They are now accepting applications for the following scholarship opportunities in North America:

• Google Lime Scholarship for Students with Disabilities – Deadline: February 5, 2012
• Google AISES Scholarship – Deadline: February 29, 2012
• Google Hispanic College Fund Scholarship – Deadline: March 1, 2012
• Google UNCF Scholarship – US Application ; Canada Application – Deadline: March 18, 2012

In addition, they are still accepting applications for the Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship (Deadline: February 6, 2012).

Links to specific scholarship Information and applications are available at http://googleforstudents.blogspot.com/2012/01/google-scholarships-in-north-america.html.

Scholarship recipients will each receive a $10,000 scholarship for the 2012-2013 academic year and will be invited to attend the all-expenses-paid annual Google Scholars’ Retreat at the Googleplex in Mountain View, CA. Scholarships will be awarded based on the strength of the applicants’ academic background and their demonstrated passion for computer science.

For complete details on all Google scholarships, visit www.google.com/jobs/scholarships.

Source: Google Scholarships

Here are two new scholarship announcements from the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International:

Scholarships for College Students – The Fred Scheigert Scholarship Program
The Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI) will award three scholarships in the amount of $3,000 each to full-time entering freshmen, undergraduate and graduate college students who are low vision, maintain a strong GPA and are involved in their school/local community. Application materials must be received by March 15. Scholarship monies will be awarded for the 2012 – 2013 academic year. To read the scholarship guidelines and complete an on-line application, please go to http://www.cclvi.org/scholarships/.  Applications will be available to submit on-line until March 15 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Questions may be directed to CCLVI at 800-733-2258.

Dr. Sam Genensky Video Magnifier Memorial Award
The Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI) announces the Dr. Sam Genensky Video Magnifier Memorial Awards. A total of five video magnifiers will be awarded to at least 2 students (K-12, undergraduate, graduate and vocational levels) and 2 non-students (adults and seniors). Applications may be submitted beginning January 25 and all materials must be received by March 31. To read the award guidelines and complete an on-line application, please go to http://www.cclvi.org/scholarships/. Applications will be available to submit on-line until March 31 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. To receive a hard copy application, please call 800-733-2258.

Source: New Scholarships Available through the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI)

Registration for 2012 Enchanted Hills Camp Sessions opens on February 1st, when the application will be available for download on our website at http://lighthouse-sf.org/programs/enchanted-hills/.

Instructions and payment information will be available on the application. Our camping sessions are extremely popular and fill up fast, so don’t delay. Applications will be accepted on a first come first served basis. For more information please contact Rich Russo at rrusso@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7352.

2012 Camping Session Dates

• Family Camp I: June 21 through June 24
• Adult Session: June 30 through July 5
• Adults with Special Needs: July 7 through July 11
• Family Camp II: July 12 through July 15
• Youth Session I (3rd through 8th Grade): July 16 through July 22
• Youth Session II (9th through 12th Grade): July 26 through
  August 4
• Blind Babies Camp: August 12 through August 14

Source: Attention Campers! Camp Registration Opens Tomorrow, February 1

The criteria for the study is as follows:

- be over 18
- be completely blind and use some form of assistive technology.
- have used ChromeOS

If you are interested in participating, please complete the short survey below. They will then schedule appointments on a first-come, first-served basis. If you have difficulty accessing the link below this paragraph, please contact Philip Strain at pstrain@google.com.

Link to survey:
http://goo.gl/MbZvR

Source: Blind Users Wanted for Chrome Usability Study

The National Federation of the Blind Scholarship Program application form is online at www.nfb.org/scholarships, along with all rules for eligibility, the list of requirements for a completed packet, and additional information. (A print application form is available upon request.)

Scholarships Include:
• 1 for $12,000
• 1 for $10,000
• 2 for $7,000 each
• 4 for $5,000 each
• 22 for $3,000 each
• Plus additional gifts for each winner

The deadline to submit the application form and all required supporting documents is March 31, 2012.

American Foundation for the Blind Scholarships
The American Foundation for the Blind, AFB, is offering 11 scholarships totaling $19,000 in 2012. Scholarships are in these amounts:

• 1 award for $500 – restricted to student in full-time graduate study, any field.
• 5 awards for $1,000 each – 4 different restrictions (graduate or undergraduate in rehabilitation field/teacher of the blind or visually impaired; graduate or undergraduate female in study of classical or religious music; graduate or undergraduate in study of engineering or computer, physical or life sciences; 2 awards restricted to undergraduate females in a four-year degree program for literature or music).
• 4 awards for $2,500 each – graduate or undergraduate in rehabilitation or education of the blind or visually impaired.
• 1 award for $3,500 – graduate or undergraduate, but preference given to new immigrants to the U.S. residing in the New York City metropolitan area.

Information and application forms are available at www.afb.org/scholarships.asp. The deadline to apply is April 30, 2012.

