Calendar

LightHouse will be closed on Monday, May 27 for the Memorial Day holiday.

The week's events

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Oct 13(3 events)

5:00 pm: YES Weekend - Soaring Futures: Career Exploration and Travel at SFO


Oct 11 Oct 13

Youth Employment Series (YES)
Soaring Futures: Career Exploration and Travel at SFO

In October, join the LightHouse Youth Employment Series, YES, and workshop celebrating White Cane and National Disability Employment Awareness as transition-age youth engage in career exploration at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Gainful employment and effective use of mobility tools are critical to pursuing self-confidence, personal satisfaction, economic empowerment, and disability talent development. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience an interactive visit and discover career paths at SFO, to be challenged in confidence building outings, and to collaborate with one another in engaging activities throughout the weekend in preparation for life post high school/college. YES workshops are monthly weekend-long learning experiences emphasizing the vocational enrichment of low vision and blind youth, increasing and providing access to a multifaceted array of mentorship, employment readiness skills, and alternative accessible techniques.

The YES Workshop in October will provide students with the tools to obtain information on career pathways in both the public and private sectors, to create a disability disclosure and advocacy plan for work and school, to learn and improve mobility and independent travel skills, as well as to refine their interpersonal skills (soft-skills). The weekend is spent learning from blind and low vision mentors and engaging in creative hands-on activities which further support youth to explore and achieve their individualized and professional aspirations.

Workshop Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will expand their understanding of rights and responsibilities as blind and low vision individuals as they explore and create personalized disability disclosure and advocacy plans for school and work.
2. Transition age youth will acquire information on employment opportunities in both public and private industries from administration and management to retail and customer service.
3. Students will build their confidence in orientation and mobility as they collaborate with their peers to plan, prepare for, execute, and reflect on a group excursion.
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.

If you are interested in participating in the October YES Weekend Workshop, please:
1. Contact your Department of Rehabilitation counselor to discuss workshop attendance and authorization.
2. Confirm attendance with Ann Wai-Yee Kwong, Transition Program Specialist, by email at youth@lighthouse-sf.org or by phone at 415-694-7328.

If you have any questions or would like to pay for your participation in the workshop, please contact youth@lighthouse-sf.org. Each workshop costs $950 to attend for the entire weekend. Please note, space for this program is limited and workshop attendance must be confirmed one week prior.
"

(All day): Changing Vision, Changing Life (CVCL)

(All day)
Oct 13 Oct 18

Changing Vision Changing Life, Immersion Training In March, June and October of 2019, the week-long Changing Vision Changing Life Immersion Training is open for registration. This 6-day/5 night Immersion Training has returned to Enchanted Hills Retreat Center in Napa.

What is this Immersion all about? Truly, it is about bringing peers together for learning, support, encouragement and moving forward. Each training brings together over a dozen adults ranging in age from mid-20’s to 90’s from all over northern California and the Central Valley who are new to low vision or blindness and have not had the opportunity to begin to embrace their journey of developing key foundational blind and low vision skills and, become acquainted with the information, resources and vibrant and supportive peer community. Over the past seven years CVCL has provided a venue and opportunity for over 250 students to jump-start the life they want to lead with confidence and competence. Each Immersion Week is purposefully planned for no more than 16 students so that small group learning and personal discovery can take place.

What skills and learning takes place? CVCL is a gateway for understanding the journey of skill and personal development students need to return to work, school and life. While we know that everything cannot be learned in 6-days, CVCL provides each student a full week of ‘learning appetizers which feature developing foundational skills and information in the areas of home management (cooking basics, organization and labeling skills), mobility, access technology, accessing print and most of all, peer support. Over the years we have listened to our students. Many students don’t know what choices they have, but also what decisions and commitments they will need to make as they desire to be successful in work, school and daily life. During the Immersion week we hope to provide each student the choices for jumping on a path to confidence, competence and independence. While gaining basic skills and confidence with changing vision is the overall theme of the week, the experience of coming together with other adults who are low vision or blind to learn or relearn skills, remains the most pivotal impact of the week long experience.

Successful immersion learning is the consequential participation of learning or re-learning skills in everyday-life situations, simply put, learning and thinking by doing. Throughout the week students are introduced to skills, strategies and tools that can transfer from home to school to work, from sun up to sundown. Each day is full. All learning happens in small and large groups from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and for those who want to get started even earlier, every morning starts with Yoga for All Abilities at 7:30am.

