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LightHouse News

Have Something to Say About LightHouse Programs? Sure You Do!

We need your help to shape the LightHouse of the future. Join our Community Services Advisory Committee to share your ideas on how we can enhance everything from our new Blind Leaders Innovation Project to our health, wellness and recreation programs.

Our first meeting will be on Monday, October 4 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the San Francisco office of the LightHouse, with quarterly meetings to follow. Please call Richard Rueda at 415-694-7334 or email him at rueda@old.lighthouse-sf.org to learn how you can play a role today!

LightHouse News

Attention, Adaptations Customers: Note These Dates for Saturday Shopping and Inventory Closure

To meet customer demand for weekend shopping, Adaptations will be open for business on Saturday, September 18 and Saturday, October 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Adaptations will be closed on Wednesday, September 29 and Thursday, September 30 for inventory. Any online or phone orders received during inventory will be processed on Friday, October 1.

Resources in the Community

Northern California Entertainment and Recreation Listing September 3

If you would like to receive this listing in your inbox every Thursday, join the distribution list by emailing bberenson@old.lighthouse-sf.org.

This listing is compiled by the Information Resource Center at the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. It is compiled weekly as a service to the blind and visually impaired community of Northern California. If you have a meeting or event information that would be appropriate for inclusion in this list, please email info@old.lighthouse-sf.org. This list will be updated every Thursday. Information for each Thursday’s listing must be submitted one week prior to publication.

Happening at the LightHouse:

Unless otherwise noted, all programs take place at 214 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco.  For more information or to reserve a space at any of the following events, contact: Philip Kum at 415-694-7372 or pkum@old.lighthouse-sf.org.

·       Dance Class:

September 9, 16, 23,& 30:

5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Gene Russo returns to the LightHouse.

He is Director of Connecting through Dance. A program which provides trained sighted dance guides to partner and assist blind dancers.

  • Peer- to – Peer Support Group:
    September 11: 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
    These meetings are casually structured to discuss different aspects of life with a visual impairment. Every individual is visually impaired, and discussions are in a comfortable, confidential setting.

·       California Council of the Blind, San Francisco:

September 18:  10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

·       National Federation of the Blind, San Francisco Chapter:

September 18:  1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Contact Eric Holm at 415-425-5613 or via email:ericholm@att.net

·       Yoga Workshop:

September 18:  3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

·       Age Related Macular Degeneration, Vision Education Seminar:

September 24:  10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

This seminar is part one of Be Informed, Making Choices to move forward! Vision Education Seminars for older adults (55 and over) who are facing a change in life due to significant decrease in vision, and, are looking for options and choices in taking steps to move forward.

Join Dr. Robert Greer, O.D., Chief of Low Vision at UC Berkley Low Vision Clinic as he engages the audience in dialogue about Age Related Macular Degeneration and therapies available.   Come in person or listen over the internet, or via a toll free conference call.  To RSVP email rsvp@old.lighthouse-sf.org or call 415-694-7326.

·       Braille Notetakers Interactive Workshop:

September 25:  1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Learn how Braille notetaker consumers are utilizing their devices.  The new generation of notetakers can get on the web, read MP3 and daisy files, give directions using GPS and much more.  Come see a variety of notetakers.  Attend in person or via live stream at http://www.lbvi.staging.wpengine.com.com/listen.m3u

RSVP and details at 1-888-400-8933 or rsvp@old.lighthouse-sf.org.

·       Mega Self-Defense for the Visually Impaired:

September 25:  3:00p.m. to  6:00 p.m.

This program was developed specifically for the visually impaired. Each workshop will cover physical techniques along with discussion of laws and self-defense theory that specifically affect the blind/visually impaired community.

·       Adaptations The LightHouse Store to open on Saturdays:

To meet customer demand for weekend shopping, Adaptations will be open for business on September 18 and October 16 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.  For more information call the Adaptations hotline 415-694-7301 or send an email to adaptations@old.lighthouse-sf.org

  • Evening Hatha Yoga Class:
    Thursdays:  6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
    The weekly class works on a large variety of poses that strengthen and refresh the body, mind, and spirit.  Drop-in students are welcome.

