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LightHouse News

Two Online Classes Offered by LightHouse Low Vision Optometrist this September

09/03/2024 LightHouse Staff Leave a comment

Dr. Truyet Tran, LightHouse’s Low Vision Optometrist, will be offering two info sessions about eye health and low vision exams this September.

The Importance of Eye Health for Your Overall Well-Being (online)

Wednesday, September 11, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm

Join LightHouse’s Low Vision optometrist, Dr. Truyet Tran, as she discusses the link between eye health and general health. Areas of emphasis include an overview of some of the health conditions eye doctors can diagnose with eye exams such as hypertension, diabetes, and stroke, diabetes and its potential impacts on vision, and the importance of routine eye exams.

If you are a resident of California, this program is of no cost to you. To RSVP, please email info@lighthouse-sf.org or call 415-694-7323.

What is a Low Vision Exam, and What is the Benefit to Me? (online)

Tuesday, September 24, from 10:00 am to 11:30 am

Our Low Vision optometrist, Dr. Truyet Tran, will facilitate a conversation where students will increase their understanding of the meaning of low vision and different types of vision loss. Students will also learn what a low vision exam is, and the difference between a low vision optometrist and the general eyecare provider.

There is no cost to join this program for low vision and blind adults 55 years and older interested in learning and living in the following counties: Mendocino, Lake, Colusa, Trinity, Del Norte, Napa, Siskiyou, Shasta, Modoc, Alpine Tehama, Plumas and Lassen. This program is funded by the California State Department of Rehabilitation Older Individuals who are Blind Program.

To RSVP, please email info@lighthouse-sf.org or call 415-694-7323.

LightHouse News

Invitation to “Hands On Mapping: Introduction to Tactile Cartography”, 9/7

08/21/2024 LightHouse Staff Leave a comment

Maps deepen understanding, broaden perspectives, and encourage engagement with our world. However, people who are blind or visually impaired do not have equal access to maps that the sighted population often takes for granted. As one of the few places in the world—and one of the best—producing high-quality tactile maps, the MAD Lab is dedicated to turning inaccessible experiences into inclusive ones.

Join the Media and Accessible Design Lab (MAD Lab) for “Hands On Mapping: An Introduction to Tactile Cartography” on Saturday, September 7, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 1155 Market St, 10^th floor, San Francisco.

ASL interpretation will be provided.

Getting to 1155 Market Street.

We will introduce how blind people use tactile maps. This event is for all: sighted and blind audiences alike – no prior experience necessary. Whether you are new to tactile cartography or already familiar, you will be warmly welcomed, educated, and thoroughly engaged!

Featuring speaker Dr. Joshua Miele in conversation with Dr. Yue-Ting Siu (CATT-NW Program Coordinator, WSSB) and Chancey Fleet (Assistive Technology Coordinator, Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library, NYPL), along with a variety of breakout sessions that lead you through the landscape of tactile maps, including:

- TMAP (Tactile Maps Automated Production). Speakers: Dr. Joshua Miele and Greg Kehret.
- Reading a tactile map. Speakers: Frank Welte and Jerry Kuns.
- Designing map symbols using nonvisual tools. Speakers: Chancey. Fleet and Marco Salsiccia.
- Design a tactile map. Speaker: Naomi Rosenberg.
- Future of digital tactile maps. Speaker: Mike May.

More info about the event, including agenda, speaker bios and resources can be found at: https://lighthouse-sf.org/hom2024.

Food and drink will be served. Entrance is complimentary.

RSVP to Hands On Mapping.

Please share will anyone who you think might be interested.

A Big Thank You to Our Sponsors

The MAD would like to give a very special thank you to our event sponsors Waymo, Zoox , Uber, Sharon Giovinazzo and our wine sponsor, Three Sticks Wines of Sonoma.

Waymo – Tactile Titan $10,000 Sponsor

Zoox – Platinum $5,000 Sponsor

Uber – Platinum $5,000 Sponsor

Sharon Giovinazzo – Silver $1000 Sponsor

Three Sticks Wines of Sonoma – Wine Sponsor

LightHouse News

“Baldy for the Blind” Free Screening at LightHouse 8/29

08/21/2024 LightHouse Staff Leave a comment

On August 29, LightHouse will hold a free, audio-described screening of “Baldy for the Blind”, a documentary about a group of blind hikers attempting to summit Mount Baldy, which has an elevation of 10,000 feet.

Directly after the screening, a Q&A with hiker Melissa Hudson, director Drea Castro and mountain guide Chris Lynch will be held. But before the screening, here’s a bit of background on the film.

Melissa and the other perspective blind climbers learned about the opportunity to train for the climb from the Braille Institute in Los Angeles. “I was asked, ‘Do you want to try hiking?’ and I said, ‘Sure, why not?’” recalled Melissa laughing.