Source: NFB, AFB Accepting Applications for 2012 Scholarships

This exciting and interactive presentation is perfect for teachers, administrators and parents who want to know all about the latest developments in video description technology and how it can help blind and visually impaired students in every educational setting.

Topics include: 1) A teachers’ guide to using video description; 2) A comprehensive overview of resources for obtaining described materials; and 3) A sneak peak at the description technologies of the future being developed at the Video Description Research and Development Center, VDRDC.

This innovative webinar is presented by the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP), in collaboration with the Video Description Research and Development Center (VDRDC) and the Description Leadership Network (DLN). Register now at http://webinars.dcmp.org/ to reserve your seat at the table.

Source: Video Description for the 21st Century Classroom

If you are a teacher who needs to know how to use the latest screen reading technology, an IT professional who needs to support blind clients, a student or current Window-Eyes customer who needs to know how to get the most out of Window-Eyes; then Window-Eyes training is made just for you.

When: Tuesday, February 7 and Wednesday, February 8
Where: LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters

What do you get when you sign up for Window-Eyes training?

You get. . .

* Hands-on training with a GW Micro certified trainer
* The entire two-day curriculum on CD
* Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook using Window-Eyes advanced Office technology features
* Knowledge of the Internet and how to use it to its full advantage with Window-Eyes
* Knowledge of how to customize your computer, making graphics, words, and colors speak the way you want them to
* Continuing Education Units (for an additional fee)
* Many more skills. Check out www.gwmicro.com/training for more information

Unlike other training courses that can cost up to $1000 per day, the complete, two-day Window-Eyes training is only $650 per student. Check with your Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) counselor to see if this expense is covered under your DOR plan.

If you have any questions regarding the training, please contact Kimberly Cline at 260-489-3671 or kimberly@gwmicro.com for more information.

To sign up for the training, please register at https://www.gwmicro.com/Training/Window-Eyes_Training/Registration/. Make sure to select San Francisco, CA as the location for training. For more information, check out www.gwmicro.com/wetraining.

Source: Window-Eyes training by GW Micro

If you have been unable to successfully tag on or tag off using a Clipper Card at a Caltrain station, have been unable to locate Clipper Card tagging machines due to the absence of tactile directional floor tiles, or have had to seek the assistance of a sighted person due to the inaccessibility of Clipper Card tagging machines, Disability Rights Advocates would like to talk to you. To share your stories, please contact Scott Murray by phone at 510-665-8644 or by e-mail at smurray@dralegal.org.

Source: Have you Had Problems Using Clipper Cards?

We are seeking a professional with an exceptional service attitude for the position of Turndown Attendant. They will be responsible to reset guest rooms and bathroom areas in a thoughtful manner in accordance with the St. Regis brand standards. They will organize linen closets on floors assigned and complete assignments accurately, and in a timely manner.

To Apply:

Click Link http://www.starwoodhotels.com/corporate/careers/index.html

Click Find a Job section

Search for location, San Francisco

Company Description

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 1000 properties in over 100 countries, is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Sheraton, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton, W, Le Meriden, Aloft and ElementSM. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
EEO/AA/M/F/D/V Drug Free Workplace

Source: Turndown Attendant – Starwood Hotel S.F. – St Regis

You must create a profile on the Job Aps

http://jobaps.com/sf/sup/BulPreview.asp?R1=PEX&R2=2910&R3=058535

Source: Employment Opportunity: Social Worker – City and County of San Francisco

When: Tuesday, January 24, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Where: Ed Roberts Campus (Osher Room), 3075 Adeline St., Berkeley 94703

Sponsored by the Workers’ Rights Disability Law Clinic, a project of the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center (LAS-ELC) and the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF).

For more information, please call 415-864-8848 or email WRDLC@las-elc.org.

Listen in by conference call at 800-450-7156, passcode 5009434.

Source: Workshop: ‘There are No IEPs in College’

This afternoon class is designed to encourage you to playfully stretch, breathe, laugh, open and move into the rhythm of your power…

Nancy Yates, Yoga Instructor
Refreshments (chai and strawberries) served

When: Saturday, January 21, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Where: LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters
RSVP encouraged, contact:  Brandon Young at byoung@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7372

Source: This Saturday – Yoga Workshop

Although these technologies can make our lives easier, Redbox, a video rental giant, has chosen to use self-service kiosks with touch-screen controls that exclude the blind from using its services. Blind Californians cannot use touch-screen kiosks that offer only visually based controls.

A class action lawsuit filed today in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California challenges Redbox’s inaccessible kiosks. The lawsuit is the first of its kind in the country. The suit is brought by the LightHouse, as well as five blind individuals, on behalf of blind and visually impaired people throughout California.

