For more than three years now, the LightHouse has developed our six-day Changing Vision Changing Life (CVCL) immersion training program at Enchanted Hills Retreat in Napa. Each CVCL session brings together up to 14 adult students of all ages, from Northern California and the Central Valley, who are either new to low vision or blindness, or have had a significant change in vision and have requested additional training.
We’re excited to announce that come June, we will add a very special new venue for training – our newly constructed headquarters at 1155 Market Street in San Francisco. But no matter the site, Napa or San Francisco, the outcome is the same, to provide you with a myriad of options, information, basic training and support to get you started on the journey of living your life the way you want and maintaining your independence.
The CVCL curriculum, presented in four or five sessions per day, includes: ways to read printed materials; understanding how lighting, contrast and magnification can help you every day; techniques for organizing and labeling in your home or office; best methods for taking notes; basic cooking skills; traveling and moving safely and confidently in your home and in the community and understanding how accessible computers and other high and low tech equipment can enhance your life.
Evening discussions focus inwards, from conversations about holding yourself accountable on you journey, to self-advocacy, to questions about how friends, family and partners can understand/support you and your path. Sometimes the process is planned, other times it becomes very organic. Every person and every group of students is different and we individualize much of the experience depending on your own aspirations.
Gaining understanding of what is available to you, getting hands-on with new skills and developing renewed confidence with changing vision is the overall theme of the week. While the experience is different for everyone, the act of coming together with other adults, both students and teachers, who are blind or have low vision, to learn or relearn skills, and to get back into the stream of life, remains a pivotal part of the week-long experience.
At both sites, students will live in comfortable shared accommodations (minimum two to a room), are provided three meals a day and have transportation access to Napa from San Francisco, Berkeley, San Rafael and Eureka. If you are blind or have low vision and want attend a CVCL session you must be genuinely interested in learning the skills for moving forward; enjoy learning with a group of peers and must be able and willing to participate full day (from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., every day) of active learning and physical participation (rural mobility in Napa/urban mobility in San Francisco).
Note, there is no cost to attend if you are 55 or older and living in San Francisco, Alameda, Marin, Humboldt or Del Norte counties and limited scholarships are available for persons who are under 55 and not eligible for Department of Rehabilitation Services.
Dates for our upcoming training sessions:
April 10 through 14 at Enchanted Hills Retreat in Napa
June 12 through 17 at our new headquarters in San Francisco
July 10 through 15 at our new headquarters in San Francisco (note: all training in Spanish)
July 31 through 5 at our new headquarters in San Francisco
The Changing Vision Changing Life Immersion Training is open to adults who are ready for a jump start or, a recharge as vision has changed. Interested? Contact us in San Francisco, San Rafael or Eureka to find out more our sign up:
- In San Francisco: Debbie Bacon, Rehabilitation Counselor, 415-694-7357 or dbacon@lighthouse-sf.org
- In San Rafael: Jeff Carlson, Social Worker, 415-258-8496 or jcarlson@lighthouse-sf.org
- In Eureka: Janet Pomerantz, Social Worker, 707-268-5646 or jpomerantz@lighthouse-sf.org
