Tag Archive

Education

New Extra Teen Track at Enchanted Hills: Wild Science with WizKidz

03/16/2015 LightHouse Staff

Attention parents of young campers. This summer at Enchanted Hills we’re collaborating with WizKidz Science and Technology Centers, offering an exciting tactile TouchSTEM breakout session to our Youth campers. The session includes cool activities such as building your own robot, unearthing fossils and best of all, taking the controls of an airplane during a one-on-one supervised flight.

We are so thrilled to be able to offer one of the most outstanding accessible STEM programs being offered in the USA at this time. Award-winning WhizKidz will offer a camp within a camp during our Youth Session this summer. This TouchSTEM program will run from July 15 to 18 and will provide students ages 11 to 15 with an unforgettable, hands-on learning experience in Science and Technology.

As one of the pioneers of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) initiatives for disabled youth, WizKidz Science and Technology Centers developed the S.T.E.A.D.Y Academy initiative to spark and enhance students’ with disabilities interest in science and technology education, two areas that fall short for servicing students with disabilities. In 2014, WizKidz were selected as a 2014 Google RISE Awardee and were nominated for the 2014 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring. Read more about WizKidz.

Parents and guardians who wish to register their children for the TouchSTEM program can do so on a supplemental section which is included with the Youth Session application.

When: July 15 through 18
Where: Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind

To find out more about this session, contact Camp Director Tony Fletcher at afletcher@old.lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7319, or visit www.enchantedhillscamp.org.

LightHouse News

New Track at Enchanted Hills: Wild Science with WizKidz

03/16/2015 LightHouse Staff

We are thrilled to be able to offer one of the most outstanding accessible STEM programs being offered in the USA at this time. Award-winning WhizKidz will offer a camp within a camp during our Youth Session this summer. This TouchSTEM program will run from July 15 to 18 and will provide students ages 11 to 15 with an unforgettable, hands-on learning experience in Science and Technology.

Parents and guardians who wish to register their children for the TouchSTEM program can do so on a supplemental section which is included with the Youth Session application.

When: July 15 through 18
Where: Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind

To find out more about this session, contact Camp Director Tony Fletcher at afletcher@old.lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7319, or visit www.enchantedhillscamp.org.

LightHouse News

Art at Your Fingertips During March 23 Access Day at the de Young

03/13/2015 LightHouse Staff

“The greatest thing about Access Day is that the museum is closed so you can get closer to the art. Also the docents are specifically trained to be more descriptive in talking about the art. These tours are specifically for people who are blind or visually impaired.”
-Beth Berenson, LightHouse Community Services and Information and Referral Coordinator

Enjoy a unique opportunity to see the exhibition Botticelli to Braque: Masterpieces from the National Galleries of Scotland.

When: March 23, 2015
Where: de Young Museum, San Francisco
Free for each member and one guest
Non-members: $5 per person; some free tickets available for those with financial need.

The Exhibition runs March 7 through May 3, 2015.

Perks of Access Day include:
Admission by appointment
Reduced crowds and discounted fees
Extra blue parking spaces at the de Young
Maps with parking and transportation information
Extra seating inside and outside the exhibition
Portable large-print editions of exhibition labels
Docent-led tours
Verbal description tours at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon

Available upon request:
Wheelchairs and folding stools
American Sign Language interpretation (please request at least two weeks in advance)
Materials in alternative formats for study in advance of visit
Assistive listening devices

For other requests, please contact Rebecca Bradley at rbradley@famsf.org or 415-750-7645.

Click here to download the reservation form.

LightHouse News

Beth Berenson, Blindness Ambassador

03/13/2015 LightHouse Staff

Another in a series of LightHouse staff profiles.

As LightHouse’s Community Services and Information and Referral Coordinator, Beth is one of our frontline teachers. “People call with all sorts of questions,” she says, “like ‘Where do I learn how to walk with a white cane,’ ‘How do I tell my university or job I have a visual impairment,’ and ‘Is there a special library with books that I can access?’ Some people new to blindness or low vision are not ready to dive headfirst into blindness skills training, but I can help address their immediate needs. LightHouse maintains a toll-free Information and Referral phone line to make sure that anyone facing challenges because of blindness can access a real, live person to answer their questions. This first phone call or email gets them in the door, and eventually leads them to more of our classes and ultimately independence.”

