Tag Archive

deaf-blind

Employment Immersion Graduate Ria Baylen Hired By San Francisco Unified School District

12/02/2013 Lisamaria Martinez 1 Comment

Who says that Braille won’t be useful in a job search? Ria Baylen’s smile is as contagious as is her enthusiasm for her chosen field. Ria is deaf and low vision. With a strong desire to “help and teach people” professionally, she got an A.S. degree in Human Services at Napa Valley College. After studying braille, adaptive technology and mobility training to prepare her in case her vision decreased, and to “learn what it takes to be independent”, she started interning and contracting at various blindness agencies, including the LightHouse, transcribing and teaching braille and adaptive technology.

After gathering work experience over several years, Ria knew she wanted to find a steady, permanent job with more hours, but she needed some help figuring out how to make better headway in a difficult job market. So she got the okay from her DOR counselor Suzanne Tierney to participate in the LightHouse Employment Immersion program.

With the help of the program, Ria learned how to craft a solid resume, tailor it to prospective employers and use the Internet to make fruitful connections. She also made great strides in conquering her tendency to freeze up during interviews because she felt unprepared for the questions and began to use the skills learned in the program to communicate more clearly and with purpose.

She particularly appreciated the opportunity to “listen to blind role models and guest speakers talk about their experiences as they move up the ladder and get where they are now. During the class I learned I have the ability, the dedication and patience to teach and help others achieve their goals.” And that’s where Ria’s braille skills made a difference.

We congratulate Ria, who accepted a full-time position last month with the San Francisco Unified School District as a Braillist. She now works with teachers, preparing materials for blind students in braille and other formats. “It’s great – I’m doing what I love and I’m able to afford living on my own!”

There’s Still Time to Enroll
Are you ready to snag that great job and earn enough to have a home of your own? Or are you looking for work for the first time? The next Employment Immersion class begins on January 7, and there’s still time to enroll. It’s a small investment of time – just eight weeks will get you up-to-speed with the latest job-search methods, plus one-on-one counseling and interview practice in a warm, encouraging environment. For more information, call Kate Williams at 415-694-7324 or email her at kwilliams@lighthouse-sf.org.

LightHouse News

Deaf-Blind Gather in Unique Enchanted Hills Session

08/29/2013 Lisamaria Martinez 1 Comment

For over thirty years the LightHouse has offered a session at Enchanted Hills specifically for campers who are Deaf-Blind. This year 26 campers attended, most from the Bay Area, making it the largest such gathering in California in 2013.

In addition, 30 volunteer SSP’s (Support Service Providers) helped out with intensive communication assistance. [Support Service Providers are specially trained professionals who enable people who have combined vision and hearing losses to access their environments and communicate. Source: http://www.aadb.org/information/ssp/ssp.html.] SSP’s make sure every announcement or instruction between camp staff and camper is communicated to the camper via tactile sign language.

All the campers were able to enjoy recreational activities such as swimming, boating, games, archery, crafts, hiking, parties during the evening and a presentation on the latest in accessible technology. But because Deaf-Blind people are often isolated due to communication and transportation barriers, the most valuable part of this camp session is that it gives Deaf-Blind campers the opportunity to speak to others using American Sign Language.

Says LightHouse Deaf-Blind Specialist Sook Hee Choi, “Everyone enjoys the camp. Campers meet new friends and also talk with old friends, catching up with news. People who are sighted and hearing take this for granted, but for Deaf-Blind campers, this can only happen when they are physically present and able to touch each other through tactile sign language.”

Volunteer Angelica Medina-Boersma using tactile communication with a Deaf-Blind camper during a nighttime social

Professional Hip Hop dance instructor Christiane Crawford teaches hip-hop moves to Deaf-Blind campers and volunteers, including Angelea Palmer and Mark Mellenger, Brianna Quintana and KimYao, Tony So and Don, and David Powell

Deaf-Blind camper Rick Joy chats with volunteer Suzanne Tierney, who is a Bay Area DOR Counselor

LightHouse News

Deaf-Blind Telecommunications Program Receives Flood of Interest

12/19/2012 Lisamaria Martinez 1 Comment

Although the LightHouse has been providing training and support to persons who are deaf-blind for over twenty years, we’ve recently taken on our biggest initiative yet. The new program helps deaf-blind individuals receive equipment which will give individual’s accessible means to connecting with friends and family via texting, email and telephone.

Response for this program has been overwhelming, in a good way. We have received to date 98 approved applications from persons who are deaf-blind throughout California, and we are now working on ensuring all applicants receive an assessment to match equipment with their specific needs and skills. For some this equipment might be a computer with enhanced monitor and magnification software to access email; for others it may be a note taker with braille display, an iPhone with portable braille display or an IPad for texting.

For most, the solution is easy and straightforward, for others creative solutions are engaged, and in some cases, we find that there still is not the right technology for the individual. What we do know is that individuals with good braille reading and writing skills have more options, and can get their equipment sooner – how’s that for incentive to learning braille! Once the technology is determined, funding also pays for limited training on using the communication aspects of the new the new device.

This successful start to the program could not be accomplished without Sook Hee Choi, the LightHouse Deaf-blind Specialist, and our partnership with the Southwest office of Helen Keller National Center, specifically Cathy Kirscher and Ilona Mulvey.

If you are a deaf-blind Californian (age 15 and over), and low income, you may qualify for this pilot program (eligibility is established by the FCC). Please email dbeinfo@lighthouse-sf.org to receive an application. If you are a new applicant (applications received after December 21^st), it is important to note that due to the demand, there is about a 1-2 month wait to fully process new applications, complete equipment assessments and finally receive equipment. This wait for free equipment however, does not stop you from applying and we look forward to hearing from you!