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LightHouse News

Save the Date: Spring Celebration Hosted by LightHouse and Guide Dogs for the Blind, April 6

Save the Date: Spring Celebration Hosted by LightHouse and Guide Dogs for the Blind, April 6

We are thrilled to invite families with young children who are blind or have low vision to our Spring Celebration 2024 event featuring beeping egg hunts, fun family activities and more! This special event will occur on Saturday, April 6 from 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm at Guide Dogs for the Blind’s San Rafael campus. Bottled water, juice boxes and light snacks will be provided at the event.
 
Who: Families with young children who are blind or have low vision
Where: Guide Dogs for the Blind Campus located at 350 Los Ranchitos, San Rafael, 94903

Register to this Spring Celebration event.
 
Questions? Please contact Karen Thompson at KThompson@lighthouse-sf.org or call 415-694-7695.

This event is hosted by LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired and Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Youth can Register for the 2024 Enchanted Hills Camp Counselor-in-Training and Leadership Development Program

Youth can Register for the 2024 Enchanted Hills Camp Counselor-in-Training and Leadership Development Program

The Enchanted Hills Camp (EHC) Counselor-in-Training and Leadership Development Program is designed to nurture blind and low vision leaders through immersive soft-skills development and career exploration. Participants engage in discussions, role-playing, and hands-on practice under the guidance of LightHouse staff during the Summer Camp programs at EHC. By the program’s end, participants gain enhanced self-advocacy skills, social competence, and independence, better equipping them for future transitions and educational endeavors. Additionally, the program fosters essential soft skills, a strong work ethic, and leadership qualities crucial for future employment and peer interaction.
 
This year’s program comprises two parts. The first week focuses on Leadership Development and Staff Training, featuring job readiness exercises and activities emphasizing leadership, communication, problem-solving, teamwork, time management and conflict resolution skills. The subsequent weeks involve participants serving as Counselors-in-Training (CITs) during the Summer Camp sessions, with opportunities to apply newly acquired skills under the supervision of camp staff. Throughout the program, CITs engage in discussions with blind/low vision leaders and successful professionals, exploring career opportunities, blindness philosophy, and life skills pertinent to their transition to adulthood.

The 2024 Camp Counselor-in-Training and Leadership Development Program at EHC caters to teenagers aged 16-18 who are blind or have low vision and are committed to enhancing their leadership abilities in a camp environment. Prospective participants undergo an application process, including completing LightHouse’s student intake form, participating in an interview, and demonstrating full commitment to the program. Individuals with varying camping experiences or an interest in social and recreational work professions are encouraged to apply.

Participant Outcomes

  • Through structured practice, self-reflection, and guidance from staff, participants will achieve:
  • Leadership skills applicable across various life domains and employment contexts.
  • A strong work ethic and proficiency in conflict resolution and problem-solving.
  • A positive attitude towards blindness and effective self-advocacy skills.
  • Enhanced readiness for transition services and postsecondary education options.

Program Content:

  • Participation in both Staff Training and Leadership Development Program (Monday, June 17 to Saturday, June 22) and Counselor-in-Training Youth Session Practicum (Monday, July 15 to Saturday, July 27).
  • 40 hours of group Workplace Readiness Training focusing on social and independent living skills essential for success as a counselor-in-training.
  • 5 hours of group Instruction in Self-Advocacy Skills to empower participants in educational, workplace, and community settings.
  • Job coaching and pre-employment transition skills discussions to support career goals and self-advocacy.
  • Adjustment to blindness training during the Teen Session of EHC for the development of critical social and independent living skills.

Application and Selection Process

Prospective participants must email their interest to youth@lighthouse-sf.org, including responses to specific questions regarding their motivation, qualifications, and distinguishing qualities for the program. LightHouse staff will then coordinate interviews and evaluations, including Living Skills and/or Orientation and Mobility assessments, if necessary. New students to LightHouse services must complete the student intake form and registration process before consideration.

For further information about the 2024 EHC Camp Counselor-in-Training and Leadership Development Program, contact Jamey Gump via e

LightHouse Board Meeting Open to the Public on March 7, 2024

LightHouse Board Meeting Open to the Public on March 7, 2024

Members of the public are invited to attend the Thursday, March 7th meeting of the Board of Directors of San Francisco’s LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. This meeting will be a virtual meeting held via Zoom and runs from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm Pacific.
 
30 minutes will be reserved for public comment, and members of the public will have up to three minutes to comment. If you would like to reserve a slot to speak, please complete the LightHouse Public Comment and RSVP Sign Up form. Please submit your comments as far in advance as possible. Comments must be received before noon Pacific on Wednesday, March 6th to be included in  the agenda.

