This weekly newsletter highlights upcoming LightHouse events and classes plus the latest trends in technology, advocacy and other issues of interest to our community. To access this week's events by phone, call 415-694-7325.

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01.15.20

lighthouse lately

Holman Prize 2019 winners Alu and Mona stand together at the San Francisco Transbay Terminal

Holman Prize for Blind Ambition 2020-Applications are now open

Are you blind or visually impaired? Will you be over the age of 18 on October 1, 2020? Are you creative and entrepreneurial, with ambitious, far-reaching dreams? Submissions are open for the Holman Prize, LightHouse for the Blind’s annual competition to win up to $25,000 for blind adventurers and creators to complete their most ambitious projects!

How to apply to the Holman Prize? The initial application is a 90-second YouTube video describing the project, what the prize money would fund and a brief application form. Semifinalists will later be asked to provide in-depth written proposals. Later, finalists will be interviewed by LightHouse staff in order to select a winner. All the information you need, including terms and conditions, can be found here: https://holman.lighthouse-sf.org/

Now in its fourth year, the San Francisco LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired’s Holman Prize for Blind Ambition is an international competition that is awarded annually to three blind individuals who wish to push their limits. It is named for James Holman, a nineteenth century blind explorer and author, who was the most prolific traveler before the era of modern transportation.
Past winners have completed feats like traversing the Bosporus Straight via solo kayak, hosting the first conference in Mexico for blind children and their families led by blind professionals, and creating an app to enable blind citizen scientists to participate in the search for exoplanets by listening to space. Our nine winners so far have come from five countries on four continents and have all found unique ways to forever change the world’s perception of blindness.

We all know ambitious blind people. Please spread the word about the Holman Prize to encourage your blind friends and associates to apply. Copy this announcement and send it to your network and join our social media community for updates:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

A big idea, a quick application form and a 90-second pitch video are all you need to apply. For inspiration here is the YouTube Playlist of 2019 Holman Prize Finalists

2020 Application information is available here: holmanprize.org/apply. If you have any questions, please contact us at holman@lighthouse-sf.org.
Applications close March 15 at 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

Get your life tech’d out thanks to our Access Tech specialists

LightHouse Access Technology staff sit in cushioned chairs talking with students.

If you feel comfortable with the technology you have but want to learn what else is out there and pick up some tips, why not come to one of the free monthly workshops held by our Access Technology specialists. These three-hour workshops cover a single topic and open up many new, useful avenues of accessing culture through technology.

LightHouse Access Tech staff will assess your current skill level and work along-side you to expand your knowledge. There are two new free workshops coming up on January 23 and February 27. You must be a registered LightHouse student to participate.

To sign up or check if you are registered, contact Shen Kuan at skuan@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7312. These classes are free to participants through support from the City of San Francisco’s SF Connected program.

Accessible Entertainment Workshop
Thursday January 23 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at LightHouse Headquarters (1155 Market St., 10th Floor, San Francisco)
Come join the LightHouse Access Technology staff as we explore accessible entertainment. In an age of streaming media choosing which service or device will best fit your needs can be tricky. Should you go for the Disney+, Apple TV Plus or simply a Chrome Cast device or one of the many other services available to the world? You may well find your answer in this workshop. We will look at Amazon, Google and Apple devices and various streaming entertainment services. Come join us! You might just find what you are looking for.

Talk Shopping
Thursday, February 27 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at LightHouse Headquarters (1155 Market St., 10th Floor, San Francisco)
Are you looking for an accessible way to buy groceries? Do you want to know what options are out there for purchasing clothing, electronics, and gifts? Do you just love to shop? If so, check out our upcoming free workshop. We will be discussing the apps and services you can use to buy all your favorite things. Whether you are checking off items on a grocery list, shopping for a special occasion, or just indulging in a little retail therapy, this workshop will pique your interest, guaranteed.

Ted Tahquechi explores light on human body curves in one of his photographs.

Join our newest artist, Ted Tahquechi, in exploring how he sees the human body through blindness

As photographer Ted Tahquechi describes on his website, “After a terrible car accident in 1999, I was left with no vision in my right eye and only 5% remaining vision in my left, I can see light and dark but no detail. I truly believe that the day I took the camera out again changed my life. With my visual limitation, I have almost no distance sight, and things get very blurry at about a foot away. Starting slow, I used the camera at family gatherings to capture moments I could not see. My camera has now become a tool I use to later see on my computer monitor what I miss as I walk through life. And so for years I have been working on an abstract body of work which focuses on the human form.”

