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LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired

LightHouse partners with SciAccess to launch Mission: AstroAccess
LightHouse News

LightHouse partners with SciAccess to launch Mission: AstroAccess

LightHouse is excited to partner with SciAccess Initiative for the launch of a new program, Mission: AstroAccess. This is a program designed to bring diversity and inclusion to the STEM field in a study that will consist of a group of ten disabled people that will participate in a historic zero gravity parabolic flight. The flight’s blind, low vision, Deaf, and disabled volunteers will complete targeted tasks during the flight to help answer basic questions about how disabled people can safely and accessibly live and work in space.

“Space is not just part of humanity’s future – it is a place where we can rethink life on earth today,” says Mission: AstroAccess project lead, George Whitesides. “With this flight we hope to lay the foundation for future disabled space explorers.”

The goal of this mission is to bring together the largest and most diverse group of disabled crew members in a weightless environment, with the hopes to learn how to adapt and make accessible outer-space travel for disabled space explorers, scientists, and researchers. The Mission: AstroAccess parabolic flight is scheduled to take place on October 17, 2021, launching from Long Beach, California.

“Our mission is to change outer space and change the world. If you are a disabled person who is confident, enthusiastic, playful, and literally willing to float upside down to change the future, we are looking for you!” says Dr. Sheri Wells-Jensen, Associate Professor of Linguistics at Bowling Green State University.

So, what else does it take to be a participant in Mission: AstroAccess? You must be eighteen years of age or older, a speaker of English or American Sign Language, a resident of the United States, and you must be blind, low vision, Deaf, and/or someone who identifies as disabled. Applications are now open and will be accepted through August 15. Mission: AstroAccess will be hosting an informational webinar for all of those interested in applying for a mission slot on July 21. Until then, you can find more information about Mission: AstroAccess on the project website.

“This partnership is the first step in making the people who explore space look like all Americans,” said LightHouse CEO Bryan Bashin. “Blind people have been explorers, scientists and communicators for millennia, and Mission: AstroAccess and the LightHouse for the Blind – San Francisco will help move our contributions into space.”

We are excited and proud to be part of this inclusive change to the STEM field, and encourage all of our students, friends, and mentors within the blind community to apply for a mission slot. Together, the blind community can help make space inclusive and accessible for all.

For more information about the work that SciAccess Initiative does, please visit the SciAccess website. You can apply for a participant slot for Mission: Astro Access by following this link.

LightHouse of the North Coast has a New Home
LightHouse News

LightHouse of the North Coast has a New Home

LightHouse North Coast office has moved to the Grove Building at 317 Third Street in Old Town, Eureka. Third Street borders the Morris Graves Museum, and the cross streets are D and E. After almost ten years of being housed in the Humboldt Senior Resource Center, The Senior Center is expanding its programs and will use the former LightHouse space to continue to grow the many needed programs for seniors and their families. While we at LightHouse say a very gracious thank you to the Humboldt Senior Resource Center and feel fortunate to have worked alongside such dedicated colleagues who continue to develop comprehensive programs for seniors, we will not say Good-Bye as we will still be at a very accessible location in Old Town, and there for any person who is blind or low vision who needs information, support or training.

LightHouse of the North Coast continues our 20-year tradition of serving the low vision and blind community and their families from our new location. We are excited to be in our new building which houses several other non-profit organizations, as well as the office of U.S. Representative of California, congressman Jared Huffman.
 
While our doors are currently closed to in person services, we continue to provide resources and numerous classes via Zoom. If you or someone you know lives in the Humboldt, Del Norte, or Trinity counties, please contact us to take advantage of some of our remote classes until we open our doors later in September. We anticipate opening our doors in early September. Our services include:

  • Lighting and magnification assessments
  • Home safety and mobility instruction
  • Assistive technology training
  • Independent living skills training and beginning Braille.

Please feel free to contact Janet Pomerantz, MSW, for further information at jpomerantz@lighthouse-sf.org or by calling 707 268-5646. We look forward to hearing from you and meeting you when we reopen in September.

LightHouse offers personal safety seminars with Martial Arts Instructor, George Freeman
LightHouse News

LightHouse offers personal safety seminars with Martial Arts Instructor, George Freeman

1 Commenton LightHouse offers personal safety seminars with Martial Arts Instructor, George Freeman

In response to an increase in anti-Asian violence and apprehensions among LightHouse students venturing out after over a year of very limited travel and sheltering in place, along with the hesitation of schools, businesses, and social and recreational spaces reopening, LightHouse felt it was important to develop an inclusive personal safety workshop that would instill confidence in our community as we approach the post-pandemic world.