Audio Described Movies by County:

Alameda County:

¨   “Salt”

AMC Bay Street 16:
5614 Shellmond Street
Emeryville
510-457-9006

Contra Costa County:

¨   “Eat, Pray, Love”

Rialto Theatre:
10070 San Pablo Avenue
El Cerrito
510-528-8759

Fresno County:

¨   “Vampires Suck”

Regal Manchester Stadium 16

2055 E. Shields Ave.
Fresno
559-243-7451

Placer County:

¨   “Vampires Suck”

UA Olympus Pointe 12:

520 N. Sunrise Ave.

Roseville

916-772-1245

Santa Clara County:

¨   “Eat, Pray, Love”

AMC Saratoga 14:
700 El Paseo De Saratoga
Saratoga
408-871-2277

Solano County:

¨   “Vampires Suck”

Edwards Fairfield Stadium 16:

1549 Gateway Blvd.
Fairfield
707-432-2140

Audio Described Theatre:

¨   “Dream Girls”

Presented by SHN
September 25:   2:00 p.m.
Curran Theatre

445 Geary St.,  San Francisco
To charge tickets and reserve one of the 20 receivers available call:  415-551-2027 and request Audio vision tickets.  Tickets can be purchased without a convenience fee at The Orpheum Theatre Box Office, 1192 Market St., San Francisco.  The box office is open Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

·       “The Light in the Piazza”

Presented by Theater Works

Described by Visual Voice

September 17:  8:00 p.m.

September 18:  8:00 p.m.

September 19:  2:00 p.m.

Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts

500 Castro Street

Mountain View

The times above are the show times. For  descriptions of costumes and set arrive 25 minutes earlier.  Be sure to mention Visual Voice at the box office.  Tickets can be purchased by calling: 650-463-1960.

·       “Burn the Floor”

Presented by Broadway San Jose

Described by Audiovision

September 26:  1:00p.m.

San Jose Center for the Performing Arts

255 S. Almaden Blvd.

San Jose

Tickets can be purchased at the San Jose Tix Box Office, 150 W. San Carlos Street, San Jose, via phone 408-792-4111 or via the web www.broadwaysanjose.com .  Be sure to ask for Audiovision tickets and reserve a headset

Community Events in the Bay Area and Beyond:

·       Chevy’s Fundraiser:

September 23:  5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

590 Van Ness Ave

San Francisco

Please help support the San Francisco Chapter of California Council of the Blind’s Alice Chavez Pardini Education Advancement Grant

25 percent of your meal cost will be donated to the to the grant fund.  For reservations, call Chevy’s at 415-621-8200.  For additional information, please contact Liz Klein at 650-576-9354 or Peter Pardini at 415-990-9202.

·       Access Advisors’ Open House & Disability Arts Festival:

October 2:  10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

deYoung Museum

50 Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco

An art studio will be set up for the day, where participants can see artists at work and create their own museum piece.  Docents will give tours of the museum, including tours on which blind and visually impaired visitors may touch certain three-dimensional works of art on exhibition. There will be ASL interpretation and extra blue-space parking provided. This event is

free to people who make a reservation before September 27.  To make a reservation for yourself or your guest, or request additional information or specific accommodations, contact Tish Brown, Accessibility Coordinator at the de Young: 415.750.7645 or tbrown@famsf.org

  • Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program (BORP):
    Adventure fitness and recreation are touch phrases for BORP.  BORP believes that everyone should have access to the unique challenges that outdoor recreation provides. BORP makes every effort to accommodate each person’s needs, including providing transportation and volunteer support. Trips are planned with a wide spectrum of abilities in mind, including wheelchair users, slow walkers, and people with visual impairments. For event listings call Lori Gray at 510-843-4398 or visit www.borp.org
  • Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors:
    Departs every Sunday at noon from Pier 40 in San Francisco. Call 415-281-0212 for announcements or visit www.baads.org
  • Bowling:
    Moonlight Lanes
    2780 El Camino Real
    Santa Clara
    Saturdays at 11:00 a.m.
    Contact Tom Keiser 408-249-1721

Want more information about what is going on in the blindness community?  Sign up on our home page to receive the free monthly LightHouse News, which includes relevant information about the latest trends in technology, advocacy, and other issues of interest to our community: www.lbvi.staging.wpengine.com.com

Follow the LightHouse on Facebook and Twitter.

