Calendar

This is a 4-week series of classes focusing on foundational skills for tactile development. Classes meet once a week, and each class is 2.0 hours. The concepts and skills learned in the course can be applied to most Independent Living Skills. This course is appropriate for students who are new to the Lighthouse, new to vision loss, and who are ready to actively participate in all 4 classes.

Course Goal: To provide students with strong foundational skills to increase their awareness of the tactile sense in all aspects of daily activities. We want this to become a natural way of interacting with and exploring the environment.

Dates: Fridays, from 10:00 to 12:00 (including a short break)

4 Classes: June 4, June 11, June 18, June 25.

Instructors: Dawn Leeflang (dleeflang@lighthouse-sf.org), Bobbi Pompey (bpompey@lighthouse-sf.org), and Patti Rose (prose@lighthouse-sf.org) or parose77@gmail.com

Class Topics:

• • What is the Tactile Sense? Being mindful and describing what you are feeling.
  • Learning to identify objects and places by touch.
  • Exploring adaptive tools related to touch.
  • Tactile skills for learning, measuring, interpreting raised lines, for activities of daily living.
  • Class project will involve using one’s tactile sense to plant herb seeds and to monitor progress. (Seeds, dirt, and pot will be included with the materials).
  • Class activity in the kitchen, will involve using one’s tactile sense to make bread or oat/nut butter balls. (Students will use their own materials for this activity).
  Instructional Methods:
  • Will use the Zoom Video Conferencing Platform; will require reliable phone or internet service. Students can participate with video on, or by phone.
  • Hands-on learning will be emphasized, through guided activities and assignments between classes.
  • Students will be highly encouraged to perform all stationary activities under occlusion.
  • We will allow class time for sharing ideas, and there may be a guest speaker.
  • Some class materials will be sent to students ahead of time, and students will be asked to gather some materials from their own homes.
  • Class notes will be provided in electronic format, large print, or Braille on request.

This course is free for adults 55 and older, who are not receiving services with the California Department of Rehabilitation, and who are living in the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Marin, Humboldt, Del Norte, and Trinity. However, there is a $10 materials fee for the 55 and older participants.

Important: please RSVP by Thursday May 27 to receive class materials in time for the first class on Friday June 4.

If you are new to the LightHouse, please contact Debbie Bacon at 415-694-7357 or dbacon@lighthouse-sf.org. to register. If you have participated in LightHouse classes before, please register with Patti Rose and prose@lighthouse-sf.org

For adults who are clients of the Department of Rehabilitation, you need to get approval from your counselor, and authorizations for the class and for materials; authorizations can be sent to 1referral@lighthouse-sf.org Deadline is May 27.
Space is limited to 10 participants. If the limit is reached, you will be put on a wait-list for a future session, TBD.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• • To have a greater understanding and appreciation of the benefit of using the tactile sense in one’s daily life.
  • To identify and develop tactile strategies for identifying objects and places.
  • To identify adaptive tools that require use of their tactile sense.
  • To have hands-on practice using their tactile sense in a variety of daily living activities.
  • To develop the language of describing tactile elements of objects and places.