Calendar

The week's events

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Jan 29
Jan 30(1 event)

7:00 pm: Talkin' About Books: Have Dog, Will Travel: A Poet's Journey (online)


Jan 30

In a lyrical love letter to guide dogs everywhere, a blind poet shares his delightful story of how a guide dog changed his life and helped him discover a newfound appreciation for travel and independence.

Stephen Kuusisto was born legally blind—but he was also raised in the 1950s and taught to deny his blindness in order to "pass" as sighted. Stephen attended public school, rode a bike, and read books pressed right up against his nose. As an adult, he coped with his limited vision by becoming a professor in a small college town, memorizing routes for all of the places he needed to be. Then, at the age of thirty-eight, he was laid off. With no other job opportunities in his vicinity, he would have to travel to find work.

This is how he found himself at Guiding Eyes, paired with a Labrador named Corky. In this vivid and lyrical memoir, Stephen Kuusisto recounts how an incredible partnership with a guide dog changed his life and the heart-stopping, wondrous adventure that began for him in midlife. Profound and deeply moving, this is a spiritual journey, the story of discovering that life with a guide dog is both a method and a state of mind.

RSVP to Sabrina Bolus at SBolus@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-6707.

Jan 31(2 events)

10:30 am: BART Safety Training (in-person)


Jan 31

Join LightHouse and the BART Accessibility Team at the Oakland 19th Street BART station, upper level, for a BART Safety Training.

Are you a regular BART commuter, or do you only use it when you absolutely have to? Have you ever thought about what would happen if you were to accidently fall into the tracks on a BART platform? Do you know how to contact the operator for help while on a BART train? What do you do if there are no seats available?

This event will give you the opportunity to inspect a full-scale model of the track with the elusive “third rail”, along with the cubby area under the platform where one can remain safe if a train were coming. We will have a hands-on experience in a BART car to check out the seating arrangements, the door to transfer to the next car, and the location of all the safety features. The LightHouse Media and Accessible Design Lab staff will also be on hand to show you the tactile BART station maps that are available for you to order.

RSVP is strongly encouraged to ensure attendees have an opportunity to access all aspects of the presentation. To RSVP or if you have additional questions, contact Sheri Albers at SAlbers@lighthouse-sf.org, or 415-694-7331.

12:00 pm: Museum of Craft & Design Descriptive & Interactive Tour (in-person)


Jan 31

Visit the Museum of Craft and Design in San Francisco for an exclusive tour of current exhibitions including BULL.MELATIC: Proxistant Vision which is the culmination of an innovative, art and technology research project that explores the impact of new aerial imaging technologies and their influence and power in everyday life. Staff members will take us on a descriptive tour of current exhibitions, invite us to hold and touch artifacts created by the exhibiting artists using similar techniques and walk us through an art making experience inspired by the work on display in their galleries.

Museum of Craft and Design is located at 2569 3rd Street, right on the San Francisco Muni Bus T Line with stops nearby.

RSVP to Maia Scott at MScott@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7608.

Feb 1(2 events)

(All day): Enchanted Hills Camp Summer 2023 Sessions Registration Opens

(All day)
Feb 1

Enchanted Hills Camp (EHC) is back for a full summer of camp sessions this summer! Registration will open on February 1, with more info to follow. For now, check out the different sessions that will be offered.

  • Changing Vision, Changing Life: Sunday, June 4 – Friday, June 9
  • Little Learners: Friday, June 9 – Sunday, June 11
  • Family Camp I: Thursday, June 15 – Sunday, June 18
  • Adult Session: Monday, June 26 – Saturday, July 1
  • Adults with Developmental Disabilities: Monday, July 3 – Saturday, July 8
  • Youth Session: Monday, July 10 – Saturday, July 15
  • Teen Session: Monday, July 17 – Saturday, July 29
  • Family Camp II: Wednesday, August 2 – Saturday, August 5
  • Music/STEM Camp:  Monday, August 7 – Sunday, August 13

1:00 pm: Gratitude VIBES (online)


Feb 1

Gratitude-VIBES are Visually Impaired Blind Energizing Sessions. Gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. This solutions-based group can help you feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve your health, deal with adversity and build strong relationships. Previous sessions included demonstrations of poetry, music, drumming, visualization, Chinese and Japanese calligraphy, self-care, gardening, and employment journeys. These are followed by individual check-ins.