Get daily updates about LightHouse activities, community events, new products and even job postings. If you are not a member of these sites, it is easy to join!  Click on the following links, sign up and you will automatically be connected to LightHouse buzz!

Twitter:

http://twitter.com/lighthouse_sf

New Facebook Page:

http://tinyurl.com/SFLightHouseFB

LightHouse News, Resources in the Community

LightHouse Perspectives: Paul Longmore

1 Commenton LightHouse Perspectives: Paul Longmore

Paul Longmore, pioneering disability rights activist and American history scholar, died on August 9th at the age of 64. Paul was a  major figure in what is now a dynamic and rapidly growing field of academic inquiry: disability studies. Paul directed the Institute on Disability at San Francisco State University. His death was very unexpected—only a month ago, he delivered a powerful speech at San Francisco City Hall for the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) event.

On a warm, sparkly day this spring, before the grey afternoons of this particularly cold SF summer set in, I trekked out to San Francisco State and sat at a picnic table with Paul. He was wearing a professor’s blazer and white running shoes, and he was seated in his power chair. I wore my huge sunglasses and perched on my mobility scooter with the bockety paint job. With the sun out, we were feeling altogether leisurely. I had been a bit nervous and somewhat embarrassed because I had yet to get to know Paul, even though I consider myself someone who is very involved in the disability community.

The LightHouse was one of the agencies that put together the 20th anniversary celebration of the ADA event last month. Paul was a top choice to speak at the event, so I felt lucky to have an excuse to call him. My friend Amanda Hoffman, a documentary filmmaker who is making a film about blindness in the community, was a great friend of Paul’s, and she advised me to think of some corny jokes because he was a total punster. I chickened out after I dialed his number, and instead, just stuck to introducing myself as an information and referral specialist at the LightHouse. “And, on behalf of the LightHouse, I am on a committee that is planning an event for the ADA—.” He interrupted with, “I know who you are, Amber.” It turned out he had read some of my poetry online. This seemed incredibly generous to me, since I am sure Paul had hundreds of academic colleagues, anxious grad students and professionals in the disability field to keep on his radar.

While we sat basking in the sun that day, Paul asked me about my big sunglasses. I explained that I had recently become blind in my left eye and that glare, especially, made my eye more painful. He asked how that experience informed my work at the LightHouse, and in response, I told him how I love the conversations I get to have via my job—in person or over the phone—with people who are slowly transforming, moving from vision loss to an understanding of what it means to be new to blindness. But, I said, it is sometimes a confusing dialogue, in my head and with LightHouse clients and visitors. Like many of the LightHouse visitors, there are still many medical steps I must take on my journey with partial sight and a single day contains conflicting emotions—frustration over eye aches one moment and total excitement over the newest software for blind computer users in another. Paul responded with a long treatise on illness versus disability, on suffering and self-sufficiency. He expressed to me that he did not believe that the search for a cure needs to contradict the fight for disability rights. He also told me that it is not a paradox to acknowledge discomfort and at the same time foster disability pride. His thoughts were immensely helpful that day.

Paul was a methodical scholar. He explained that when he wrote a book, he carefully researched and polished a chapter before moving on to the next. And he did this with voice recognition software or sometimes with a pen in his mouth to tap the keys (after childhood polio, Paul no longer had the use of his hands). This is likely how he composed his first book—a respected biography of George Washington. And then he set it on fire. Paul became famous as an activist for burning his book in front of the San Francisco federal building in 1988—as a protest of the Social Security Administration. The meager royalties he could expect from an academic text were enough to threaten the SSA benefits Paul depended on his for his medical care, in particular, his ventilator.

