Calendar

The week's events

  • AARP Tax-Aide Program (in-person)

    AARP Tax-Aide Program (in-person)


    Feb 12

    LightHouse is again partnering with AARP’s Tax-Aide Program to provide free tax filing support at 1155 Market Street this tax filing season. AARP will be at LightHouse HQ on Mondays and Thursdays from February 5 – April 11, 2024 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

  • Voter Registration Drop-In (in-person)

    Voter Registration Drop-In (in-person)


    Feb 13

    On Tuesday, March 5, California will hold the Presidential Primary Election.

    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.

  • Low Vision Skills: Putting It All Together (hybrid) **REGISTRATION CLOSED*

    Low Vision Skills: Putting It All Together (hybrid) **REGISTRATION CLOSED*


    Feb 14

    The Low Vision Skills: Putting It All Together course is composed of essential topics recommended for all participants who are new to low vision.

    Adults 55 and older, in addition to adult clients of all ages being served by the California Department of Rehabilitation, are invited to participate in a virtual six-session course geared towards learning about their changes in vision. Participants will learn practical ways to maximize successful, independent living skills in work, school and daily living environments.

    The hybrid course is divided into 6 virtual classes over 4 weeks: a 2.5-hour introductory class with a Low Vision Optometrist, Social Worker, and two Certified Low Vision Therapists, followed by five, 2.5-hour classes which will include practical skills taught by the Certified Low Vision Therapists. There is also a pre-course assessment one week prior to the start of the course, ongoing support during the course, one in-person half-day group lesson, and one in-person individualized lesson.

    It is a comprehensive skills training distance course introducing participants to foundational low vision concepts, skills, and current technologies for maximizing successful, independent daily living skills. After the six virtual classes, participants can expect to feel more confident in using their vision and making changes in their environment for independent daily living skills. Class 7 is a half-day, in-person Group Adaptive Devices and Strategies Demonstration at the San Francisco LightHouse Headquarters. Thereafter, participants will be eligible for an individualized, in-person Low Vision Therapy lesson.

    The first 6 classes will be taught via Zoom Video Conferencing (Zoom video skills required for all virtual classes), best viewed on a tablet, laptop, or computer (phone is not recommended for participation in this course due to small screen size for viewing class materials and resource options) at the following dates and times (Pacific Standard Time):

    Week of January 16: Course Introduction and Pre-Course Assessment by phone

    Week 1 (Virtual Classes #1 and #2): Monday, January 22 and Wednesday, January 24 – 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

    Class Support between Weeks 1 and 2

    Week 2 (Virtual Classes #3 and #4): Monday, January 29 and Wednesday, January 31 – 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

    Class Support between Weeks 2 and 3

    Week 3 (Virtual Classes #5 and #6): Wednesday, February 5 and Wednesday, February 7 – 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

    Class Support between Weeks 3 and 4

    Week 4 (In-person Class #7): Wednesday, February 14 at LightHouse Headquarters in San Francisco – Group Adaptive Devices and Strategies Demonstration - 10am to 3:00pm (including 1 hour break for provided lunch, further peer interaction)

    By February 28, 2024 (In-person Class #8): individualized follow-up low vision skills lesson tailored to the unique needs of each participant

    If you are not with the California Department of Rehabilitation, and if you are age 55 and older, living in the counties of San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Humboldt, Del Norte and Trinity, there may be partial scholarship funding for training and course materials. For adults working with the California Department of Rehabilitation, please contact your Rehabilitation Counselor directly to discuss participation and referral.

    The registration for this course is currently closed. All interested parties need to have a Low Vision Evaluation completed within one year prior to the start of any low vision course. Please contact Esmerelda Soto at 415-694-7323 or by email at ESoto@lighthouse-sf.org for any questions and planning for a LH Services Orientation and Assessment day. Any appropriate Low Vision course referrals will then be placed on our waitlist for the next available class (dates TBA).

  • AARP Tax-Aide Program (in-person)

    AARP Tax-Aide Program (in-person)


    Feb 15

    LightHouse is again partnering with AARP’s Tax-Aide Program to provide free tax filing support at 1155 Market Street this tax filing season. AARP will be at LightHouse HQ on Mondays and Thursdays from February 5 – April 11, 2024 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

The events for the upcoming week are read aloud on our event hotline every Friday, which can be accessed by calling 415-694-7325. For more information about visiting the Adaptations Store, head to our shop page.

The LightHouse is scent-free. Please abstain from wearing colognes, perfumes, or other scented products. Additionally, coffee must be securely lidded at all times and citrus should not be peeled on the premises. Thanks for supporting our efforts to respect chemical sensitivities!

SDS safety dataClick here for our cleaning product safety data sheets (SDS) and ingredient information.

X