and other professionals working to improve emergency response and disaster relief for people with disabilities.

New to this version of the survey is the inclusion of a question for the respondent to identify if he/she is a caregiver. In this way, the RERC hopes to collect data on the caregiver experience as it relates to emergency communications technologies and behaviors, as well as the experiences of individuals with disabilities.

Take the Survey on Emergency Communications and People with Disabilities

 

LightHouse News

First-Ever Multicultural Celebration at the LightHouse

On December 14 LightHouse celebrated the holidays by taking a short trip around the world. The celebration included Rabbi Mark talking about the mitzvah of lighting the candles on Chanukah, Christmas Caroling, traditions of the Virgin de Guadalupe and Dias Las Posadas, a Kwanzaa Presentation, a holiday Chamber Music Performance of Oboe and Flute, and Buddhist chanting to celebrate Bodhi Day by members of the American Buddhist Cultural Society). Our clients, staff and friends learned and discovered the true meaning of the holiday season!

LightHouse CEO Bryan Bashin and volunteer Tikvah make latkes in the LightHouse Training Kitchen

LightHouse News

Thank You Northern California Human Resources Association!

On December 12th, LightHouse was the beneficiary of Northern California Human Resources Association’s (NCHRA) holiday networking social/silent auction at Bin 480 restaurant in the San Francisco Marriott-Union Square.

LightHouse Executive Director/CEO Bryan Bashin – joined by Employment Immersion Program Director (and former NCHRA Board Member) Kate Williams – stressed the importance of not only recruiting qualified blind and low-vision job candidates, but of making job application materials fully accessible to all jobseekers. The silent auction that evening raised more than $2,200 for LightHouse. A huge thank you goes out to NCHRA!

LightHouse News

Dialogue with the Director

LightHouse CEO Bryan Bashin wants to talk to you. Come to a community conversation about LightHouse services and opportunities for our organization.

When: Tuesday, January 8 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Where: LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters

These informal evenings have proven to be very useful as the LightHouse develops new programs and services. To reserve your place, please contact Chuck Godwin at 415-694-7348 or cgodwin@old.lighthouse-sf.org by 5 p.m. on Monday, January 7.

LightHouse News

Personal Services Volunteer Request

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Are you an individual who believes the simplest pleasures in life sometimes have the most profound impact? Do you prefer to work with people in a one-to-one capacity 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 volunteer. Our clients may need assistance with: reading mail, books, newspapers and periodicals; writing checks, letters and correspondence; home organization such as marking or labeling; grocery shopping or errands with the client; attending cultural, social or sporting events; walking or transportation.

Volunteer at the LightHouse! Contact John Liang, Director of Community and Volunteer Services at 415-694-7334 or jliang@old.lighthouse-sf.org, or visit www.lbvi.staging.wpengine.com.com to download a volunteer application.

LightHouse News

Napa Film Festival Event Raises Friends and Funds

On November 9th, in conjunction with the Napa Valley Film Festival, the LightHouse held a fundraiser for Enchanted Hills Camp in Yountville. The film, Make A Hero’s documentary “The Movement” features longtime Enchanted Hills camper Mike May, who holds the world record for fastest blind downhill skiing.

It was a great community building event attended by a perfect blend of people: folks who had attended family camp at Enchanted Hills, a number of LightHouse board members, a handful of film festival attendees in search of a party, and a good number of neighbors from Mt. Veeder.

Under a beautifully lit tent at Redd Wood, a lovely wine country restaurant, there was wine, an amazing auction and live music by Enchanted Hills camper Jimmy Cong. Also a shout out to the many Mt. Veeder (and beyond) wineries that generously donated to the event including: Fontanella, Handmade by Marketta, Mt. Brave, Lampyridae, Godspeed, Mayacamas, Renteria, Silver Oak, Silverado, Sullivan, Y Rosseau and Yates Family Winery. Your support enables blind children to enjoy the beauty and magic that is Enchanted Hills!

If you would like to support Enchanted Hills Camp click here.

Lloyd Casey, Patty Moynihan, Dorian Greenow and Gemma Kochis, some of our Mt. Veeder neighbors and Friends of Enchanted Hills members

LightHouse News, Resources in the Community

New! SF LightHouse Youth Advocacy Support Group

The mission of the SF LightHouse Youth Advocacy Group is to arm youth and their parents with the tools and resources needed to become more informed, prepared, engaged, and confident in all aspects of scholastic and social life.

This group is designed specifically for parents, middle school students, high school students, and college students (both undergraduate and post-graduate). The SF Youth Advocacy Group will leverage the positive attitudes, philosophy and beliefs of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) as it relates to the abilities of the blind student, and the supportive role it has with parents. The SF Youth Advocacy Group is a proactive collaboration between the NFB San Francisco Chapter and SF LightHouse in order to offer a wide array of community-building and strengthening opportunities for blind and low vision youth and their families.

Some of the topics the advocacy group will cover include:

  • College Life: life on the university and community college campus
  • Rehabilitation: how to work with your counselor to get to your goals
  • IEP 101(for students only): All you need to know about Individual Educational Programs (IEPs). An IEP is a blueprint for a student’s academic goals or educational path.
  • Advocating for your child: tips, tricks and resources for parents of blind children
  • Self-Advocacy: growing up and fitting in at middle school and high school (focus on developing age-appropriate habits and expectations for one’s self)
  • Cane/guide dogs: pros and cons between these two methods of independent travel.
  • Getting and staying active: how to get involved in sports and other physical and/or outdoor activities
  • Community Service/Civic Engagement: how to become more involved in your community through volunteerism and activism

The LH Youth Advocacy Group will meet every 2nd Saturday of the month from 12 to 1:00 p.m. at the SF LightHouse, beginning on December 8, 2012.

To RSVP, please contact Darian Smith at dsmithnfb@gmail.com or John Liang, Director of Community Services at jliang@old.lighthouse-sf.org.

About The Facilitator

San Francisco resident Darian Smith is a former LightHouse client via Enchanted Hills Camp and other LightHouse-related youth recreation/education and employment programs. A community and campus organizer, Darian has held many leadership positions at City College of San Francisco. He is also an active member of the National Federation of the Blind where he currently serves as president of the San Francisco Chapter. A service-oriented person, Darian has served as a camp counselor, mentor, and member of AmeriCorps. Darian is a fervent believer that youth and students who are blind or visually impaired can achieve whatever personal, professional, academic or social goals they set for themselves, and he encourages everyone to set their sights high. When asked to talk about his hopes for the group, Darian said “I want to help answer questions that students have long sought answers for, but did not know where to get those answers. Through finding answers within the group and in the community, I hope we can strengthen ourselves and our belief in what’s possible”.