If you would like to attend the virtual meeting, please fill LightHouse Public Comment and RSVP Sign Up formWhether you plan to have a public comment or not, you will need to fill out this form to get the Zoom info.  Zoom information will be emailed to you closer to the date of the board meeting.

1155 Performance Salon featuring singer Kari Kelley is February 17

1155 Performance Salon featuring singer Kari Kelley is February 17

Celebrate Black History Month at our third of six Performance Salons with an afternoon of music and story blending civil rights and disability justice at LightHouse HQ in San Francisco. The line-up will start with a curated selection of warm-up acts to get the show going then lead into our headliner, Kari Kelley. 
 
Kari is the author of Living Resiliently: Black, Blind and Female. The Journey Continues which is available on AmazonAudible and at our salon.  She has created, produced, and performed one-woman shows featuring her songs and stories, entertaining audiences at sold-out events throughout Northern California.
 
Arrive a little early to enjoy good vibes and vittles. 
 
The performance salon takes place at LightHouse San Francisco at 1155 Market, 10th Floor from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. 
 
RSVP: Maia Scott at MScott@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7608
 
The 1155 Performance Salon is made possible thanks to a City and County of San Francisco, Office of Economic and Workforce Development grant.

LightHouse Offers Events & Support to Blind Voters for March 5 Primary Election

LightHouse Offers Events & Support to Blind Voters for March 5 Primary Election

LightHouse is providing a series of events and services to support voters who are blind or have low vision for the March 5 Presidential Primary election.

Register to Vote

 
February 20 is the last day to register to Vote in California and you may register online at: https://registertovote.ca.gov/.
 
We are also having a voter registration day at LightHouse San Francisco at 1155 Market.

Voter Registration Drop-In

 
Tuesday, February 13, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
 
We know that voting is required to be accessible but does not always achieve that. In order to support you in voting, we are holding a day where you can drop into LightHouse’s Headquarters in San Francisco to register to vote.
 
You are eligible to vote if, you are:

  1. A United States citizen and a resident of California
  2. 18 years old or older on Election Day
  3. Not currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony
  4. Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court

If you are eligible and would like support in registering to vote or updating your voter registration (for example, updating your address or changing your political party), please come to LightHouse’s San Francisco office where a LightHouse volunteer will help you complete your registration form.
 
Registration for this event is not required but is preferred. To schedule a time to come in or request a volunteer on a separate date, please call 415–694–7638.

Optional Assistance with Completing Your Ballot

 
All registered voters in California will be mailed a paper ballot in advance of the Presidential Primary. Ballots will begin to be mailed on February 5.
 
We will have two days at LightHouse San Francisco for those who’d like support completing their ballot. Alternatively, if you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, you can schedule a meeting with a LightHouse volunteer to help you complete your ballot. You can also request a volunteer to accompany you to the polls on March 5.

CA Primaries: Complete Your Ballot!

 
Wednesday, February 21, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Thursday, February 29, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
             
We know that voting is required to be accessible but does not always achieve that. To support you in voting, we are holding two days when you can come to LightHouse’s San Francisco office and have a LightHouse volunteer help you in completing your mail-in ballot.
 
Please call us at 415-694-7638 to RSVP.

Vote in Advance with a Volunteer or Request a Volunteer to Accompany You to the Polls

 
If you live in the Bay Area and would like to meet with a LightHouse volunteer to complete your vote-by-mail ballot, please email volunteer@lighthouse-sf.org or call 415-694-7638. All requests must be made at least two weeks in advance. If we have less notice than that, we will try to accommodate your request.
 
You can also Inquire about having a LightHouse volunteer accompany you to the poll on Election Day.

Voting on Election Day

 
Polling locations will be open in every California County to allow for in-person voting. Check with your local County Election Office for your polling location and information on accessible voting machines.

LightHouse headquarters at 1155 Market in San Francisco is a polling place. Anyone registered to vote in San Francisco County may vote at Lighthouse. If you are registered to vote in a county other than San Francisco, please check with your County Election Office for polling places.

 Additionally we have more information about key voting dates, registering to vote, voting resources and tracking your ballot on our March 5 Primary Information for Blind Voters page.

An Enchanted Update from EHC!

An Enchanted Update from EHC!

A new structure at EHC with external wood paneling, large windows, and is surrounded by redwood trees and newly paved paths

After an incredibly productive autumn and a peaceful holiday break, our friends at Wright Construction have made their way back up Mt. Veeder Road as our re-building and re-imagination projects at Enchanted Hills Camp continue. We are thrilled to share with our beloved EHC Community the progress we’ve made up at camp and what new, beautiful and accessible features our campers can look forward to experiencing this summer.
 