The majority of our teachers, facilitators and mentors are blind/low vision, and all have over 10 years personal and/or teaching experience with blindness. Our expectations are that each student has come to immerse themselves in learning new ways to accomplish familiar life activities with like-minded peers. It is an experience which is supportive, motivational, and fun! We are transparent though, the week is very active and can also feel overwhelming, intense and somewhat rigorous, because for many, much of the training and concepts are new. We are there to support you. And throughout the week, ‘time-out’ is provided for students to share their personal experiences with each other, gaining insight, perspective and support for moving forward. This week is for blind and low vision people who want to return to work, school and engage in life. The upcoming CVCL Weeks are developed to give students this focus. Specifically, the March and October CVCL Immersion weeks will be geared to persons who have the goal of employment. While many of the foundational skills will be introduced, students will also have the opportunity to meet students who have been successful in training and securing employment. Our June Immersion, will be open to all adults who are new to blindness and low vision, your goal is simply to want to jump back into life equipped with foundational skills and information!

Here are the upcoming 2019 Changing Vision, Changing Life Immersion dates:
Session #1: March 24 – 29, Last day to register, March 18. Employment focused students only – Napa location
Session #2: June 2 – 7, Last day to register, May 24. Napa location
Session #3: October 13 -18, Last day to register, October 14. Employment focused students only – Napa location

Please note, Sessions will be cancelled if registration falls below 10 students.
What is the fee for the week? The cost for the week is $1300 and $100 for transportation from San Francisco, Berkeley, San Rafael or Eureka. In addition to all of the learning and connection that takes place, the cost includes shared accommodations and three healthy and delicious meals/day. A pre-registration deposit of $100 is due at the time of acceptance to the Immersion Training. This deposit is fully refundable if cancellation is made within 5 days of the start date of training. Limited scholarships will be made available to students who are not consumers with the Department of Rehailitation or the VA and are 55 years and older living in the counties of Humboldt, Del Norte, Trinity and San Mateo.
To Register? All students must complete a Registration Intake and Assessment to ensure this training program is the best fit for your skills and interests.
Questions and Referrals from the California State Department of Rehabilitation or the Veterans Administration can be made directly to one of the staff listed below. We do request that all interested students are in good health and have the overall stamina to participate in full days of training walking throughout our Napa site which includes walking short grades and small hills.
Contact one of our staff in your area to start the registration process:
Debbie Bacon, Rehabilitation Counselor, San Francisco Headquarters: 415-694-7357 or dbacon@lighthouse-sf.org
Jeff Carlson, Social Worker, LightHouse of Marin: 415-258-8496 or jcarlson@lighthouse-sf.org
Janet Pomerantz, Social Worker, LightHouse of the North Coast, Eureka: 707-268-5646 or jpomerantz@lighthouse-sf.org

11:00 am: Superfest Disability Film Festival


Oct 13

Superfest Disability Film Festival is the longest running disability film festival in the world. Since 1970, we have celebrated cinema that portrays disability through a diverse, complex, unabashed and engaging lens.

We strive for accessibility with audio description, captioning, and ASL/CART.

Showtimes:

OCTOBER 12, 2019

BERKELEY

FREIGHT & SALVAGE

12 - 2:30 p.m.

OCTOBER 13, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO

THE CONTEMPORARY JEWISH MUSEUM

11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. & 2 - 4:30 p.m.

Visit the Superfest website for info and tickets.

Co-hosted by: LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the San Francisco State University Paul K. Longmore Institute on Disability.

To book a traveling Superfest Showcase, contact superfestshowcase@gmail.com.

Read more: Superfest Disability Film Festival

Oct 14(1 event)

(All day): Changing Vision, Changing Life (CVCL)

(All day)
Oct 13 Oct 18

Changing Vision Changing Life, Immersion Training In March, June and October of 2019, the week-long Changing Vision Changing Life Immersion Training is open for registration. This 6-day/5 night Immersion Training has returned to Enchanted Hills Retreat Center in Napa.

What is this Immersion all about? Truly, it is about bringing peers together for learning, support, encouragement and moving forward. Each training brings together over a dozen adults ranging in age from mid-20’s to 90’s from all over northern California and the Central Valley who are new to low vision or blindness and have not had the opportunity to begin to embrace their journey of developing key foundational blind and low vision skills and, become acquainted with the information, resources and vibrant and supportive peer community. Over the past seven years CVCL has provided a venue and opportunity for over 250 students to jump-start the life they want to lead with confidence and competence. Each Immersion Week is purposefully planned for no more than 16 students so that small group learning and personal discovery can take place.

What skills and learning takes place? CVCL is a gateway for understanding the journey of skill and personal development students need to return to work, school and life. While we know that everything cannot be learned in 6-days, CVCL provides each student a full week of ‘learning appetizers which feature developing foundational skills and information in the areas of home management (cooking basics, organization and labeling skills), mobility, access technology, accessing print and most of all, peer support. Over the years we have listened to our students. Many students don’t know what choices they have, but also what decisions and commitments they will need to make as they desire to be successful in work, school and daily life. During the Immersion week we hope to provide each student the choices for jumping on a path to confidence, competence and independence. While gaining basic skills and confidence with changing vision is the overall theme of the week, the experience of coming together with other adults who are low vision or blind to learn or relearn skills, remains the most pivotal impact of the week long experience.

