Category Archive

LightHouse News

Share Your Input at Feb. 17 Demo of Taxi POS Device

Taxis in San Francisco now feature point-of-sale terminals that let passengers pay for their fares with a card without having to hand it over to the driver. The current model of these POS devices is inaccessible.

On Friday, February 17 at 10:30 a.m., the LightHouse (214 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco) will host a demonstration of a potentially accessible POS device for taxis. This is your chance to give community feedback on the accessibility of these devices. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Frank Welte at 415-694-7363 or fwelte@lighthouse-sf.org.

Free Tax Preparation at the LightHouse on March 6

It’s that time of year that we all love to hate. Tax season has begun, and the next thing you know it will be April 15th. Don’t wait until then. Come to the LightHouse and get your taxes done for FREE.

What: Free Tax Preparation
When: Tuesday, March 6 (appointments start at 10:00 a.m.)
Where: LightHouse for the Blind, 214 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, 94102
Contact: Brandon Young, 415-694-7372, byoung@lighthouse-sf.org.

Professional tax preparers will be on hand to help you with your tax needs. Space is limited, so make an appointment today!

LightHouse Yoga Workshop This Saturday

Embrace this Valentine month by luxuriating with your beautiful breath. Led by instructor Nancy Yates, Saturday’s yoga workshop is designed to open our hearts to the divine spirit of the breath while we playfully stretch, breathe, laugh and read love poems.

When: Saturday, February 18, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Where:
LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters
Contact:
Brandon Young, byoung@lighthouse-sf.org, 415-694-7372

Refreshments (chai and strawberries) will be served. RSVPs are encouraged.

Free Video Description Training for Employment (Expenses Paid)

National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute is offering a free workshop, including paid-for travel and room and board in May 2012, as part of the Video Description Research and Development Center Project, Smith-Kettlewell.

Applications are due by March 9.

Beginning July 1, 2012, major broadcast and cable networks will be required to provide video description for some television programs. The growing need to produce video-described programming will create new employment opportunities for blind professionals. With an extremely high unemployment rate among blind people, now is a perfect time for blind people to break into these careers. This workshop will provide participants with some initial training which could potentially make them desirable to companies who provide video description.

Read more here:
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/VDRC_Training_Application.asp.

Exciting Update on Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder Studies

As many of you know, Vanda has been conducting research on a sleep problem related to total blindness called Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder. They have received many questions asking for information about how the study is progressing and if it is working. They are pleased to be able to share the following information from the screening stage of the study that you may find interesting.

  • The drug Tasimelteon was shown for the first time to reset the body clock and to align it to a constant 24-hour day in patients suffering from Non-24-hour
  • Over 1,000 totally blind NLP (no light perception) individuals have taken the Vanda sleep survey
  • Over 75% report a sleep problem
  • 70% of those screened in the Vanda’s main clinical study have a confirmed diagnosis of Non-24-Hour
  • Over half of patients in the study have a sleepless night once per month
  • Vanda’s main study is close to the target 100 patients but still needs additional participants
  • Vanda has donated over $30,000 to blind related non-profits

 

For more information on Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder, go to http://24sleepwake.com/. To take the survey, call 888-389-7033, visit www.non24registry.com or email info@non24registry.com.

LightHouse of the North Coast Hosts Free Six-Week Workshop Series

 

Join us as Our Pathways to Health presents a series of free health and wellness workshops for Low Vision and Blind Consumers

This peer-led series of workshops addresses the common challenges faced by those living with long-term health conditions like diabetes, high blood Pressure, arthritis, COPD or chronic pain.

Learn how to:

  • Set small goals that lead to big transformations
  • Lose weight, exercise more, eat healthier
  • Find the motivation to tackle large goals

 

Learn action planning:

  • Set small, achievable goals
  • Build on success in a supportive environment

 

When: Tuesdays, April 3 through May 8th, 1:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Where: Humboldt Senior Resource Center
1910 California Street, Eureka, CA 95501

Space is limited.
Contact Janet Pomerantz at 707-268-5646 for more information and reservations.
Caregivers are welcome to attend with workshop participants.