On Saturday, June 26, LightHouse’s Belonging, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (BIDE) task force partnered with martial arts instructor, George Freeman of KATMA Defense in Savannah, Georgia, to bring the members of the blind and low vision community the first of three new self-defense workshops, Your Personal Safety: Getting Back to Normal.

Instructor George Freeman has been teaching and practicing martial arts professionally for over a decade. He sought to develop a 3-part series of safety seminars that would cover strategies, techniques and approaches for feeling more confident being out in the community again. LightHouse participant, Jane Y., joined the Zoom seminar and found the experience to be positive, empowering, and educational.

Jane is in her early seventies and has low vision. Her first class with the LightHouse was in February this year when she attended Changing Vision, Changing Life, she says it lived up to its name.

“I found a tribe of supportive, knowledgeable, compassionate and genuine people in both staff and participants.  in the past few months, LightHouse has graced my life with Yoga Support Group, one on one Tech Training, Low Vision Training, Tactile Training.  In mid-July I start Orientation and Mobility training.”

She also signed up for the Self-defense class and found it very worthwhile and informative.

“The communication skills and integrity of the moderator and the presenter were superb! The format was very effective with direct participation, very informative videos and thoughtful Q & A. I was especially impressed with the self-empowerment messaging, ‘Use our own voices and actions to take charge of our lives whenever possible.’”

We are excited to offer two more of these important safety seminars, the next on August 28 at 1 pm and final on October 16 at 1 pm, to the LightHouse community and their friends and family this year. The courses will be open to all— people who are blind, low vision and sighted.

For more information about the upcoming seminars in August and October, look out for postings in future publications as those dates approach and be sure to visit our online calendar. For more information about George Freeman and the work he does, you can visit the instructor page on the Kombative Academy of Traditional Martial Arts website.

A Perfect Teacher-Student Partnership
LightHouse News

A Perfect Teacher-Student Partnership

LightHouse offers a variety of resources, trainings, and programs for individuals who are blind or have low vision taught by expert instructors and educators, most of whom are also blind or have low vision. Our dedicated staff work with their students to form and enhance blindness skills to improve their sense of autonomy and self-confidence. The greatest aspect of being part of such a close-knit community of blind leaders and learners is being able to share successes and accomplishments, or “mission moments,” with the LightHouse community.

Access Technology Instructor Kacie Cappello’s favorite part of the job is watching a student’s hard work pay off.

“Many come into training intimidated by technology and full of self-doubt. The skills they learn allow for greater independence and better social connection. When a student realizes they can do something like buy their own groceries online or send email to a friend, I get to watch their confidence grow as they find their empowerment. That means the world to me.”

Kacie’s role is to provide information, guidance, and structure, but the student is the one taking on the challenge of learning a new skill. That requires commitment and practice. One of her ambitions for her students is for them to have autonomy over their digital information.

“To me, maintaining anonymity means having the ability to effectively manage your information, privacy, and digital presence. Access technology skills help students keep track of things like account details and participate in online life on their own terms.”

LightHouse student Eva G. struggled with independently accessing her computer and other devices at home and sought out access technology training with LightHouse. She began working with Kacie one-on-one for virtual training sessions.

“I lost my vision at a quite advanced stage at the age of 84. I am 91 now. I did not think I would be able to learn anything because of my age. When I had sight growing up in school, I was never taught computers or typing or anything like that.  Honestly, the first time I had a lesson with Kacie I thought to myself, ‘I will never get this,’ but Kacie was so patient and persistent. It was amazing to me how after a while I started to get used to it.

“To me, it is really important to be as independent as I can be. It means a lot to be because I’ve always been in touch with a lot of different people throughout my life. But when I suddenly had to ask someone to write my emails and read them back to me it just wasn’t the same. The first time I was able to have an email read to me by the computer and then answer it myself was such a gift. It felt like the best thing that has happened to me.

“In retrospect I do still think it was kind of magic. I feel so grateful for the LightHouse and for Kacie and what she has taught me.”

These are the moments that strengthen the blind community. One individual’s success becomes a shared accomplishment for all of LightHouse and our community. To inquire about programs offered by LightHouse, you can visit our website.

For information about Access Technology, send your emails AT@lighthouse-sf.org  or call 415-431-1481.

Adaptations Featured Products for the Month of June
LightHouse News

Adaptations Featured Products for the Month of June

With every month brings exciting new products and discounts to Adaptations. This June we are all about giving our shoppers the best deals out there.