Successful immersion learning is the consequential participation of learning or re-learning skills in everyday-life situations, simply put, learning and thinking by doing. Throughout the week students are introduced to skills, strategies and tools that can transfer from home to school to work, from sun up to sundown. Each day is full. All learning happens in small and large groups from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and for those who want to get started even earlier, every morning starts with Yoga for All Abilities at 7:30am.

The majority of our teachers, facilitators and mentors are blind/low vision, and all have over 10 years personal and/or teaching experience with blindness. Our expectations are that each student has come to immerse themselves in learning new ways to accomplish familiar life activities with like-minded peers. It is an experience which is supportive, motivational, and fun! We are transparent though, the week is very active and can also feel overwhelming, intense and somewhat rigorous, because for many, much of the training and concepts are new. We are there to support you. And throughout the week, ‘time-out’ is provided for students to share their personal experiences with each other, gaining insight, perspective and support for moving forward. This week is for blind and low vision people who want to return to work, school and engage in life. The upcoming CVCL Weeks are developed to give students this focus. Specifically, the March and October CVCL Immersion weeks will be geared to persons who have the goal of employment. While many of the foundational skills will be introduced, students will also have the opportunity to meet students who have been successful in training and securing employment. Our June Immersion, will be open to all adults who are new to blindness and low vision, your goal is simply to want to jump back into life equipped with foundational skills and information!

Here are the upcoming 2019 Changing Vision, Changing Life Immersion dates:
Session #1: March 24 – 29, Last day to register, March 18. Employment focused students only – Napa location
Session #2: June 2 – 7, Last day to register, May 24. Napa location
Session #3: October 13 -18, Last day to register, October 14. Employment focused students only – Napa location

Please note, Sessions will be cancelled if registration falls below 10 students.
What is the fee for the week? The cost for the week is $1300 and $100 for transportation from San Francisco, Berkeley, San Rafael or Eureka. In addition to all of the learning and connection that takes place, the cost includes shared accommodations and three healthy and delicious meals/day. A pre-registration deposit of $100 is due at the time of acceptance to the Immersion Training. This deposit is fully refundable if cancellation is made within 5 days of the start date of training. Limited scholarships will be made available to students who are not consumers with the Department of Rehailitation or the VA and are 55 years and older living in the counties of Humboldt, Del Norte, Trinity and San Mateo.
To Register? All students must complete a Registration Intake and Assessment to ensure this training program is the best fit for your skills and interests.
Questions and Referrals from the California State Department of Rehabilitation or the Veterans Administration can be made directly to one of the staff listed below. We do request that all interested students are in good health and have the overall stamina to participate in full days of training walking throughout our Napa site which includes walking short grades and small hills.
Contact one of our staff in your area to start the registration process:
Debbie Bacon, Rehabilitation Counselor, San Francisco Headquarters: 415-694-7357 or dbacon@lighthouse-sf.org
Jeff Carlson, Social Worker, LightHouse of Marin: 415-258-8496 or jcarlson@lighthouse-sf.org
Janet Pomerantz, Social Worker, LightHouse of the North Coast, Eureka: 707-268-5646 or jpomerantz@lighthouse-sf.org

Oct 15(2 events)

(All day): Changing Vision, Changing Life (CVCL)

(All day)
Oct 13 Oct 18

Changing Vision Changing Life, Immersion Training In March, June and October of 2019, the week-long Changing Vision Changing Life Immersion Training is open for registration. This 6-day/5 night Immersion Training has returned to Enchanted Hills Retreat Center in Napa.

What is this Immersion all about? Truly, it is about bringing peers together for learning, support, encouragement and moving forward. Each training brings together over a dozen adults ranging in age from mid-20’s to 90’s from all over northern California and the Central Valley who are new to low vision or blindness and have not had the opportunity to begin to embrace their journey of developing key foundational blind and low vision skills and, become acquainted with the information, resources and vibrant and supportive peer community. Over the past seven years CVCL has provided a venue and opportunity for over 250 students to jump-start the life they want to lead with confidence and competence. Each Immersion Week is purposefully planned for no more than 16 students so that small group learning and personal discovery can take place.