The LightHouse Gallery, located in the main lobby of LightHouse Headquarters building (1155 Market St., San Francisco), showcases the work of artists who are blind or who have low vision. We are honored to have Ted Tachquechi show his portfolio for the next six months. An opening reception and artist talk will take place in the gallery on Thursday, January 30 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. For more information or to RSVP, please email Jennifer Sachs: jsachs@lighthouse-sf.org. The reception and gallery are free and open to the public.

A group of people who are blind stand in pairs learning Bachata dance.

LightHouse offers unconventional ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner: that day full of expectations and a variety of emotions.

This year, LightHouse gives you some alternative ways to celebrate. On Friday, February 7 and Friday, February 14 there will be something for everyone. Rather than fill up on chocolate or try to find a nice place to go to dinner, why not do something good for others, make a new friend and attend a dance party? Read on, check your calendars and RSVP.

Giving Blood, Giving Life: Bay Area Blind Community’s Day of Giving Blood Drive
Friday, February 7 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Every blood donation can save up to three lives. Will you join the LightHouse community in giving back by giving blood? To schedule your appointment or for more information visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code: DayOfGiving or call 1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) If you have questions regarding your eligibility to donate blood, or have traveled in the past year, please call 866-236-3276. This event is co-sponsored by LightHouse for the Blind and American Red Cross. Help us spread the word as we encourage everyone to donate.

Speed Friending: Milestone Meet-Up
Friday, February 7 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Did you know that on average a person makes 396 friends throughout their entire lifespan but only 1 in 12 friendships last? Join LightHouse for Speed Friending, our first Milestone Meet-Up of 2020! Speed Friending is similar to Speed Dating with one major difference, the goal is not to make romantic connections. Instead Speed Friending is a place to meet new people and develop friendships.
The connections that you make at this event could take a variety of shapes. You may find a gym buddy, a book lover, a fellow foodie to explore eateries with, your next BFF, or you may choose not to stay in contact with anyone you meet.
The goal of this event is to begin to think consciously about building meaningful relationships through participating in activities that will allow you to have deeper conversations and a stronger sense of self-confidence when interacting with others. Since this event has a specific program and flow we request that you arrive on time and commit to stay for the entire event. For more information on the event and Milestone Meet-Up’s, visit our website.

Where: LightHouse Headquarters, 1155 Market Street, San Francisco
Who: Members of the LightHouse community and their guest. The LightHouse community includes: students, staff, volunteers, board members, etc. Each attendee can bring one guest.
What Will You Do?: Begin the evening with light refreshments and a networking mixer. Engage in a unique activity or discussion with each person you meet at the event. Make mutual connections with those you would like to stay in contact with after the event.
Cost: This event is free for San Francisco residents and $5 for everyone else including guests.
RSVP: Bobbi Pompey at bpompey@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7613

And hey, if you find a friend connection at Speed Friending, why not go to the Bachata Soiree on February 14 together to dance the night away?

A Bachata Valentine’s Soiree!
Friday, February 14, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Come and join us for a fun evening of food, fun, dancing, mixing and mingling. Bring your family, friends, loved ones and potential loved ones for a phenomenal night at LightHouse Headquarters that you won't forget! We will even have a Bachata Dance Teacher to give us the basic rundown of Bachata to keep the night groovy! We'll have flowers for you to give your guests, door prizes and lots of other surprises. It's going to be an incredible evening. RSVP is required. Please call or email Amber Sherrard at asherrard@lighthouse-sf.org 415-694-7353.

save the date

Save the Date

1.16
30% & Growing: Berkeley

1.17
Cookin for a Crowd, Dinner & Bingo

1.18
New Year, New You! Get Healthy in 2020

1.18
Annual ETC Winter Trip to Arnold, CA: Milestone Meetup

1.18 & 1.19
Broadway Musicals of the 1970’s. Gill Concerts to Benefit EHC

1.20
All LightHouse offices will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

1.21
Loteria (a Spanish-speaking game)

1.23
Accessible Entertainment Workshop

1.24
Food & Film Fridays

1.27
LightHouse Choir

1.30
Art Opening with Photographer Ted Tahquechi

1.30 to 2.2
Woodworking Workshop

1.31 to 2.2
Health & Wellness Retreat at Enchanted Hills Camp

1.31 to 2.2
Sensing the Seasons: Outdoor Education Retreats at Enchanted Hills Camp