To honor LightHouse Day on June 10, Adaptations is offering 10% all LightHouse hoodies, t-shirts, and tote bags for the entire month of June! Rep your favorite blindness organization and save money doing it when you enter the promo code LH10 at checkout. LightHouse Day is just around the corner, show up for our virtual celebration in true LightHouse style.

10% isn’t our only discount we’re giving out this month. How’s 50% sound? 2021 has made it to the halfway mark and so has the price on our Braille calendars. Pencil in—or rather stylus in—all your important dates and appointments for the next six months on our 50% off calendars. It’s never too late in the year to get organized.

In case you just can’t get enough of our deals, check out the Adaptations Discount Corner. We regularly add new products to our collection of low-priced treasures essential for any blind or low vision shopper. Looking for a backup cane? Maybe a new magnifier? If you are looking for a deal on a talking watch or wireless headphone, the Adaptations Discount Corner has got you covered.

Visit Adaptations.org today and start filling up that virtual shopping cart with all our discounted goodies! If you need assistance navigating our online store, you can always download the Be My Eyes App and chat directly with our knowledgeable and friendly shopping assistants. Adaptations is all about making accessibility easy and affordable. For any additional help or inquiries, contact us by calling 1-888-400-8933 or email adaptations@lighthouse-sf.org. Happy shopping and even happier saving, everyone!

Lighthouse Day to feature Mayor Breed and New Blindness Book Author, June 10
LightHouse News

Lighthouse Day to feature Mayor Breed and New Blindness Book Author, June 10

1 Commenton Lighthouse Day to feature Mayor Breed and New Blindness Book Author, June 10

Each year we gather friends to celebrate Lighthouse Day, honoring our 119 years of service and looking forward into the future.

For the second year we will use Zoom to keep social distance as we gather, electronically, celebrating how LightHouse has grown and diversified and reassert our belief in our community and pride in our work.

To help us do this we have invited blind author Dr. M. Leona Godin who will discuss her just-released book, There Plant Eyes: a Personal and Cultural History of Blindness.

We invite you to a conversation between Dr. Godin and LightHouse CEO Bryan Bashin to discuss the main themes in the book and learn of the author spending much of her life in San Francisco and beginning her journey into blindness there. This conversation will be a key part of the LightHouse Day celebration.

What: Lighthouse Day

When: Thursday, June 10 from noon to 1:00 pm Pacific

Where: via Zoom or phone

RSVP: To events@lighthouse-sf.org or call Andrea Vecchione at 415-694-7311. The first 10 folks to RSVP will receive a box of Quail Point chocolates, which are delicious, we can vouch for that!

From the book jacket:

From Homer to Helen Keller, from Dune to Stevie Wonder, from the invention of braille to the science of echolocation, M. Leona Godin explores the fascinating history of blindness, interweaving it with her own story of gradually losing her sight.

There Plant Eyes probes the ways in which blindness has shaped our ocular centric culture, challenging deeply ingrained ideas about what it means to be “blind.” For millennia, blind-ness has been used to signify such things as thoughtlessness (“blind faith”), irrationality (“blind rage”), and unconsciousness (“blind evolution”). But at the same time, blind people have been othered as the recipients of special powers as compensation for lost sight (from the poetic gifts of John Milton to the heightened senses of the comic book hero Daredevil).

Godin—who began losing her vision at age ten—illuminates the often-surprising history of both the condition of blindness and the myths and ideas that have grown up around it over the course of generations. She combines an analysis of blindness in art and culture (from King Lear to Star Wars) with a study of the science of blindness and key developments in accessibility (the white cane, embossed printing, digital technology) to paint a vivid personal and cultural history.

Adaptations LightHouse Day Discount

Don’t forget to visit Adaptations.org for all your LightHouse gear! To celebrate 119 years of service to the blind and low vision community,  Adaptations is giving 10% off during the entire month of June on all LightHouse hoodies, t-shirts and tote bags! Use the  discount code LH10 at checkout to receive your discount. Happy shopping!

Help Herd Immunity: Get Vaccinated at the LightHouse
LightHouse News

Help Herd Immunity: Get Vaccinated at the LightHouse

Photo Caption: Two volunteers wearing LightHouse masks stand in the lobby of LightHouse headquarters. One holds a walkie-talkie. Photo by Sarika Dagar

Read vaccine information in Spanish 

Friday May 21, COVID-19 vaccinations continue at LightHouse headquarters.