What skills and learning takes place? CVCL is a gateway for understanding the journey of skill and personal development students need to return to work, school and life. While we know that everything cannot be learned in 6-days, CVCL provides each student a full week of ‘learning appetizers which feature developing foundational skills and information in the areas of home management (cooking basics, organization and labeling skills), mobility, access technology, accessing print and most of all, peer support. Over the years we have listened to our students. Many students don’t know what choices they have, but also what decisions and commitments they will need to make as they desire to be successful in work, school and daily life. During the Immersion week we hope to provide each student the choices for jumping on a path to confidence, competence and independence. While gaining basic skills and confidence with changing vision is the overall theme of the week, the experience of coming together with other adults who are low vision or blind to learn or relearn skills, remains the most pivotal impact of the week long experience.

Successful immersion learning is the consequential participation of learning or re-learning skills in everyday-life situations, simply put, learning and thinking by doing. Throughout the week students are introduced to skills, strategies and tools that can transfer from home to school to work, from sun up to sundown. Each day is full. All learning happens in small and large groups from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and for those who want to get started even earlier, every morning starts with Yoga for All Abilities at 7:30am.

The majority of our teachers, facilitators and mentors are blind/low vision, and all have over 10 years personal and/or teaching experience with blindness. Our expectations are that each student has come to immerse themselves in learning new ways to accomplish familiar life activities with like-minded peers. It is an experience which is supportive, motivational, and fun! We are transparent though, the week is very active and can also feel overwhelming, intense and somewhat rigorous, because for many, much of the training and concepts are new. We are there to support you. And throughout the week, ‘time-out’ is provided for students to share their personal experiences with each other, gaining insight, perspective and support for moving forward. This week is for blind and low vision people who want to return to work, school and engage in life. The upcoming CVCL Weeks are developed to give students this focus. Specifically, the March and October CVCL Immersion weeks will be geared to persons who have the goal of employment. While many of the foundational skills will be introduced, students will also have the opportunity to meet students who have been successful in training and securing employment. Our June Immersion, will be open to all adults who are new to blindness and low vision, your goal is simply to want to jump back into life equipped with foundational skills and information!

Here are the upcoming 2019 Changing Vision, Changing Life Immersion dates:
Session #1: March 24 – 29, Last day to register, March 18. Employment focused students only – Napa location
Session #2: June 2 – 7, Last day to register, May 24. Napa location
Session #3: October 13 -18, Last day to register, October 14. Employment focused students only – Napa location

Please note, Sessions will be cancelled if registration falls below 10 students.
What is the fee for the week? The cost for the week is $1300 and $100 for transportation from San Francisco, Berkeley, San Rafael or Eureka. In addition to all of the learning and connection that takes place, the cost includes shared accommodations and three healthy and delicious meals/day. A pre-registration deposit of $100 is due at the time of acceptance to the Immersion Training. This deposit is fully refundable if cancellation is made within 5 days of the start date of training. Limited scholarships will be made available to students who are not consumers with the Department of Rehailitation or the VA and are 55 years and older living in the counties of Humboldt, Del Norte, Trinity and San Mateo.
To Register? All students must complete a Registration Intake and Assessment to ensure this training program is the best fit for your skills and interests.
Questions and Referrals from the California State Department of Rehabilitation or the Veterans Administration can be made directly to one of the staff listed below. We do request that all interested students are in good health and have the overall stamina to participate in full days of training walking throughout our Napa site which includes walking short grades and small hills.
Contact one of our staff in your area to start the registration process:
Debbie Bacon, Rehabilitation Counselor, San Francisco Headquarters: 415-694-7357 or dbacon@lighthouse-sf.org
Jeff Carlson, Social Worker, LightHouse of Marin: 415-258-8496 or jcarlson@lighthouse-sf.org
Janet Pomerantz, Social Worker, LightHouse of the North Coast, Eureka: 707-268-5646 or jpomerantz@lighthouse-sf.org

10:00 am: Celebrate White Cane Safety Day with SF Mayor London Breed


Oct 15

Tuesday, October 15 is White Cane Safety Day! Come celebrate the day and promote safety awareness in the neighborhood of LightHouse Headquarters (1155 Market St., San Francisco). Join LightHouse staff and ambassadors as we celebrate and spread awareness of White Cane Day from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. We encourage everyone to bring their canes or guide dogs with them for the event and to invite your friends and blindness allies if they are interested.

We will start off with a 30-minute welcome meeting at LightHouse on the 10th floor to talk about white canes, LightHouse's involvement with the Safe Streets project and pedestrian safety in the city. Come to LightHouse headquarters for the pre-walk event and meet San Francisco Mayor London Breed who will be in attendance. There will be refreshments for those attending the welcome.

After the meeting concludes at 10:30, we will go out as a group to City Hall and back to create awareness and visibility of the white cane and blind pedestrians. Anyone who comes to walk with us will get a free Safe Streets t-shirt – now in white!