In early July, Paul gave a lecture at the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute (SKI). His topic was on the way blind activists were the early forebears of the disability rights movement. Ever the consummate historian, he told a fascinating story at SKI that day about a little-known figure: Abram Courtney. Courtney was an itinerant blind peddler in 1835. He authored and self-published a pamphlet that he then began distributing while he traversed the country as a traveling salesman. His goal was to disprove the idea that the blind could not work and to inform people, in a friendly and anecdotal manner, about the blind via his writings. This was quite radical for 1835. He goes on to explain how one of the largest blindness organizations in the country was founded—long before ideas of equal rights or access were in place.

On July 26th, Paul made a rousing final speech at the ADA event. He said, “Great leaders do not create great movements. Great movements give rise to great leaders,” and, “No movement can exist without, in this case, millions of ordinary men and women asserting themselves to demand dignity and their rights. So that’s what our movement is all about. That’s our past, that’s our present, that’s our future.”  Read the entire transcript or watch the video from this event at the Independent Living Resource Center’s blog: http://www.itsnormal.org/2010/08/for-paul-longmore-were-not-done-yet.html.

As the crowd was trickling out of the ADA event, I thanked Paul and we agreed to get coffee soon, to take up our conversation where we had left off. I wanted to hear more about Abram, maybe work it into a poem about the LightHouse’s history as a broom factory. I wanted to ask Paul what new trouble he was going to get into, what else he would set on fire. I promised I would have some jokes for him the next time.

A public service for Paul will be held October 23 at 2 p.m. at the Seven Hills Conference Center at San Francisco State. A reception will follow at 3 p.m.

Download this podcast to listen to Paul Longmore’s SKI talk on radical blind figures in history. Joshua A. Miele, Ph.D., Principal Investigator and Colloquium Committee Chair at The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute facilitates the interview.

–This post was written by LightHouse Resource Specialist, Amber DiPietra

Resources in the Community

Northern California Entertainment and Recreation Listing August 27

If you do not receive this listing in your inbox every Thursday, join the distribution list by emailing bberenson@old.lighthouse-sf.org.

This listing is compiled by the Information Resource Center at the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. It is compiled weekly as a service to the blind and visually impaired community of Northern California. If you have a meeting or event information that would be appropriate for inclusion in this list, please email info@old.lighthouse-sf.org. This list will be updated every Thursday. Information for each Thursday’s listing must be submitted by the Tuesday prior to publication.

Download the event listing:

Northern CA Entertainment and Recreation list Aug 27

Resources in the Community

Northern California Entertainment and Recreation Listing August 20

If you do not receive this listing in your inbox every Thursday, join the distribution list by emailing bberenson@old.lighthouse-sf.org.

This listing is compiled by the Information Resource Center at the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. It is compiled weekly as a service to the blind and visually impaired community of Northern California. If you have a meeting or event information that would be appropriate for inclusion in this list, please email info@old.lighthouse-sf.org. This list will be updated every Thursday. Information for each Thursday’s listing must be submitted by the Tuesday prior to publication.

This week’s highlights:

-Feldenkrais and Yoga Workshops at the LightHouse on August 21!

NorCal Entertainment and Rec List for August 20 2010

Resources in the Community

Visually Impaired Parents Group Starting at the LightHouse.

Last week, we blogged about custody issues for blind parents. These problems can arise when hospital staff and child welfare officials bring certain biases about blindness to their interactions with new parents. Being a strong self-advocate is important in facing these societal challenges, but having links to other families and learning from other blind parents is vital.

So, we are thrilled to announce that Laura Rodriguez is starting a blind and low vision parents’ group at the LightHouse! Laura, who has grown up in the LightHouse community, is now the proud mom of one-year old Sam.

As a teen, Laura was an Enchanted Hills camper and she now enjoys going back for Family Camp once a year to connect with other blind parents. However, Laura wants to create a way for families to come together throughout the year.  She feels that a visually impaired parents’ group at the LightHouse will provide a space in which members “won’t feel as though they need to overcompensate” as parents.  Instead, group members can confidently share their own unique strategies and brainstorm around common parenting challenges.

