Earle Baum Center Archives - LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired

As many of our newsletter subscribers may remember, we excitedly announced our collaboration with fellow blindness agency, the Earle Baum Center (EBC) in Santa Rosa, who have joined the LightHouse community. As we move forward together with the shared mission of providing opportunity, education, employment and support for blind and low vision individuals by blind and low vision individuals, we’d like to properly introduce our friends at EBC to the LightHouse community!

The History of Earle Baum Center
Earle Baum was born in 1896 on his family’s farm just west of Santa Rosa. This homesteaded property had been in the Baum family since 1856. By age 17, Baum had lost substantial sight, most likely from retinitis pigmentosa, the number one cause of congenital blindness. A star pupil at Santa Rosa High, Earle had dreamed of a writing career.

With his sight loss, his aspirations of being a journalist were dashed. Earle Baum remained determined, working the farm, tending the animals and planting, cultivating, pruning, and harvesting the farm’s seasonal bounty. Earle Baum was both remarkable and ordinary. His farm-based life was certainly ordinary for the times in which he lived, yet most remarkable was the vivacious way he went about living it. He remained on the farm until his death in 1986 at the age of 90.

Today, the Earle Baum Center provides the means and facilities by which people of all ages with visual impairment develop the skills and build the confidence needed to live productive and fulfilling lives. The uniqueness of the Earle Baum Center is the way blind and visually impaired people share within their community the knowledge and techniques that have proven to be successful, building upon that foundation with a variety of programs, activities and opportunities.

We encourage the LightHouse community to check out the service and recreational programs provided by EBC. Many of their programs are virtual and can be attended remotely. And, of course, if you know of anyone who would benefit from the opportunities Earle Baum provides, please spread the word! You can find EBC programs listed on the LightHouse web calendar or go to the Earle Baum Center website for more information about the services, staff, and beautiful campus of EBC in Santa Rosa.

Today, we are thrilled to announce a significant milestone in the history of LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Earle Baum Center of the Blind. Earle Baum Center is officially joining the LightHouse community, bringing together two esteemed organizations whose missions align: Creating opportunity and independence for people who are blind and low vision.

One of the country’s leading service providers for blind and low vision people, LightHouse offers programs including workforce development, services specifically for people who are DeafBlind, and the Little Learners program working with families of young children experiencing visual impairments.

Earle Baum Center, named for a blind farmer and advocate for the blind Earle Baum, is a pillar of service for the blind and visually impaired communities in Sonoma, Napa, Lake, Mendocino, and other Northern California counties. LightHouse plans to foster and expand the deep legacy of the Earle Baum Center developed during its 24 years serving clients.

“LightHouse’s partnership with the Earle Baum Center means we’ll be able to provide contiguous services to the blind and low vision community from Silicon Valley all the way to the Oregon border,” said LightHouse Chief Executive Officer Sharon Giovanazzo.

“It has been an absolute honor to work with Northern California’s visually impaired residents at the Earle Baum Center,” said Kati Aho, Earle Baum Center’s director of operations. “I’m so excited to continue that work — and for the opportunities for sustainability, innovation, and expansion — as part of this partnership with LightHouse.”

Earle Baum Center

Meet EBC!

Charting a New Path: Earle Baum Center and LightHouse Unite