If you are coming, RVSP directly to Briana Kusuma at bkusuma@lighthouse-sf.org or 415.694.7335 with your shirt size (if you would like one of our 2019 shirts) and be sure to wear your Safe Streets t-shirt if you already have one or don’t want to wear the new white one that day.

Oct 16(2 events)

(All day): Changing Vision, Changing Life (CVCL)

(All day)
Oct 13 Oct 18

Changing Vision Changing Life, Immersion Training In March, June and October of 2019, the week-long Changing Vision Changing Life Immersion Training is open for registration. This 6-day/5 night Immersion Training has returned to Enchanted Hills Retreat Center in Napa.

What is this Immersion all about? Truly, it is about bringing peers together for learning, support, encouragement and moving forward. Each training brings together over a dozen adults ranging in age from mid-20’s to 90’s from all over northern California and the Central Valley who are new to low vision or blindness and have not had the opportunity to begin to embrace their journey of developing key foundational blind and low vision skills and, become acquainted with the information, resources and vibrant and supportive peer community. Over the past seven years CVCL has provided a venue and opportunity for over 250 students to jump-start the life they want to lead with confidence and competence. Each Immersion Week is purposefully planned for no more than 16 students so that small group learning and personal discovery can take place.

What skills and learning takes place? CVCL is a gateway for understanding the journey of skill and personal development students need to return to work, school and life. While we know that everything cannot be learned in 6-days, CVCL provides each student a full week of ‘learning appetizers which feature developing foundational skills and information in the areas of home management (cooking basics, organization and labeling skills), mobility, access technology, accessing print and most of all, peer support. Over the years we have listened to our students. Many students don’t know what choices they have, but also what decisions and commitments they will need to make as they desire to be successful in work, school and daily life. During the Immersion week we hope to provide each student the choices for jumping on a path to confidence, competence and independence. While gaining basic skills and confidence with changing vision is the overall theme of the week, the experience of coming together with other adults who are low vision or blind to learn or relearn skills, remains the most pivotal impact of the week long experience.

Successful immersion learning is the consequential participation of learning or re-learning skills in everyday-life situations, simply put, learning and thinking by doing. Throughout the week students are introduced to skills, strategies and tools that can transfer from home to school to work, from sun up to sundown. Each day is full. All learning happens in small and large groups from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and for those who want to get started even earlier, every morning starts with Yoga for All Abilities at 7:30am.

The majority of our teachers, facilitators and mentors are blind/low vision, and all have over 10 years personal and/or teaching experience with blindness. Our expectations are that each student has come to immerse themselves in learning new ways to accomplish familiar life activities with like-minded peers. It is an experience which is supportive, motivational, and fun! We are transparent though, the week is very active and can also feel overwhelming, intense and somewhat rigorous, because for many, much of the training and concepts are new. We are there to support you. And throughout the week, ‘time-out’ is provided for students to share their personal experiences with each other, gaining insight, perspective and support for moving forward. This week is for blind and low vision people who want to return to work, school and engage in life. The upcoming CVCL Weeks are developed to give students this focus. Specifically, the March and October CVCL Immersion weeks will be geared to persons who have the goal of employment. While many of the foundational skills will be introduced, students will also have the opportunity to meet students who have been successful in training and securing employment. Our June Immersion, will be open to all adults who are new to blindness and low vision, your goal is simply to want to jump back into life equipped with foundational skills and information!

Here are the upcoming 2019 Changing Vision, Changing Life Immersion dates:
Session #1: March 24 – 29, Last day to register, March 18. Employment focused students only – Napa location
Session #2: June 2 – 7, Last day to register, May 24. Napa location
Session #3: October 13 -18, Last day to register, October 14. Employment focused students only – Napa location

Please note, Sessions will be cancelled if registration falls below 10 students.
What is the fee for the week? The cost for the week is $1300 and $100 for transportation from San Francisco, Berkeley, San Rafael or Eureka. In addition to all of the learning and connection that takes place, the cost includes shared accommodations and three healthy and delicious meals/day. A pre-registration deposit of $100 is due at the time of acceptance to the Immersion Training. This deposit is fully refundable if cancellation is made within 5 days of the start date of training. Limited scholarships will be made available to students who are not consumers with the Department of Rehailitation or the VA and are 55 years and older living in the counties of Humboldt, Del Norte, Trinity and San Mateo.
To Register? All students must complete a Registration Intake and Assessment to ensure this training program is the best fit for your skills and interests.
Questions and Referrals from the California State Department of Rehabilitation or the Veterans Administration can be made directly to one of the staff listed below. We do request that all interested students are in good health and have the overall stamina to participate in full days of training walking throughout our Napa site which includes walking short grades and small hills.
Contact one of our staff in your area to start the registration process:
Debbie Bacon, Rehabilitation Counselor, San Francisco Headquarters: 415-694-7357 or dbacon@lighthouse-sf.org
Jeff Carlson, Social Worker, LightHouse of Marin: 415-258-8496 or jcarlson@lighthouse-sf.org
Janet Pomerantz, Social Worker, LightHouse of the North Coast, Eureka: 707-268-5646 or jpomerantz@lighthouse-sf.org