Our February 2023 theme is Relationships. Students will present on the following topics:

February 1: Relationships between animals and people
February 8: Relationships with friends
February 15: Relationships with people we have not met yet
February 22: Relationships and love

RSVP to Sabrina Bolus at sbolus@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-6707

 

Feb 2(3 events)

9:30 am: LightHouse and AARP Tax Support (in-person)


Feb 2

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 2 – April 13, 2023.

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 this form: https://forms.office.com/r/MsNHzhK3Hc

This is open to anyone who needs support filing their federal and California state tax returns for the tax years 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019. (note: each year requires a separate appointment and we can only complete tax years 2019, 2020, and 2021 in March). 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

COVID-19 Requirements:

Masks must be worn at all times.

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. Thank you.

11:00 am: Create In Community Art Class (in-person)


Feb 2

Let's gather together in the 11th floor art space at LightHouse San Francisco (1155 Market) to explore a different art process, style or media each moth while connecting with fellow creatives. These are exploratory, process-oriented classes that invite you to work at whatever level you are, be it first timer to expert.

This month we will create a variety of painted and textured papers that we will later use as collage materials to create colorful and tactile artworks.

RSVP to Maia Scott at MScott@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7608.

2:00 pm: Tecnologia para Todos (en línea)/Technology for All (online)


Feb 2

Tecnología para Todos, es un espacio en donde los usuarios comparten sus conocimientos y experiencias. Cada mes conversamos sobre distintos servicios, aplicaciones y dispositivos disponibles para personas ciegas y con baja visión. ¡Te esperamos!

Para registrarse, contacten a Jeffrey Colon JColon@lighthouse-sf.or o 415-694-7323.

Join our monthly access Technology Spanish meeting. Tecnología para todos is a space where users share their knowledge and experience. Each month, we talk about services, applications and devices available for blind and low vision users.

RSVP to Jeffrey Colon at JColon@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7323

Feb 3(3 events)

(All day): YES Weekend Workshop: Let's Talk Travel (in-person)

(All day)
Feb 3 Feb 5

Where: LightHouse Headquarters (1155 Market Street in San Francisco)

February 3 at 4:00 pm through February 5 at noon

Whether it’s for work, recreation, or a multitude of other reasons, independent travel is a significant part of the transition student experience. Join us this February for a weekend all about the importance of travel, filled with conversations with mentors and professionals, and plenty of opportunities to try out your independent navigation skills throughout San Francisco.

Youth Employment Services (YES) Workshops are monthly weekend-long learning experiences for youth and young adults who are enthusiastic about realizing their dream careers, emphasizing the vocational enrichment of low vision and blind youth, providing access to a multifaceted array of mentorship, employment readiness skills, and alternative accessible techniques. Each YES workshop focuses on a specific theme and offers an array of self-advocacy, assistive technology, living skills, and soft skills curricula empowering students to strive toward future employment or post-secondary educational success. The weekend is spent learning from blind and low vision mentors, connecting with blind and low vision peers, and engaging in creative hands-on activities which further support youth to explore and achieve their individualized and professional goals.

  1. Hear from blind and low-vision professionals on why strong orientation and mobility skills matter, and how they have utilized them for work as well as fun. Students will get opportunities to ask questions and get advice.
  2. Students will participate in conversations about canes, dog guides, and the benefits of each. They will come away with stronger understandings on what mobility aids they might like to utilize in the future.
  3. Participants will have multiple opportunities to practice route-planning techniques, explore San Francisco’s public transit systems and get hands-on experience of navigating around one of the busiest cities, all with the support of blind and low-vision mentors and staff.
  4. The over-night nature of the YES workshop provides opportunities for students to refine their workplace readiness soft skills including effective social and professional communication and independent living, all while building community with their blind and low vision peers and mentors.

Things to Bring:

  1. A notetaking device or implement (braille note, pen, slate and stylus, phone with keyboard, laptop, etc.). You may be asked to complete activities electronically.
  2. Necessities you may need such as any orientation and mobility tools to travel safely, money for transportation to and from the workshop, or personal medication.

If you are interested in participating in the February YES Weekend Workshop, please:

  1. Contact your Department of Rehabilitation counselor to discuss workshop attendance and authorization. The cost for this workshop is $950 and includes all activities, food, and lodging for the weekend.
  2. Confirm attendance with Daisy Soto, Youth Services Coordinator by email at DSoto@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7328. If you have any questions or would like to pay for your participation in this workshop, contact Daisy. Note: Space for this program is limited and workshop attendance must be confirmed one week prior.