For three months, the climbers and volunteer sighted guides trained with mountain guide Chris Lynch on a series of increasingly difficult hikes and on July 17, 2010, they hiked up Mount Baldy.

One of the sighted guides was film director Drea Castro, an actress and filmmaker. After the first training hike, she had a revelation, “Initially, I was only supposed to be a sighted guide, but I realized pretty quickly, that I needed to help tell this story,” she said in her film director statement. So, cameras came along to document the training process and the climb up Mount Baldy.

Thus, the thirteen-year journey to completing “Baldy for the Blind” Drea’s first feature-length film, began.

Melissa gave her thoughts upon watching the film when it was completed in 2023, “I was surprised when I watched the film for the first time to learn things I didn’t know about people’s stories. Every climber’s story is important; we just need to take the time to listen. People think it’s a huge obstacle to cross the street when you can’t see and it’s difficult to talk to people about disability. With this film, Drea takes the time to speak to each of us, to tell our stories, and I appreciate that.”

In her director’s statement, Drea reflected on what she learned by listening to blind people tell their own stories, “[Before this experience] I didn’t really know too many visually impaired or blind people, so I had a stereotypical, narrow view of the disabled community. That naive, young minded, biased way of thinking quickly changed.”

And it’s those stories, along with the experience of training for and hiking up Mount Baldy that will be on display in the film. Melissa summed it up, “This is more than just a film about a group of hikers that are trying to summit a mountain. It’s about everyone’s personal mountains that we’re trying to climb; it’s about everyone persevering in our own way in life.”

The details:

What: “Baldy for the Blind” audio-described screening followed by Q&A
When: Thursday, August 29, from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm (doors open at 5:00 pm for refreshments, screening starts at 5:30 pm)
Where: LightHouse HQ, 1155 Market St. 10^th floor, San Francisco, 94103 (directions to LightHouse San Francisco)
RSVP: To Maia Scott at MScott@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7608.

RSVP for “Baldy for the Blind” Screening.

LightHouse News

White Cane Day Celebration on October 5

08/21/2024 LightHouse Staff Leave a comment

Mark your calendars, folks—LightHouse’s 2024 White Cane Day Celebration will be on Saturday, October 5.

After last year’s incredibly successful and historic march, we are gearing up for the second annual White Cane Day march across the Golden Gate Bridge! The 1.7-mile march across the bridge will begin at 10:00 am from the Sausalito Vista Point, and an after party and picnic lunch will be held at West Bluff Picnic Area at Chrissy Field. Shuttle service to the Vista Point will be provided from the LightHouse HQ at 1155 Market Street at 9:00 am, with a return service from Chrissy Field back to LightHouse at approximately 2:00 pm. For additional information about the LightHouse Shuttle, please refer to the RSVP form linked below.

This is more than just a walk across the iconic San Francisco bridge—this is a celebration of blindness, independence, and inclusion. This is a day to empower and support the blind and visually impaired community. We invite all interested parties to join us. Whether you are blind, deafblind, have low vision, or are a sighted ally, LightHouse welcomes you to participate in the 2024 White Cane Day Celebration!

RSVP to White Cane Day here or copy and paste the following link into your web browser: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=aDTgw1XvSEKdrcKhdpCdAHYW6qyNC65MlXtrl4qATFxURTJWRElIMUpFS1Y2S1hXNkdZRTRKMkk4NC4u

Please note: Our RSVP form will ask some specific information. This is to help us meet grant requirements, so that we can properly support this event and future events and programs like this one. We thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Shop the WCD Merch

Shop the White Cane Day merchandise shop and help support LightHouse programs. The shop can be found on the Custom Ink White Cane Day Fundraiser page here or copy and paste the following link into your web browser: https://www.customink.com/fundraising/wcd2024

Logo Description:

The WCD logo features an illustration of the Golden Gate Bridge with white canes with varying cane tips holding up the bridge. There are clouds on either side of the bridge and between the two towers are the words “WHITE CANE DAY.” The bridge is orange, the clouds are blue, and the canes and font are in white.

WCD Merch Items Available:

Youth Short Sleeve T-Shirt in Charcoal : $25
Adult Short Sleeve T-Shirt in Charcoal: $25
Women’s Short Sleeve V-Neck in Charcoal: $25
Adult Crewneck Sweatshirt in Charcoal: $35
Adult Hooded Sweatshirt in Charcoal: $35
Pet Bandana in Black: $15

Please Note: The merch store won’t be open for long! You have until September 17, 2024, to make your purchase to ensure your item(s) arrive before our event on October 5. All orders and payments will be processed and shipped through Custom Ink.