6:00 pm: One City One Book—San Francisco Reads Author Talk with Tommy Orange


Oct 16

One City One Book—San Francisco Reads

Author Talk with Tommy Orange

Wednesday, October 16, 6 - 7:30 p.m.

San Francisco Public Library

100 Larkin St., Koret Auditorium

Now that you’ve joined Talking titles at the Ed Roberts Campus on October 11, and your brain is full of “There There,” bring your enthusiasm to this exciting author talk hosted by the San Francisco Public Library, who are honored to announce its 15th Annual One City One Book main event, There There by Tommy Orange. Tommy Orange will be at the Main Library in conversation with San Francisco Poet Laureate Kim Shuck. To join Adult Program Coordinator Serena Olsen for pre-event dining in the neighborhood, let her know you plan to join the party by RSVPing to solsen@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7316. We’ll gather at LightHouse HQ around 4, head out to a local spot for a bite, and be at the library before 6 to get settled.

Oct 17(4 events)

(All day): Changing Vision, Changing Life (CVCL)

(All day)
Oct 13 Oct 18

Changing Vision Changing Life, Immersion Training In March, June and October of 2019, the week-long Changing Vision Changing Life Immersion Training is open for registration. This 6-day/5 night Immersion Training has returned to Enchanted Hills Retreat Center in Napa.

What is this Immersion all about? Truly, it is about bringing peers together for learning, support, encouragement and moving forward. Each training brings together over a dozen adults ranging in age from mid-20’s to 90’s from all over northern California and the Central Valley who are new to low vision or blindness and have not had the opportunity to begin to embrace their journey of developing key foundational blind and low vision skills and, become acquainted with the information, resources and vibrant and supportive peer community. Over the past seven years CVCL has provided a venue and opportunity for over 250 students to jump-start the life they want to lead with confidence and competence. Each Immersion Week is purposefully planned for no more than 16 students so that small group learning and personal discovery can take place.

What skills and learning takes place? CVCL is a gateway for understanding the journey of skill and personal development students need to return to work, school and life. While we know that everything cannot be learned in 6-days, CVCL provides each student a full week of ‘learning appetizers which feature developing foundational skills and information in the areas of home management (cooking basics, organization and labeling skills), mobility, access technology, accessing print and most of all, peer support. Over the years we have listened to our students. Many students don’t know what choices they have, but also what decisions and commitments they will need to make as they desire to be successful in work, school and daily life. During the Immersion week we hope to provide each student the choices for jumping on a path to confidence, competence and independence. While gaining basic skills and confidence with changing vision is the overall theme of the week, the experience of coming together with other adults who are low vision or blind to learn or relearn skills, remains the most pivotal impact of the week long experience.

Successful immersion learning is the consequential participation of learning or re-learning skills in everyday-life situations, simply put, learning and thinking by doing. Throughout the week students are introduced to skills, strategies and tools that can transfer from home to school to work, from sun up to sundown. Each day is full. All learning happens in small and large groups from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and for those who want to get started even earlier, every morning starts with Yoga for All Abilities at 7:30am.

The majority of our teachers, facilitators and mentors are blind/low vision, and all have over 10 years personal and/or teaching experience with blindness. Our expectations are that each student has come to immerse themselves in learning new ways to accomplish familiar life activities with like-minded peers. It is an experience which is supportive, motivational, and fun! We are transparent though, the week is very active and can also feel overwhelming, intense and somewhat rigorous, because for many, much of the training and concepts are new. We are there to support you. And throughout the week, ‘time-out’ is provided for students to share their personal experiences with each other, gaining insight, perspective and support for moving forward. This week is for blind and low vision people who want to return to work, school and engage in life. The upcoming CVCL Weeks are developed to give students this focus. Specifically, the March and October CVCL Immersion weeks will be geared to persons who have the goal of employment. While many of the foundational skills will be introduced, students will also have the opportunity to meet students who have been successful in training and securing employment. Our June Immersion, will be open to all adults who are new to blindness and low vision, your goal is simply to want to jump back into life equipped with foundational skills and information!