After breaking ground on the new Redwood Grove in November, we are excited to report the speed and grace at which this project is moving along—thanks in large part to all our generous donors at the LightHouse Gala who raised their paddles to contribute to the execution of this breathe-taking space. We can’t wait until these gorgeous redwood benches are filled with happy campers sharing lifelong memories together!

Our family cabins are nearly finished! Accessibility and innovative creativity can be found in every nook and cranny of these home away from homes. We can’t wait to welcome families in to explore and enjoy a cozy stay in these new little cottages!

Our campers aren’t the only ones with new and improved spaces to explore. Staff Commons is awaiting summer counselors to inhabit this beautiful new structure! For those interested in working at Enchanted Hills Camp this summer, be on the lookout for job postings and details in the coming months.

From the freshly paved roads to newly cut trails, our sparking pool and ponds to cozy evening retreats, to our structures built for group gatherings and friendship forming, we are proud of every inch of this incredible 311 acre space. The thoughtful architects at Perkins & Will have put their hearts and souls into creating a fully accessible space for blind and low vision patrons that is as beautiful as it is functional.
 
“We’re not creating forms and shapes for the sake of aesthetics alone. Rather, we’re thinking about straightforward navigability,” says Helen Schneider, EHC’s lead architect with Perkins & Will. “A lot of the effort with our master plan is creating cane-detectable paths throughout camp that will provide an accessible route from top to bottom.

“This summer, the anticipation at camp is reaching new heights as we eagerly await utilizing our brand-new and renovated buildings,” says Enchanted Hills Camp Director, Tony Fletcher. “The buzz is not just about bricks and mortar; it’s about the promise of brand-new experiences and a comfortable and accessible atmosphere that these structures will bring. From new cabins, designed for comfort and camaraderie, to new program spaces set to enhance our camp experience. There are new memories and adventures waiting to unfold, making this summer an eagerly awaited chapter in our camp’s history.”
 
EHC Summer 2024 is just a few months away! This year’s session schedule is posted on the Enchanted Hills Camp website. Be sure to block off your calendars and reserve your spot at our enchanting redwood oasis this summer! Camp registration  is now open.

RSVP for EHC Summer 2024 Sessions.

Gill Family hosts 22nd Annual Enchanted Hills Camp Benefit Concert

Gill Family hosts 22nd Annual Enchanted Hills Camp Benefit Concert

LightHouse is honored to once again be the beneficiary of the annual concert hosted by our dear friends and longtime Enchanted Hills Camp Alumni, the Gill Family. This year’s concert theme is A Tribute to Tony Bennett. Treat yourself to a night of incredible music performed by Alex Perez, Marie Finch, and Steve Gill with a featured performance by Anne Gill. Please see the event details and a message from the Gill Family below.
 
What: EHC Benefit Concert: A Tribute to Tony Bennett
When: Saturday, February 24, 7:30 pm
Where: Martin Family Hall, 50 Valparaiso Ave., Atherton, 94027
Cost: $20 Suggested Donation, all proceeds will go to Enchanted Hills Camp
 
Please Note: Seating is on a first come, first seated basis. Those planning to attend should contact Nancy Gill at 650-948-4648 or gillnancyg@gmail.com, please indicate the number of guests attending and contact information.
 
Message from Steve and Nancy Gill
 
In 1997, shortly after our daughter Anne graduated from Los Altos High School, she was in a near-fatal car accident that left her blind and brain injured. When she came home in the spring of 1998, we were frustrated to discover that few resources are designed to help people like our daughter who have multiple disabilities. Therefore, we were delighted to find out that the LightHouse for the Blind offers a session at its Enchanted Hills Camp (EHC) for visually impaired adults who have other disabilities as well.
 
Anne, like other participants, enjoys spending five days in the Napa Hills participating in activities like horseback riding, swimming, and hiking with a remarkable, inspiring staff.
 
Our gratitude for the camp’s existence, our appreciation for the incredible patience and compassion of the staff (many of whom are visually impaired), and our desire to support the special needs session inspired Steve, veteran Bay Area actor/singer and the founder of Menlo School’s Fine Arts Program, to organize the first benefit concert for the LightHouse in 1999.
 
Since that first year, the benefit concerts have raised over $150,000. LightHouse has used the proceeds from these concerts to provide partial scholarships to those attending Enchanted Hills Camp and help fund rebuilding projects in the aftermath of the devastating 2017 fires.
 
For this year’s benefit, Steve, his good friend, the multi-talented Alex Perez, and Marie Finch, Menlo School’s choral director are presenting the bio-concert A Tribute to Tony Bennett.

We hope you that you enjoy the show. Your contributions will help LightHouse continue to provide a very special experience to blind adults like Anne.