Can’t Attend? You Can Still Participate

For those of you unable to attend the White Cane Day march in person on October 5, you can still virtually participate in our social media campaign. Whether you are unable to make the 1.7-mile journey, or if you are out of the area, LightHouse is encouraging our community to either:

Do an activity that best accommodates your physical abilities
Walk across another bridge local to you

Then, snap a photo of yourself or your group doing the above activity and post it on social media using the hashtag #WCD2024. And don’t forget to tag LightHouse using the handle: @lighthouse_sf. We aim to spread awareness, encourage inclusion, and to educate and disprove misconceptions of blindness. Together, we can bridge the gap between the sighted and BVI communities!

We look forward to another excellent White Cane Day! Be on the lookout for more info coming your way.

See you in October, LightHouse friends!

RSVP for White Cane Day.

LightHouse News

White Cane Day is October 5 – Save the Date!

08/06/2024 Christina Daniels Leave a comment

LightHouse News

LightHouse Board Meeting Open to the Public via Zoom, September 5

08/05/2024 LightHouse Staff Leave a comment

Members of the public are invited to attend the Thursday, September 5, meeting of the Board of Directors of San Francisco’s LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. This virtual meeting, held via Zoom, will run from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm Pacific.

30 minutes will be reserved for public comment, and members of the public will have up to three minutes to comment. If you would like to reserve a slot to speak, please complete the LightHouse Public Comment and RSVP Sign Up form and submit your RSVP as far in advance as possible. RSVPs and requests to speak must be received before noon Pacific on Wednesday, September 4, to be included in the agenda.

If you would like to attend the virtual meeting, please fill out the LightHouse Public Comment and RSVP Sign Up form. Whether you plan to have a public comment or not, you will need to fill out this form to get the Zoom info. Zoom information will be emailed closer to the date of the board meeting

LightHouse Public Comment and RSVP Sign Up form

LightHouse News

New to Having Low Vision? Take Our Low Vision Skills Course

08/02/2024 LightHouse Staff Leave a comment

In-person portion of course takes place at LightHouse HQ at 1155 Market St., San Francisco.

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

Adults 55 and older, in addition to adult clients being served by the California Department of Rehabilitation, are invited to participate in an in-person 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 in-person course at LightHouse San Francisco meets once a week for three weeks, with a morning and an afternoon class with a one-hour lunch break in between. The classes are taught by two Certified Low Vision Therapists, a Low Vision Optometrist, a Social Worker, a Braille Teacher, an Adult Programs Manager, and an Accessible Technology Specialist. Included in the course: a pre-course assessment one week prior to the start of the course, ongoing support during the course, and one or two individualized lessons for a total of eight lessons.

It is a comprehensive skills training course introducing participants to foundational low vision concepts, skills and current technologies for maximizing successful, independent daily living skills. After the low vision skills classes, participants can expect to feel more confident in using their vision and making changes in their environment for independent daily living skills. Thereafter, participants are eligible for an individualized Low Vision Therapy lesson or two.

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 low vision skills course dates are:

August 21 through 28: Course Introduction and Pre-Course Assessment by Zoom video or telephone call; one-time assessment to be scheduled directly with participant

Note: For the in-person classes, there are two classes per day.

Week 1 (Classes #1 and #2): Wednesday, September 4 (in-person at LightHouse HQ)
10:00 am to noon and 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Class Support time available between Weeks 1 and 2

Week 2 (Classes #3 and #4): Wednesday, September 11 (in-person at LightHouse HQ)
10:00 am to noon and 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Class Support time available between Weeks 2 and 3

Week 3 (Classes #5 and #6): Wednesday, September 18 (in-person at LightHouse HQ)
10:00 am to noon and 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Lunch provided by LightHouse at noon
Class Support time available between Week 3 and individualized lesson/s.

By October 31: Individualized follow-up low vision skills lesson/s tailored to the unique needs of each participant at the Lighthouse San Francisco Headquarters.
Please contact Esmerelda Soto at 415-694-7323 or by email at ESoto@lighthouse-sf.org for any questions and planning for a LightHouse Services Orientation and Assessment day. All interested parties need to have a Low Vision Evaluation completed within one year prior to the start of any low vision course. If the course registration is full, any appropriate Low Vision course referrals will then be placed on our waitlist for the next available class (dates TBA).

LightHouse News

Victor Reader Stream 3 Immersion Class Starts August 19

08/02/2024 LightHouse Staff Leave a comment

From August 19 – 23, the Access Technology department of LightHouse will be putting on a class explaining and exploring all the fabulous features of the Victor Reader Stream 3!

The Victor Reader Stream 3 is the latest in the Victor Stream series from HumanWare. This lightweight, user-friendly player can be held in your hand, carried in a pocket, or set on the table for easy listening with the built-in speaker, connected headphones, or external Bluetooth device. Perhaps best of all, the Stream is operated by tactile-friendly buttons. Every command is easily performed by pressing only a single button at a time.