Here are the upcoming 2019 Changing Vision, Changing Life Immersion dates:
Session #1: March 24 – 29, Last day to register, March 18. Employment focused students only – Napa location
Session #2: June 2 – 7, Last day to register, May 24. Napa location
Session #3: October 13 -18, Last day to register, October 14. Employment focused students only – Napa location

Please note, Sessions will be cancelled if registration falls below 10 students.
What is the fee for the week? The cost for the week is $1300 and $100 for transportation from San Francisco, Berkeley, San Rafael or Eureka. In addition to all of the learning and connection that takes place, the cost includes shared accommodations and three healthy and delicious meals/day. A pre-registration deposit of $100 is due at the time of acceptance to the Immersion Training. This deposit is fully refundable if cancellation is made within 5 days of the start date of training. Limited scholarships will be made available to students who are not consumers with the Department of Rehailitation or the VA and are 55 years and older living in the counties of Humboldt, Del Norte, Trinity and San Mateo.
To Register? All students must complete a Registration Intake and Assessment to ensure this training program is the best fit for your skills and interests.
Questions and Referrals from the California State Department of Rehabilitation or the Veterans Administration can be made directly to one of the staff listed below. We do request that all interested students are in good health and have the overall stamina to participate in full days of training walking throughout our Napa site which includes walking short grades and small hills.
Contact one of our staff in your area to start the registration process:
Debbie Bacon, Rehabilitation Counselor, San Francisco Headquarters: 415-694-7357 or dbacon@lighthouse-sf.org
Jeff Carlson, Social Worker, LightHouse of Marin: 415-258-8496 or jcarlson@lighthouse-sf.org
Janet Pomerantz, Social Worker, LightHouse of the North Coast, Eureka: 707-268-5646 or jpomerantz@lighthouse-sf.org

10:00 am: Knitting


Oct 17

Every week, our knitters gather to share their purls of wisdom and get in the loop on each other’s latest project, and usually end up in stitches spinning yarns. Whether you knit for pleasure, distraction or just practical economics, or you’ve never done it before and want to give it a try, there’s always room for another loom. Learn, refine, or teach a skill that makes your gift-giving budget lighter weight or support a student-led altruistic project like knitting chemo caps, beanies for babies, lap blankets or other creative applications.

For more info, needle Adult Program Coordinator Serena Olsen at solsen@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7316.

3:00 pm: Accessible Signage Training


Oct 17

Do you struggle with accessible signage? Are you familiar with the codes, but unclear on the reasons behind them? Do you think accessible signage has to be ugly to be compliant? This session will explore the 2010 ADA Standards and 2019 California Building Code, the reasons behind them, and how to get the best possible accessible signage that looks excellent and satisfies the needs of multiple categories of users.

AIASF will be hosting the registration and ticketing on their website.

Tickets are $35 general admission, $30 if you are an AIA member, and $25 for AIA Student members.

The event will be held at our headquarters, 1155 Market St., 10th Floor, MPRs A & B
On Thursday, October 17th, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

We will be offering 2 continuing education units (MCEs) for licensed architects. Members of other professional organizations may self-report their units to their respective organizations.

If you would like tmore information, contact BJ Epstein at bjepstein@lighthouse-sf.org or 415.694.7362.

Read more: Accessible Signage Training

6:00 pm: 30% & Growing: San Francisco


Oct 17

30% & Growing
Thursday, October 17, 6 - 8 p.m.
City Beer Store
1148 Mission St., San Francisco

In the spirit of building a friendly community gathering spot and elevating beer to the status of fine wine, City Beer Store brings the best of all worlds to our neighborhood, just steps from our 1155 Market St. back entrance. Enjoy sips from a dizzying array of beer options from near and far alongside selections from the tantalizing full menu of sandwiches, salads, and sides. Before you go, stop into the actual store at City Beer Store, a large selection of curated items is available for purchase to take home with you. If the Indian Summer persists, we will see you out on their cozy patio, otherwise look for us just inside. RSVP to Adult Program Coordinator Serena Olsen at solsen@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7316.

Oct 18(2 events)

(All day): Changing Vision, Changing Life (CVCL)

(All day)
Oct 13 Oct 18

Changing Vision Changing Life, Immersion Training In March, June and October of 2019, the week-long Changing Vision Changing Life Immersion Training is open for registration. This 6-day/5 night Immersion Training has returned to Enchanted Hills Retreat Center in Napa.

What is this Immersion all about? Truly, it is about bringing peers together for learning, support, encouragement and moving forward. Each training brings together over a dozen adults ranging in age from mid-20’s to 90’s from all over northern California and the Central Valley who are new to low vision or blindness and have not had the opportunity to begin to embrace their journey of developing key foundational blind and low vision skills and, become acquainted with the information, resources and vibrant and supportive peer community. Over the past seven years CVCL has provided a venue and opportunity for over 250 students to jump-start the life they want to lead with confidence and competence. Each Immersion Week is purposefully planned for no more than 16 students so that small group learning and personal discovery can take place.