The clinic at LightHouse will offer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and scheduled second Moderna vaccinations on May 21 and 28.  You can read a joint statement by Bay Area Health officers on the safety of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The clinic is open to people from all over the San Francisco Bay Area who are blind or have low vision, anyone who has a disability and their caregivers. American Sign Language interpreters will be available onsite.

Information for the clinic is below, first in English, and then in Spanish.

You will need to make an appointment for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by calling 628-652-2700.

  • The call center is open and staffed from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday. Voicemail messages can be left for a callback outside of these hours. Speakers of both Spanish and English are available at this number.
  • Other language interpreters are available once you leave a voicemail requesting a callback.

Friday May 14, COVID-19 vaccinations continue at LightHouse headquarters.

The clinic at LightHouse will offer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and scheduled second Moderna vaccinations on May 21 and 28.  You can read a joint statement by Bay Area Health officers on the safety of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The clinic is open to people from all over the San Francisco Bay Area who are blind or have low vision, anyone who has a disability and their caregivers. American Sign Language interpreters will be available onsite.

Information for the clinic is below, first in English, and then in Spanish.

You will need to make an appointment for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by calling 628-652-2700.

  • The call center is open and staffed from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday. Voicemail messages can be left for a callback outside of these hours. Speakers of both Spanish and English are available at this number.
  • Other language interpreters are available once you leave a voicemail requesting a callback.

LightHouse Headquarters Address:

LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired – San Francisco headquarters

1155 Market Street

10th floor

San Francisco, CA 94103

Registration phone number: 628-652-2700

Getting to Your Appointment
Below are a couple of options for financial assistance to get to your vaccination appointment.

1. Free taxi rides to vaccination appointments through the Essential Trip Card program. If you are signed up for San Francisco’s low-cost taxi program for seniors (65+) and people with disabilities called the Essential Trip Card, you can get to your vaccine appointment for free with the help of Community Living Campaign (CLC). Every program participant gets one additional $60 vaccine allotment, and CLC can pay your share if you ask. Just call San Francisco Paratransit at 415-351-7000 and let them know you’d like to use your vaccine allotment, and that you’d like support from CLC. CLC will cover your $12, so you’ll get $60 on your card without paying a cent.

Not signed up for the Essential Trip Card yet? No problem. Call 311 between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, and tell them you want to sign up. Say you’re interested in financial help from Community Living Campaign for your vaccine appointment, and you’ll have $60 on your taxi card when you get it in the mail, with no money out of your pocket.

2. $50 Lyft Vouchers for Vaccine Access for Seniors 60+, Adults with Disabilities, and Caregivers
Community Living Campaign is giving away $50 Lyft vouchers for trips to vaccination appointments for San Francisco residents 60 and older, residents with disabilities, and caregivers. Individuals must have the Lyft app on their smartphone to use the voucher. Offer valid while voucher supplies last. (Individuals who receive services in San Francisco but live outside of the city may also be eligible.) To inquire about a voucher, contact Cathy DeLuca at 415-638-9183 or cathy@sfcommunityliving.org.

Please note: people using Rideshare apps like Lyft and Uber will need to enter 676 Stevenson Street as the destination into the app. This address is for the rear entrance of LightHouse Headquarters at 1155 Market Street.

Using Public Transit
The closest public transit is the Civic Center BART station. The exit located in front of the LightHouse building on Market Street between 7th and 8th streets has reopened. Turn left upon climbing the stairs to the street level and you will be in front of the LightHouse building. The closest bus stops are Jones and 6th and Orpheum Theater.

For further information, read the Vaccine FAQs from SF.gov.

Aquí está la misma información para hispanohablantes.

Vacunas COVID-19 

Los viernes 21 y 28 de abril y 7 de mayo, la sede de San Francisco de LightHouse se abrirá de nuevo para las personas del Bay Area que son ciegas o que tienen poca visión, aquellas personas con una discapacidad y sus cuidadores para que puedan recibir la vacuna del COVID-19.

Debe agendar una cita llamando al 628-652-2700.

  • Cuando llame a este número, deberá proporcionar información personal básica, los detalles de su proveedor de salud y recibirá una hora para la cita.
    No necesita proporcionar pruebas de su discapacidad.
    • Esta línea está disponible con agentes de atención desde las 8:30 am hasta las 5:00 pm de lunes a viernes. Puede dejar mensajes de voz para que le devolvamos la llamada fuera de estos horarios. Esta línea está disponible para personas que hablan español e inglés.
    • Los intérpretes de otros idiomas están disponibles cuando deja un mensaje de voz pidiendo que le devolvamos la llamada.