Beth was born blind and talks about how attitudes towards her blindness strengthened her determination to succeed. “When I was born in the 50’s, parents of blind children were pressured to institutionalize their kids. My mother and I refused, forging our own path using instinct and intuition. I went to a regular elementary school in rural Massachusetts, and learned how to read and write because of the tenacity of my teacher, Miss Packard. Like my mother, she refused to allow me to end up ghettoized in an institution.”

Beth’s fortitude enables her to lead others to a path of independence. “I look for solutions to student’s concerns, wherever those solutions may be. “In addition to providing hundreds of blind people each year with individual attention, Beth coordinates LightHouse special events including our new LightHouse Connect Series, which teaches blind people how to use the latest accessible technology to access print materials, email, text and surf the internet and use GPS and tactile maps to traverse the city and world. She sends out a weekly email, “Beth’s List,” updating the blind community on events happening at LightHouse and nearby. Sometimes she’s able to offer blind students free tickets to some of the biggest shows in the Bay Area, including the San Francisco Symphony, SF Jazz, and the de Young Museum; so, if you’re not already getting Beth’s List in your inbox, email her at BBerenson@old.lighthouse-sf.org.

Beth also acts as blindness ambassador on behalf of the LightHouse, performing critical trainings to community members and organizations such as the San Francisco Opera, Yellow Cab Corp, de Young Museum of Art, Twitter and Facebook, helping these companies understand and meet the needs of their blind constituents all over the world. “In my experience, people and organizations want to make things accessible to the blind, they just don’t know how, or they’re too intimidated to ask questions. I offer my personal experience and professional expertise to these organizations, working with them to make our world a more accessible place for everyone, including the blind.”

The many hats Beth wears at the LightHouse keep her busy, but she always finds time for her first love, dogs. “I don’t have a dog of my own, which means I have more room in my heart for everyone else’s dogs. When I’m not at the LightHouse, I’m usually visiting a canine friend, occasionally also engaging with their owners,” Beth jokes. “I’m also podcast obsessed; dedicated to listening to far too many podcasts to name. They remind me of the bygone era of the radio. I love my podcasts!”

Part Baystater (Massachusetts-ite), Floridian and San Franciscan, Beth loves to wear bright, tropical Floridian colors, while peppering her speech with New England colloquialisms (“It’s a grocery carriage not a shopping cart!”), and a flower-in-hair San Franciscan openness to everyone who walks through LightHouse’s doors. “I think it’s my fusion of various regionalisms that makes me best equipped to adapt to each individual student’s needs.” It is Beth’s uniqueness and moxie that makes her indispensable to the LightHouse because she can relate to just about anyone, whether it’s a student learning to travel with a white cane, or an organization eager to be more welcoming to the blind.

If you or someone you know is blind or has low vision and has questions about LightHouse programs and services, give Beth a call at our toll-free Information and Referral number, 415-431-1481, or email her directly at BBerenson@old.lighthouse-sf.org. If you’d like to sign up to receive Beth’s weekly events listing, email her and let her know you’d like to keep up-to-date on all the amazing events in our area.

LightHouse News

Accessible BART Station Maps are Now On Sale at Adaptations

03/13/2015 LightHouse Staff

The Bay Area is full of wonderful opportunities for entertainment, outdoor activity, shopping and so much more, much of it available to residents and tourists alike by using BART and other facets of our public transportation system. We all know a good map is key to understanding how to get around efficiently but if you are blind or have low vision you will likely find printed maps less than helpful. That’s why the LightHouse has created maps of BART stations for blind people: maps that convey information through touch and through sound.

Hand holding smart pen on accessible BART map For the first time a person who is blind can look at a map in their office, at school or at home and orient themselves to the BART station they plan on visiting, plan a path of travel from the entrance to the turnstiles, to the platform, and then off the train and to the bus stop. The LightHouse has mapped all 44 BART stations; three views each – street, concourse and platform; because you want to know not just where trains go, but how to get in and out of, and around stations. And these audio-tactile maps talk with the aid of a Livescribe Smartpen.

Here’s how it works: Imagine you have an Accessible BART Station Map in your hands. You feel the raised lines and braille symbols. A “b” inside an orange oval represents a bus stop; a “t” in a red triangle represents a taxi stand; there are distinct symbols for stairs, elevators and escalators. Say you want to learn more about that bus stop. Tap it with the Smartpen and you hear “Bus stop on the East side of Mission Street. Buses from this stop: Muni 14, 14L and 49″. That’s far more information than could be squeezed, as braille, into the 5/8″ oval on the page. And the map is printed on a piece of paper that fits into a standard binder.