What skills and learning takes place? CVCL is a gateway for understanding the journey of skill and personal development students need to return to work, school and life. While we know that everything cannot be learned in 6-days, CVCL provides each student a full week of ‘learning appetizers which feature developing foundational skills and information in the areas of home management (cooking basics, organization and labeling skills), mobility, access technology, accessing print and most of all, peer support. Over the years we have listened to our students. Many students don’t know what choices they have, but also what decisions and commitments they will need to make as they desire to be successful in work, school and daily life. During the Immersion week we hope to provide each student the choices for jumping on a path to confidence, competence and independence. While gaining basic skills and confidence with changing vision is the overall theme of the week, the experience of coming together with other adults who are low vision or blind to learn or relearn skills, remains the most pivotal impact of the week long experience.

Successful immersion learning is the consequential participation of learning or re-learning skills in everyday-life situations, simply put, learning and thinking by doing. Throughout the week students are introduced to skills, strategies and tools that can transfer from home to school to work, from sun up to sundown. Each day is full. All learning happens in small and large groups from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and for those who want to get started even earlier, every morning starts with Yoga for All Abilities at 7:30am.

The majority of our teachers, facilitators and mentors are blind/low vision, and all have over 10 years personal and/or teaching experience with blindness. Our expectations are that each student has come to immerse themselves in learning new ways to accomplish familiar life activities with like-minded peers. It is an experience which is supportive, motivational, and fun! We are transparent though, the week is very active and can also feel overwhelming, intense and somewhat rigorous, because for many, much of the training and concepts are new. We are there to support you. And throughout the week, ‘time-out’ is provided for students to share their personal experiences with each other, gaining insight, perspective and support for moving forward. This week is for blind and low vision people who want to return to work, school and engage in life. The upcoming CVCL Weeks are developed to give students this focus. Specifically, the March and October CVCL Immersion weeks will be geared to persons who have the goal of employment. While many of the foundational skills will be introduced, students will also have the opportunity to meet students who have been successful in training and securing employment. Our June Immersion, will be open to all adults who are new to blindness and low vision, your goal is simply to want to jump back into life equipped with foundational skills and information!

Here are the upcoming 2019 Changing Vision, Changing Life Immersion dates:
Session #1: March 24 – 29, Last day to register, March 18. Employment focused students only – Napa location
Session #2: June 2 – 7, Last day to register, May 24. Napa location
Session #3: October 13 -18, Last day to register, October 14. Employment focused students only – Napa location

Please note, Sessions will be cancelled if registration falls below 10 students.
What is the fee for the week? The cost for the week is $1300 and $100 for transportation from San Francisco, Berkeley, San Rafael or Eureka. In addition to all of the learning and connection that takes place, the cost includes shared accommodations and three healthy and delicious meals/day. A pre-registration deposit of $100 is due at the time of acceptance to the Immersion Training. This deposit is fully refundable if cancellation is made within 5 days of the start date of training. Limited scholarships will be made available to students who are not consumers with the Department of Rehailitation or the VA and are 55 years and older living in the counties of Humboldt, Del Norte, Trinity and San Mateo.
To Register? All students must complete a Registration Intake and Assessment to ensure this training program is the best fit for your skills and interests.
Questions and Referrals from the California State Department of Rehabilitation or the Veterans Administration can be made directly to one of the staff listed below. We do request that all interested students are in good health and have the overall stamina to participate in full days of training walking throughout our Napa site which includes walking short grades and small hills.
Contact one of our staff in your area to start the registration process:
Debbie Bacon, Rehabilitation Counselor, San Francisco Headquarters: 415-694-7357 or dbacon@lighthouse-sf.org
Jeff Carlson, Social Worker, LightHouse of Marin: 415-258-8496 or jcarlson@lighthouse-sf.org
Janet Pomerantz, Social Worker, LightHouse of the North Coast, Eureka: 707-268-5646 or jpomerantz@lighthouse-sf.org

4:00 pm: Dinner and Bingo


Oct 18

Dinner and Bingo

Enjoy a community dinner and lots of rollicking bingo fun on the third Friday of each month at the LightHouse. RSVP by noon on the Tuesday prior and $7 covers your dinner (RSVP later or not at all and your dinner is $10). Braille and large print bingo cards make bingo accessible for everyone.   Bring a handful or two of coins for small-change competitiveness … we play a couple of nickel games, several dimes games, and after dessert, one quarter gets you three games – good company – good food – good fun! To RSVP, contact Adult Program Coordinator Serena Olsen at solsen@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7316.

Oct 19

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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