Tenga en cuenta que si no se ha registrado usando este método no podrá vacunarse en este sitio.
Fechas
21 y 28 de mayo de 2021

Dirección
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired – San Francisco headquarters
1155 Market Street
10th floor
San Francisco, CA 94103
Teléfono
El número para registrarse es el 628-652-2700.

Agende su cita
La sede central de LightHouse se encuentra en 1155 Market Street entre las calles 7th y 8th Streets.

A continuación, mostramos algunas formas de conseguir ayuda financiera para agendar su cita de vacunación.

lista de 1 punto

  1. Viajes en taxi gratuitos a las citas de vacunación a través del programa Essential Trip Card.
    fin de la lista

Si usted está registrado/a para el programa de taxi a bajo costo de San Francisco para personas mayores (+65) y personas con discapacidades llamado a Essential Trip Card, puede ir a su cita de vacunación sin costo con la ayuda de la Community Living Campaign (CLC, Campaña para Vivir en Comunidad). Cada participante del programa obtiene un cupo adicional de vacuna de $60, y CLC puede pagar por su parte si lo solicita. Llame a San Francisco Paratransit al 415-351-7000 y avise que le gustaría usar su cupo de vacuna y que le gustaría recibir el apoyo de CLC. Esta cubrirá sus $12, así que obtendrá $60 en su tarjeta sin pagar un centavo.

¿Todavía no está inscripto/a para Essential Trip Card? No hay problema. Llame al 311 entre las 9:00 am y 4:00 pm, de lunes a viernes, y diga que quiere inscribirse y que está interesado/a en recibir ayuda financiera de Community Living Campaign para su cita de vacunación, y tendrá $60 en su tarjeta de taxi cuando la reciba en el correo, sin usar dinero de su bolsillo.

lista de 1 punto

  1. Vales de $50 de Lyft para acceso a vacunas para personas mayores +60, adultos con discapacidades y cuidadores
    fin de la lista
    Community Living Campaign también está proporcionando vales de $50 de Lyft para viajes a citas de vacunación para residentes de San Francisco de 60 años de edad y mayores, residentes con discapacidades y cuidadores. Las personas deben tener la aplicación de Lyft en sus teléfonos inteligentes para usar el vale. La oferta es válida mientras dure la existencia de dichos vales.
    (Las personas que reciben servicios en San Francisco, pero viven afuera de la ciudad también, pueden ser elegibles). Para averiguar sobre los vales, comuníquese con Cathy DeLuca
    al 415-638-9183 o

por correo a cathy@sfcommunityliving.org.

Las personas que usan aplicaciones de uso compartido de viajes rideshare como Lyft y Uber necesitarán marcar a 676 Stevenson Street como el destino en la aplicación. Esta dirección es para la entrada trasera de 1155 Market Street.

Uso del transporte público

El transporte público más cercano es la estación BART del Civic Center. Las únicas salidas abiertas actualmente son las del lado de United Nations Plaza. Las paradas de bus más cercanas son las de Jones y 6th y Orpheum Theater.

¿Qué sucede cuando llega?

LightHouse tendrá voluntarios disponibles para encontrarse con las personas afuera en las entradas delanteras y traseras de 1155 Market Street. Estos voluntarios le guiarán al vestíbulo donde verificarán su información. Todos los voluntarios practicarán el distanciamiento social y usarán mascarillas.
Las superficies se desinfectarán de manera frecuente y regular (con productos con etiqueta Safer Choice hechos y vendidos por LightHouse).

El número de personas que pueden entrar en un ascensor al mismo tiempo será restringido a un número designado por el encargado del sitio.

Una vez que llegue al 10.o piso, otro grupo de voluntarios amables le mostrarán dónde debe esperar para vacunarse.

Luego de su inyección, debe esperar por 15 minutos antes de volver al vestíbulo y salir del edificio. Los voluntarios estarán disponibles para ayudarle a ubicar viajes compartidos si es necesario.
Para más información, lea las Preguntas Frecuentas sobre Vacunas de SF.gov.

 

LightHouse Eye Clinic Returns
LightHouse News

LightHouse Eye Clinic Returns

We’re pleased to announce the reopening of the LightHouse Eye Clinic at our 1155 Market Street San Francisco headquarters. LightHouse, in partnership with the University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry will offer general eye exams and low vision exams. The clinical staff include Dr. Crystal Wen, a graduate from the UC Berkeley School of Optometry, along with residency-trained doctors and senior optometry interns.