Book Your Appointment Today for the Free AARP Tax-Aide Program at LightHouse

Book Your Appointment Today for the Free AARP Tax-Aide Program at LightHouse

LightHouse is again partnering with AARP’s Tax-Aide Program to provide free tax filing support at LightHouse San Francisco HQ at 1155 Market Street this tax filing season. AARP will be at LightHouse HQ on Mondays and Thursdays from February 5 – April 11 and Wednesdays February 21 and 28 & March 13 and 27.
 
Appointments are required and they can be made for 9:30 am, 11: am, and 12:30 pm. Appointments can be scheduled by leaving a voicemail at 415-694-7648 or completing the AARP Tax-Aide at LightHouse RSVP form.
 
This is open to anyone who needs support filing their federal and California state tax returns for the tax years 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020. (Note: each year requires a separate appointment and we will only be completing 2023 tax returns in February). There is no requirement based on age, income level, or San Francisco residency.
 
Please bring with you:

  • Your tax paperwork you’ve received in the mail
  • A copy of your social security card
  • A copy of your photo ID
  • If you are eligible for a refund and would like it deposited directly into your account, please bring a voided check. If you do not have a voided check, your refund check will be mailed to you via USPS.

Out of Scope:

If any of these situations apply to you, you may be out of scope for AARP. If you think that you are out of scope, please feel free to call us so that we can confirm.

  • If you do not have health insurance, we cannot prepare your tax return. Apologies, but this is due to the California mandate that requires everybody to have health insurance, which results in tax complications.
  • If you have tax deductible contributions to an HSA account, we cannot prepare your tax return. This is due to the differences in Federal and California tax law and is complicated.
  • If you have rental income, we cannot prepare your tax return.
  • If you are in a civil union or married filing separately, we cannot prepare your tax return. This is due to the differences in Federal and California tax law.
  • If you’re self-employed, and want to declare your health insurance premiums as an expense, and are receiving premium tax credits (via CoveredCA), we cannot prepare your tax return.
  • If you have rental property, we cannot prepare your return.
  • If you have a dependent child with unearned income subject to the “Kiddie Tax”, we cannot prepare your return.
  • If you are self-employed and, due to the pandemic, you deferred paying your Self-Employment tax, have a PPP loan, or took Covid sick leave, we cannot prepare your return.
  • If you own a business with employees and/or inventory, we cannot prepare your return.  You would be wise to hire a professional tax preparer.
  • If you have hobby income or not for profit activity, we cannot prepare your return.

There are some specific requirements and not all taxes will be able to be completed by AARP volunteers; these will be addressed when the appointments are made.
 
If you have any questions, please call 415-694-7648 or email info@lighthouse-sf.org

AARP Tax-Aide at LightHouse RSVP form

Discover the Newest Developments in Supporting Young Children who are Blind at the Lowenfeld-Akeson Early Years Symposium

Discover the Newest Developments in Supporting Young Children who are Blind at the Lowenfeld-Akeson Early Years Symposium

On Saturday, February 3, the 28th Annual Lowenfeld-Akeson Early Years Symposium will take place at the California School for the Blind in Fremont. The purpose of the symposium is to educate service providers, families and students about new developments in the fields of pediatric ophthalmology, neurology and early childhood education of children who are blind or have low vision.

The symposium is named for Dr. Berthold Lowenfeld, who served as Superintendent of the California School for the Blind for 15 years and Nancy Akeson, the first Home Counselor for the Blind Babies Foundation. Both Lowenfeld and Akeson dedicated their careers to the education of people who are blind or have low vision.

This year’s symposium theme – Connection is the Key: Building rapport, relationships, and realistic expectations

This year, the symposium is co-hosted by the California School for the Blind, LightHouse Little Learners, the California Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments and California Deafblind Services.

The symposium will feature:  

  • Keynote speaker Maurice Belote, MA, Deafblind Educational Consultant and former Project Coordinator of California Deafblind Services
  • Doctor panel featuring perspectives on the best ways to build rapport and develop reasonable expectations
  • Speaker May Nguyen, MS, Licensed Educational Psychologist and Nationally Certified School Psychologist, California School for the Blind
  • 2024 Dr. William and Ruth Silverman Excellence in Community Partnerships Award
  • Judith Lesner Family Forum
  • Tour of the California School for the Blind campus (optional)
  • Continental breakfast and lunch

What: 28th Annual Lowenfeld-Akeson Early Years Symposium
When: Saturday, February 3, from 9:00 am to 3:15 pm 
Where: California School for the Blind at 500 Walnut Street, Fremont.  

Tickets to the Symposium are $50 for professionals and $20 for families and students. Families are encouraged to request a scholarship from the Silverman Scholarship Fund to attend the Symposium by emailing us at LowenfeldAkeson@gmail.com.

Please arrive early to sign-in and enjoy a little breakfast. Our program will commence promptly at 9:00 am.

Registration closes on February 1.

Register for the Symposium Here