Please note: Proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 plus boosters when applicable is required to join this event.

5:00 pm: EHC Virtual Campfire (online)


Feb 3

These fun-filled evenings will consist of all your favorite real campfire traditions, including camp’s traditional opening campfire ceremony rituals, special guest performances, and singalongs. Campfire attendees will also be informed of rebuild updates and all other camp related program offerings.

RSVP to Andrew Martinez at Amartinez@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7642.

8:00 pm: Reel Escape Audio Description Club; Wednesday Netflix Series (online)


Feb 3

We all need an escape at times, and with the Real Escape Audio Description Club you can do just that with your blind and low vision friends. Our weekly gathering takes place Friday evenings at 8:00 pm., where we watch the next episode of our series and connect with your LightHouse and EHC friends. Now that we’ve watched all that we could from the world of Daredevil, our club will be switching things up and will start watching the new series, Wednesday, in early February. For those unfamiliar with the show, check out the trailer.

***Parents Please Note*** Wednesday is rated TV-14 for fear, language, and violence which means some content may not be suitable for kids under 14. IMDB has a parental guide that goes into greater detail about why the show received this rating. Read the Parent Guide for Wednesday.

Who: teens and young adults who are blind or are low vision

What: Wednesday with the Reel Escape Audio Description Club via Zoom

When: Friday evenings @ 8:00 pm

Where: anywhere you can access a zoom meeting

RSVP: Zoom meeting information will be shared with those that RSVP by 5:00 pm the day before the program

If you are interested in signing up or have any questions about the Reel Escape Audio Description Club, please contact Jamey Gump by email at JGump@lighthouse-sf.org or by phone at 415-694-7372.

Feb 4(1 event)

(All day): YES Weekend Workshop: Let's Talk Travel (in-person)

(All day)
Feb 3 Feb 5

Where: LightHouse Headquarters (1155 Market Street in San Francisco)

February 3 at 4:00 pm through February 5 at noon

Whether it’s for work, recreation, or a multitude of other reasons, independent travel is a significant part of the transition student experience. Join us this February for a weekend all about the importance of travel, filled with conversations with mentors and professionals, and plenty of opportunities to try out your independent navigation skills throughout San Francisco.

Youth Employment Services (YES) Workshops are monthly weekend-long learning experiences for youth and young adults who are enthusiastic about realizing their dream careers, emphasizing the vocational enrichment of low vision and blind youth, providing access to a multifaceted array of mentorship, employment readiness skills, and alternative accessible techniques. Each YES workshop focuses on a specific theme and offers an array of self-advocacy, assistive technology, living skills, and soft skills curricula empowering students to strive toward future employment or post-secondary educational success. The weekend is spent learning from blind and low vision mentors, connecting with blind and low vision peers, and engaging in creative hands-on activities which further support youth to explore and achieve their individualized and professional goals.

  1. Hear from blind and low-vision professionals on why strong orientation and mobility skills matter, and how they have utilized them for work as well as fun. Students will get opportunities to ask questions and get advice.
  2. Students will participate in conversations about canes, dog guides, and the benefits of each. They will come away with stronger understandings on what mobility aids they might like to utilize in the future.
  3. Participants will have multiple opportunities to practice route-planning techniques, explore San Francisco’s public transit systems and get hands-on experience of navigating around one of the busiest cities, all with the support of blind and low-vision mentors and staff.
  4. The over-night nature of the YES workshop provides opportunities for students to refine their workplace readiness soft skills including effective social and professional communication and independent living, all while building community with their blind and low vision peers and mentors.

Things to Bring:

  1. A notetaking device or implement (braille note, pen, slate and stylus, phone with keyboard, laptop, etc.). You may be asked to complete activities electronically.
  2. Necessities you may need such as any orientation and mobility tools to travel safely, money for transportation to and from the workshop, or personal medication.

If you are interested in participating in the February YES Weekend Workshop, please:

  1. Contact your Department of Rehabilitation counselor to discuss workshop attendance and authorization. The cost for this workshop is $950 and includes all activities, food, and lodging for the weekend.
  2. Confirm attendance with Daisy Soto, Youth Services Coordinator by email at DSoto@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7328. If you have any questions or would like to pay for your participation in this workshop, contact Daisy. Note: Space for this program is limited and workshop attendance must be confirmed one week prior.

Please note: Proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 plus boosters when applicable is required to join this event.

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.

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