General eye exams are offered on Wednesdays. Low vision exams are offered on Fridays.

General Eye Exams

General eye exams are available Wednesdays beginning May 26. The clinic is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. To schedule an appointment, call 510-642-5726.

Low Vision Exams

If you are a person who has low vision, you can schedule a low vision exam beginning Friday, May 28. The clinic is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. To schedule, call 510-642-5726. For questions about low vision exams, email the LightHouse’s Rehabilitation Counselor, Debbie Bacon at DBacon@LightHouse-sf.org.

The low vision exam includes an hour-and-a-half long low vision evaluation by a board-certified low vision optometrist and a follow-up visit with a LightHouse Rehabilitation Training Specialist. If you are unsure whether you are a candidate for a low vision exam, speak with your primary eye care professional or give us a call. Our staff will be happy to guide you through the process.

We will be following all COVID-19 safety guidelines for the City of San Francisco. We look forward to welcoming you to the LightHouse Eye Clinic.
The LightHouse 2020 LightHouse Annual Report is Here
LightHouse News

The LightHouse 2020 LightHouse Annual Report is Here

2020 was a highly unusual year for everyone around the world. Despite such unprecedented circumstances, we are proud to present the 2020 Annual Report, documenting how LightHouse supported the blind community through a global pandemic in new and innovative ways.

In 2020 we were proud to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Enchanted Hills Camp, and announced ambitious plans to reimagine the entire camp as a global center for blindness, with construction planned over the next few years.

In other news, big things happened at LightHouse Industries: Sirkin Center, LightHouse’s blind labor-force manufacturing plant. We expanded the production line, including adding a hard surface cleaner effective at killing the novel coronavirus. We doubled our staff and hired a blind scientist to oversee the product blends. Our customer base of government agencies and private companies continues to grow, and so do the employment opportunities for people who are blind or have low vision. Watch the BBC’s coverage of Sirkin Center’s unprecedented growth.

Read on to learn more about LightHouse and its 2020 achievements in the annual report in PDF or Word format.

LightHouse Staff Shares Her Experience Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine at LightHouse
LightHouse News

LightHouse Staff Shares Her Experience Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine at LightHouse

As I hopped out of my Lyft at 7th and Market Street and turned the corner toward the LightHouse headquarters in San Francisco, I was hit with a wave of nostalgia. It had been months, nearly a year since I’d last entered this building. As I reached for the door handle of the front entrance, I was welcomed in by a friendly face. The man asked kindly, “Here for the clinic?” to which I replied, “Absolutely!”

After being directed towards the elevators I stepped in and pressed the button for the 10th floor. The door opened to the familiar sound of the automated announcer, “10th floor, LightHouse Main Reception.” I stepped into the lobby and was greeted by friendly, masked volunteers. I looked around and noted the many people in line, spaced at a safe distance apart from one another, patiently awaiting their turn to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.

When I joined the line, a nurse approached me and asked my name and birthdate. She found my vaccination card in the stack of other names scheduled to be vaccinated that day. She assisted me in filling out a pre-vaccine medical form. (Do I have any allergies? Have I received any vaccines within the past 14 days? Etc.) After completing the form, I waited for my turn to be taken into Multipurpose Room B, where there were three vaccination stations set up.

When it was my turn, I was directed to the available station. I rolled up my left sleeve as a very kind and friendly nurse walked me through the process. I turned my cheek away from my left shoulder as I received the vaccine. (Needles make me queasy!)

When I sat down in the post-vaccine waiting area adjacent to the vaccination stations, it hit me. For two years I would come to this building every day. Working with the blind community, my community, has always been important and enjoyable for me. On March 13, 2020 we were told that LightHouse would be closed for two weeks due to the onset of COVID-19 cases increasing in the area. Two weeks turned into 56 weeks (and counting) and the “increasing number of COVID-19 cases” turned into a global pandemic. Through the past thirteen months of confusion, devastation, and fear, here I was, one year later in the same place where I had first learned of the severity of this disease, receiving the COVID-19 vaccination. It was emotional. It was hopeful. It was a triumph. The experience felt surreal.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to all the nurses, volunteers, and all of those responsible for giving LightHouse the opportunity to become a vaccination site. With the help and coordination of many LightHouse and San Francisco Public Health employees, I am proud to say that not only was I vaccinated, but the nonprofit I work for, the work in which I hold so dear, was able to provide yet another accessible and vitally important service to our community.