The Smartpens for sale at Adaptations are pre-loaded with software that makes these maps speak. The key to map symbols sells for $12.00, the Smartpen is $119.00, and each station map ranges in price (depending on its size) from $6.00 to $20.00. You can purchase a binder that includes every BART station map, or buy stations individually as you need them.

For more information, call Adaptations at (415) 694-7301 or stop by our store at 214 Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays.

Do you need our experts in advanced blind design to improve the accessibility of your work place? Contact LightHouse for the Blind at 415-694-7349 or madlab@old.lighthouse-sf.org.

LightHouse News

AFB Scholarships Available – Apply Now Through May 31

03/11/2015 LightHouse Staff

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) administers six post-secondary education scholarships for up to eleven deserving students who are legally blind.

Visit www.afb.org/scholarships.asp for further information and to fill out application forms. The deadline to apply is May 31, 2015.

The following is a list of scholarships offered:

Delta Gamma Memorial Scholarship

One scholarship of $1,000
Undergraduate or graduate studying in the field of rehabilitation and/or education of persons who are blind or visually impaired

Gladys C. Anderson Memorial Scholarship

One scholarship of $1,000
Undergraduate or graduate studying in the field of classical or religious music
Applicant must be female

Karen D. Carsel Memorial Scholarship

One scholarship of $500
Graduate studying in any full-time program in any field

Paul W. Ruckes Scholarship

Two scholarships of $2,000
Undergraduate or graduate studying in field of engineering or in computer, physical, or life sciences

R. L. Gillette Scholarship

Two scholarships of $1,000 each
Undergraduate studying in the field of literature or music
Applicant must be female

Rudolph Dillman Memorial Scholarship

Four scholarships of $2,500 each
Undergraduate or graduate studying in the field of rehabilitation and/or education of persons who are blind or visually impaired

Contact: Tara Annis at (800) 232-5152/tannis@afb.net

LightHouse News

SFCCB $2,500 Student Education Access Grant – Deadline to Apply is March 31

03/11/2015 LightHouse Staff

The San Francisco Chapter of the California Council of the Blind (CCB) is taking applications for its $2,500 Student Education Access Grant.

The application deadline is March 31, 2015.

Who can apply: legally blind students ages 8-18 who lives in the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, or Sonoma.

What: The San Francisco Chapter of CCB will give a grant in the form of technology products worth up to $2,500 to an applicant who meets the criteria listed above and can best demonstrate the need for accessible equipment to enhance their educational opportunities.

This Education Reference Desk allows users to borrow materials (books, photocopies of journal articles, etc.) from libraries outside of the UW-System.

Applications must be postmarked no later than March 31, 2015. To request an application and instruction form or for further details contact Charlie Dorris at 415-775-0487/tyreedorris@comcast.net or Ellie Lee at 415-378-6079/ellieleesf@yahoo.com.

LightHouse News

Join us on Fridays for Art Exploration

03/05/2015 LightHouse Staff

Art Exploration is about exploring your creativity and expressing yourself. Ruthie Campbell Miller, an Art Therapist who specializes in working with people with Visual Impairments, facilitates the group with a balance of structure and freedom. The art projects are based on our students’ interest, and the possibilities are almost endless.

Where: LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters
When: Fridays, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.

Everyone is welcome – come check it out! RSVP to LightHouse Community Services Coordinator Molly Irish at 415-694-7320 or mpearson@old.lighthouse-sf.org.

LightHouse News

Persistence Pays Off for Robert Steinberg

02/27/2015 LightHouse Staff

“If everyone who entered the Employment Immersion Program had the drive and determination that Robert Steinberg possesses, every one of them would be employed.” says LightHouse Employment Immersion Program Leader Kate Williams. Like many people who have been impacted by the economic recession, Robert experienced several years of unemployment before landing his new Customer Service Representativeposition with Chevron in Oakland. Unemployed for a year after a layoff, Robert worked with Department of Rehabilitation counselor Mark Pighin and found his way to the Employment Immersion Program.

With a strong background in banking, computers and customer service, Robert had the skills to land a job. He told us the Employment Immersion Program helped him ramp up his job search techniques considerably: “The Employment Immersion Program is quite unique. It’s the best jobs program I’ve tried. The program gives you the skills and training you need to be self-sufficient in your job search. It’s a very detailed and efficient program with ongoing support after graduation.”