The blind parents’ group at the LightHouse will also double as a play group, of course.  Parents are welcome to bring their children to regular meetings. Plans for off-site gatherings at kid-friendly sites around the Bay Area will be arranged once everyone has had a chance to get acquainted. Because some kid-oriented places are not super accessible to blind visitors, going as a group will be an added help in getting accommodations on-site.

As soon as five parents sign up, meetings can begin at the LightHouse on weekends. Just go to http://www.meetup.com/viparents/.

Parents must become Meetup.com members in order to join the group. If you have questions, contact info@old.lighthouse-sf.org.

Please spread the word about the group to anyone who might be interested. We are really excited to bring more family networks to the LightHouse!

Resources in the Community

San Francisco Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind, August 21

A message from Jaime Tomasello, Secretary of the NFBC San Francisco Chapter

The San Francisco Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of California would like to extend an open AND FRIENDLY invitation to all who are interested to join us for our monthly meeting.

Who: The membership and officers of the San Francisco Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of California (NFBCSF)

When: Saturday, August 21, 2010, from 1–3 p.m.

Where: LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 214 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102, (415) 431-1481.

Why: To discuss matters of concern, share stories and experiences, as well as become more socially connected to other blind and visually impaired persons in the San Francisco Bay Area.

How: Just show up! We are located between Grove and Hayes near San Francisco City Hall. We are accessible by SF Muni lines 47, 49, 31 and F Market. Also accessible via BART and Muni metro subway lines at Civic Center station.

At our upcoming meeting we will have discussions about current chapter business and updates on current organizational and state affiliate happenings.

If you have any questions about the NFBC San Francisco Chapter, please contact our chapter president, Eric Holm, either at (415) 425-5613 or at ericholm@att.net. We welcome your presence, energy, ideas and enthusiasm, and look forward to seeing you at our next NFBC San Francisco Chapter meeting!

LightHouse News

$100 Award to Attend California Council of the Blind Convention in the Fall.

Blind Students of California offers a $100 stipend to attend the fall California Council of the Blind Convention:

Do you want to attend the fall CCB convention in San Diego, but money is a little short? You may be in luck. Blind Students of  California (BSC) is offering one $100 stipend to attend the CCB fall  convention. Qualified applicants should be current students, legally blind, and first time CCB convention attendees. You must also not be  a scholarship winner, or a chapter delegate for the fall. The BSC board asks that you attend both the BSC program and the CCB banquet. We also encourage you to attend all CCB general sessions.

After the convention, we ask that you write a short article for the Blind Californian about your experience at the convention, in consultation with the BSC president. Qualified candidates will participate in a short telephone interview with the BSC officers. The application deadline is September 15. If you are interested, please submit an accessible document (a text file or Word 2003 document),  to leena.salim@gmail.com

You should include your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, school, and major. In addition, please submit a short essay  about why you think BSC should award you the $100 stipend to  attend the convention.

Since 1934, the mission of the California Council of the Blind (CCB) is  to gain full independence and equality of opportunity for all blind and  visually impaired Californians. Find out more at  http://www.ccbnet.org/

Resources in the Community

Northern California Entertainment and Recreation Listing August 13

If you do not receive this listing in your inbox every Thursday, join the distribution list by emailing bberenson@old.lighthouse-sf.org.

This listing is compiled by the Information Resource Center at the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. It is compiled weekly as a service to the blind and visually impaired community of Northern California. If you have a meeting or event information that would be appropriate for inclusion in this list, please email info@old.lighthouse-sf.org. This list will be updated every Thursday. Information for each Thursday’s listing must be submitted by the Tuesday prior to publication.

This week”s highlights:

-Mega Self-Defense for the Visually Impaired:
-Join the LightHouse for a baseball game at AT&T Park. Watch the Giants take on the Arizona Diamondbacks.
-Beauty and the Beast audio-described at the Golden Gate Theater.

Northern CA Entertainment and Rec Lisitng Aug 13 2010