You should consider joining us if:
1. You enjoy listening to audiobooks.
2. You love podcasts.
3. You can’t start your day without checking the news while sipping your morning coffee.
4. You are an avid radio -listener, and love tuning in to stations from next door or around the world.
5. You are someone who takes notes by recording them in an audio format.

These are just a few of the things you will learn in this class.

What: Victor Reader Stream 3 Immersion
When: Monday, August 19 through Friday, August 23, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, daily
Where: LightHouse San Francisco, 1155 Market St.
RSVP: For more information, or to register, please email us at at@lighthouse-sf.org. Space is limited. Registration closes on Friday, August 9.

LightHouse News

Sign Up for LightHouse’s Intro to Access Technology Class, Beginning July 29

07/23/2024 Christina Daniels 1 Comment

Class Description

If you’ve never received Access Technology training before and are ready to learn, we’ve got great news. LightHouse’s Access Technology department is offering a week-long immersive Introduction to Access Technology class from July 29 through August 2.

Join our Tech Team to explore the concepts and tools you will need to use devices confidently and comfortably. We will discuss access technology vocabulary in an approachable, digestible and jargon-free manner. We will provide overviews of low vision enhancements and spoken feedback tools available for computers, smartphones and tablets. There will be workshops on dedicated devices, getting to know your phone, options for notetaking, access-optimized apps, resources and technical support contacts.

Please note that lunch will not be provided. Students are encouraged to bring their own bagged lunch.

Class Prerequisites:

To participate and fully benefit from this class, students must:
1. Live in San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin or Humboldt County.
2. Be new to Access Technology, having not received prior one-on-one or group training.
3. Be curious and open to learning basic, beginner Access Technology specific information.
4. Be comfortable learning in a group setting. This means:

Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Do give others a chance to ask questions if they haven’t gotten to do so already.
Please refrain from sharing personal, private, or sensitive information.

Quick Details

What: Introduction to Access Technology
When: Monday, July 29 through Friday, August 2 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, daily
Where: LightHouse East Bay, Ed Roberts Campus, 3075 Adeline St, Berkeley
RSVP: Please send an email to the LightHouse Access Technology department, at@lighthouse-sf.org, and mention that you’d like to enroll in the Introduction to Access Technology course. Space is limited and registration closes on Thursday, July 25.

RSVP for Intro to Access Technology class at LightHouse East Bay.

LightHouse News

Writing Cards and Letters by Hand is for Blind People, too!

06/17/2024 LightHouse Staff Leave a comment

By Maia Scott and Gina di Grazia

We had so much fun during our first-ever National Card and Letter Writing Month event last April.

On April 11 and 18 at LightHouse HQ, card, letter-writing and art lovers converged for a fun and functional exploration of adaptive and artistic ways to connect with loved ones through the good ol’ US Postal Service.

Maia Scott, Adult Program Coordinator, and Gina di Grazia, Low Vision Therapist and Orientation & Mobility Specialist co-led the group, supported by the Adult Program and Independent Living Services Departments. Divina Carlson, Braille Instructor, Verna Huang, Program Coordinator, and Dawn Leeflang, Director of Independent Living Services were on hand to support the participants as well.

The usual card and letter writing supplies were on hand, but there were art supplies and adaptive writing tools covering the tables to allow creativity to flourish.

What tips and tricks were tried for gorgeous cards and letters you ask? Some tried bold line pens, high contrast colored art pens, large print writing, high contrast thick line paper, dark and light papers and card stock, envelope and letter writing guides, raised line paint pens, tactile adhesive jewels, LightHouse-designed large print and tactile greeting cards, and Braille for tactile art designs and writing those special messages!

The participants made new connections and enjoyed meeting fellow letter writing and mail art lovers, chatted about the history of postal mail (and discussed why the U.S. Postal Service doesn’t have a Braille stamp yet (like so many other countries do) letter writing, and the many ways to send postal mail. They walked away with some of the above-mentioned letter writing adaptive supplies thanks to the generous SCAN Health Plan Community Giving, Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB), and AB2480 grants.

Are you feeling inspired? It’s not too late to go analog to send some postal mail. Here are some simple ideas to get you going:

Place a rubber band around a clipboard or hardcover book and slide your envelope under it to help write the first line of your address without slanting.
A quarter sheet of cardstock featuring one word boldly and beautifully written can make a momentous postcard.
Use dot or rhinestone stickers to spell out a sentiment in Braille on the front of a DIY card then print out the Braille alphabet to include if the recipient doesn’t know Braille.
Use items found at home such as cardboard, bubble wrap, cereal bags and crinkled foil as collage materials to create tactile cards for any occasion.

We hope to share similar events throughout the year thanks to the fun, functional, and fantastic participation by all in the Card and Letter Writing event! Key an eye on the LightHouse Calendar to plan your next fantastic and functional fun event.