LightHouse will be closed on Wednesday, September 25 for an agency-wide all-staff event.

The week's events

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

10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Jan 31

Join LightHouse and the BART Accessibility Team at the Oakland 19^th 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.

2:00 pm: Tech Together: January 2023 (online)

2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Jan 31

January 17: Fabulous File Storage

Whether you need to back up your files, share files with others, or keep more data than your device will hold, cloud-based file storage can be a useful tool in your toolbox. Join the Access Technology team, and we'll discuss options for accessible online storage.

RSVP online for Fabulous File Storage or leave a voicemail at 415-694-7618.

January 24: Meeting Up and Making Friends

Join the Access Technology team, and we'll discuss accessible ways to find meetups, make friends, and enjoy events in a reopening world.

RSVP online for Meeting Up and Making Friends or leave a voicemail at 415-694-7618.

January 31: Take a Ride

Join the Access Technology team, and we'll take a tour of popular rideshare applications. We'll also discuss strategies for safety and smooth sailing while you're on the road.

RSVP online for Take a Ride or leave a voicemail at 415-694-7618.

9:30 am: Stress Reeducation & Meditation (Virtual)

9:30 am – 10:15 am
Feb 1

Each Wednesday morning we offer a series of short, meditation-based practices for relaxation and stress reduction. The group is appropriate for both beginners and advanced practitioners and instruction is provided in all aspects of the practice. Instructor Jeffrey Schneider has more than 40 years of meditation and teaching experience. It is a virtual class using the Zoom platform—everyone is welcome as little or often as they like. Dial in, find a comfortable position, breathe deeply, clear your head, and de-stress.

RSVP to Sabrina Bolus at Sbolus@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7607.

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

9:30 am – 2:30 pm
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.

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!