2.3
Registration opens for Enchanted Hills Camp Summer Sessions

2.7
Knitting East Bay

2.7
Farmer’s Market Friday’s

2.7
Giving Blood, Giving Life: Bay Area Blind Community’s Day of Giving Blood Drive

2.7
Speed Friending: Milestone Meet-Up

This is just a sampler of the many events we host. For a complete listing click here for our online calendar or subscribe to our monthly email, LightHouse Monthly.

more
info

The LightHouse blog is the place to go for up-to-date alerts on issues affecting our community, including scholarship opportunities, LightHouse news and events. Go to http://lighthouse-sf.org/blog/.

If you are a youth who is blind or has low vision, or the parent of a youth who is blind or has low vision, you need to sign up for our new Youth Program Events List. This is the email that will tell you all about the LightHouse social, recreational and educational outings and adventures we offer each month, just for you. You’ll also hear about scholarship and other youth related educational and leadership opportunities. To sign up for our Youth Program Events List, or for more information about the program, please contact Jamey Gump, Youth services Coordinator, at 415-694-7372 or jgump@lighthouse-sf.org.

HELPFUL LIGHTHOUSE CONTACTS

Let us help you get started. Have you been thinking about coming to the LightHouse for the first time to see how you can begin a personalized series of trainings or classes?

Would you like to:

learn how to label your home electronics, organize your bills, take notes or record information or find solutions for reading print
learn how to travel with confidence in the Bay Area
learn how to use technology, magnification and other low vision solutions
learn how to read braille
take a tour of the new LightHouse offices

For any of the above and more, call Esmeralda Soto, our Information Concierge, at 415-694-7323 or email your questions to info@lighthouse-sf.org.

If you are deaf-blind or blind and hard of hearing, find out more about traveling with confidence, accessing computers and telecommunications and how to read braille by contacting Sook Hee Choi at schoi@lighthouse-sf.org or Video Phone 415-255-5906.

To volunteer or request a volunteer, contact our volunteer department at volunteer@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7320.

To order braille or tactile maps for your school, workplace or organization, contact the MAD Lab at madlab@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7349.

To talk to someone about individual or group counseling, contact Dr. Connie Conley-Jung at cjung@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7307.

To sign up for our Employment Immersion Program, contact Employment Immersion Coordinator Wanda Pearson at wpearson@lighthouse-sf.org or call 415-694-7359.

To make an appointment with our specialized Low Vision Clinic, contact the UC Berkeley Low Vision Clinic at 510-642-5726.

To make a donation, click here.

a big
thank you

The LightHouse wishes to thank its devoted friends and community partners who have recently supported us through significant gifts to help our programs grow and reach higher. These sponsors gave over $1,000 for Giving Tuesday 2019.

1. Anonymous
2. Jennison Asuncion
3. Ken and Jennifer Bunt
4. Lisa Carvalho and David Mager
5. Walt Disney Company Foundation
6. Barbara Eddy
7. Fitness SF
8. Richard Hesse
9. Robert Holloway
10. Kawakami, Barron & Lam, LLP
11. Andrew Kebbel
12. Elizabeth Laflamme
13. Barbara Lassen
14. LinkedIn
15. Jerrie Lore
16. John McGaffey
17. Karen Meryash
18. Perkins and Will Pfau Long Architects
19. Sharon and Richard Sacks
20. Regula and David Weill

shop

Adaptations Store Hours

Monday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
1st Mondays: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Tuesday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Thursdays: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Fridays: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
2nd Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Or find us online at https://adaptations.org.

donate

Donate online or send checks by mail to:

LightHouse for the Blind
1155 Market Street, 10th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103

IRS 501(c)(3) Federal Tax ID: 94-1415317

Many of our supporters like to give a gift to the LightHouse in their will, as a way to have a lasting impact on a cause that’s important to them. Click here to learn more about leaving a legacy.