Interviewing was an area where Robert felt he needed some support and training. He notes the “mock interviews were very helpful. The interviews were conducted by employees from corporations who volunteered to help us practice performing in a realistic interview setting – extremely helpful. The volunteers give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses, and the things they were looking for that you did not address.” Robert says he learned how to be more definite in his responses as well as more confident. “I think the most useful thing I learned was not to be surprised by anything in an interview. I felt prepared for any type of question.”

When the Customer Service Representative position at Chevron Credit Union was posted, Robert was ready. He applied and got a phone interview. The next step was a computer test. That’s when the process hit a revealing obstacle: Robert could not take the test without adaptations. Robert says, “I felt some discrimination at some companies during my job search. But it was clear from the beginning that Chevron Credit Union staff was committed. They worked through the process to figure out how to set up an adaptive process. They asked me what kind of software I needed to do my job. Given this level of support and commitment, Robert says he’s feeling very good about working with the company. “I’m excited that I will be able to try out other departments and shadow jobs and see what appeals to me as well. There’s a lot of support and mobility within the company.”

Kate Williams was not surprised at Robert’s success: “Robert is one of those people who are consistently pleasant, consistently engaged, an asset to the class. Through our program, he learned how to build a powerful and descriptive resume, how to craft a compelling cover letter and most importantly, how to tailor the letter to the employer’s needs. He also learned a good deal about the importance of following up after applying for a job and an interview.”

Robert’s advice for job seekers out there is simple. “Sometimes it gets depressing and frustrating, but keep going. I highly recommend the LightHouse Employment Immersion Program. They really helped with the interview and application process and with emotional support. After graduation, they continue to follow up, which is extremely helpful, and Kate is wonderful!”

Looking for work for the first time? Is it time for you to re-enter the job market? For more information about our Employment Immersion Program, please contact Kate Williams at kwilliams@old.lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-324.

LightHouse News

Blind Immersion Training Week Jump-Starts Eleven Students to Success

02/26/2015 LightHouse Staff

Immersion students and teachers pose next to Lake Lokoya on a crisp, chilly day Last month students from the Bay Area and North Coast came together for Changing Vision Changing Life Immersion week at Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind. The Immersion is a week-long session where students have a real workout on the skills that will keep them as independent as possible with changing vision, whether it be improving their use of the technology that brings the print world to them or walking with confidence through our beautiful campgrounds.

Why come to Changing Vision Changing Life Immersion? As one student said, “It was time for me. Time to learn how to do things differently, time to become more independent, time to start living.” Each day during Immersion is a long one, but highly fulfilling. Guided by our talented teaching team, participants work individually or in small groups. Bonds of peer support develop, some lasting well beyond the week. The days are punctuated by delicious, healthy meals and bookended by morning yoga and late night walks in the fresh air of Enchanted Hills. The Immersion program is powerful, propelling people forward in their lives, like a rocket booster into the future.

Rocky Camp and his sister, Jane Micks, both have low vision caused by the same eye condition. Rocky told us, “I felt tremendous trepidation before I arrived at camp…But from the moment I arrived, I felt as if I was with my compatriots; those who, from their own personal experience, shared my journey. Your staff was amazing. Right from the very beginning there was just this wonderful lightness, a sense of humor, which really made me feel comfortable. I learned so much…my assessment of the week can be encapsulated in one phrase; life changing.”

The days during Immersion are filled with opportunities for connection. Our new mentor trainers, Gail McGaster and Jeff Buckwalter both have low vision and they shared their experiences and learned from the students’ stories. Six of the students, all who have changing vision due to retinitis pigmentosa, found this commonality led to good conversations and rapport. And LightHouse Board member Jerry Kuns, who was at camp for another project, stopped by to share his experience. The group found it heartening to hear about some of the challenges this seasoned and successful member of the blind community still deals with, reminding us that this journey towards independence is ongoing and ever enriching.

Is your vision changing? Are you ready to make a commitment to yourself, to be the director of your journey? Our next Changing Vision Changing Life Immersion Training at Enchanted Hills is Sunday, April 12 through Friday, April 17. To participate, contact Debbie Bacon at 415-694-7357 in San Francisco; Janet Pomerantz at 707-268-5646 in the North Coast or Jeff Carlson at 415-258-8496 in Marin. Immersion students come from all over Northern California. Join us!