Plaintiffs are represented by Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), a non-profit disability rights legal center headquartered in Berkeley, California, that specializes in high-impact cases on behalf of people with disabilities. Plaintiffs are also represented by the Law Offices of Jay Koslofsky; Mr. Koslofsky is an experienced civil rights attorney.

Redbox has a major share of the video rental market. Redbox DVD rentals account for approximately 34% of the DVD rental market nationwide. According to Redbox, almost 60 million videos are rented from its kiosks nationally each month. Redbox kiosks can be found at thousands of businesses throughout California including Save Mart, which is a business that is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

For generations, blind and visually impaired people have watched and enjoyed movies as an ordinary part of daily life. Blind people with some remaining vision may watch films on their own or with sighted friends and family who can describe the details and actions of a film. In addition, many blind people enjoy watching dialogue-driven films.

Plaintiff Lisamaria Martinez is a legally blind resident of Union City, California. ”I love watching movies with my husband and son and would like to independently rent movies for my family at Redboxes,” Martinez said.

Plaintiff Joshua Saunders is a legally blind resident of El Cerrito, California, who enjoys watching movies with friends and family. “I’m not asking for the world here but simply for the ability to rent DVDs from Redboxes just like everyone else can,” Saunders said.

Redbox’s inaccessible touch-screen kiosks shut out a large and growing community of blind Californians. It is estimated that 100,000 Californians are legally blind and as the population continues to age, the number of adults with vision loss will increase.

The technology exists to make self-service kiosks accessible to the blind. Accessible ATMs and iPhones make use of tactile controls and/or screen reading software that enables blind people to use these devices.

“A lack of accessibility in newly emerging forms of commerce is a symptom of the overall growing technological divide that blind people experience when companies fail to build in accessible features at the onset,” said Bryan Bashin, LightHouse Executive Director/CEO.

“Technology is a double-edged sword. It has the power to enable millions, but it can disable many Americans far more than it enables them if accessibility is not built into technology at the beginning,” said Jay Koslofsky, plaintiffs’ attorney of the Law Offices of Jay Koslofsky.

“Redbox is shutting out thousands of Californians from its services because it refuses to make its technology accessible to blind consumers,” said Michael Nunez, plaintiffs’ attorney of Disability Rights Advocates.

About Disability Rights Advocates (DRA)
Disability Rights Advocates is a non-profit legal center which, for nearly twenty years, has specialized in high-impact class action litigation on behalf of people with all types of disabilities. DRA litigates nationally and has offices in New York City and Berkeley, California.

About Law Offices of Jay Koslofsky
Jay Koslofsky is an attorney in private practice with more than 30 years of experience. He specializes in civil rights cases and class action litigation.

Source: LightHouse and Blind Individuals File Class Action Lawsuit against Redbox for Failing to Provide Accessible Self-Service Kiosks

Braille Challenge is an academic contest for school-age youth in grades 1 to 12 who read Braille. It serves to encourage blind children of all ages to fine-tune their braille skills, which are essential to their academic and employment success in the sighted world. This is the only national academic competition for blind students in the United States and is a program of the Braille Institute of America.

WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 2012, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Santa Clara Valley Blind Center, 101 North Bascom Ave., San Jose, CA 95128
EVENT CONTACT PERSON: Alice McGrath, amcgrath@vistacenter.org, 650-858-0202, ext. 130
HOW TO REGISTER: Download and complete the registration form and send to:

Vista Center
Attn: Alice McGrath
2470 El Camino Real, Ste. 107
Palo Alto CA  94306
Fax: 650-858-0214

Registration forms are due Feb. 3, 2012.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Teachers for the visually impaired, transcribers and braillists are needed to serve as proctors and scorers for this exciting event. Contact Alice McGrath to sign up.

For more information about the Braille Challenge, go to www.braillechallenge.org.

Source: Register by Feb. 3 for 2012 Braille Challenge

Through the program parents will receive the tools, support and confidence needed to become their child’s first cane travel teacher. Providing children with an early start to independent movement and travel ensures that children will be more confident and curious travelers throughout life.

Families participating in the program will receive a free child-sized white cane, “Travel Tales” (a quarterly e-newsletter), an informational DVD and more.

To learn about this program or to register, please visit www.nfb.org/earlyexplorers, email earlyexplorers@nfb.org or call 410-659-9314, ext. 2418.

Source: NFB Early Explorers Program

Friday, February 3, 2012
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Orientation Center for the Blind (OCB)
400 Adams Street, Albany, CA 94706
(Lunch, refreshments and networking opportunities included)

Topics to be covered during this seminar include:
•        Junior Blind’s STEP Mobile Learning Program in Northern and Central California
•        Junior Blind’s recreational programs for youth
•        Services provided by the California Department of Rehabilitation
•        Independent living options available after high school
•        What it takes to be successful from the point of view of current college students
•        Mobile adaptive technology and trends

To RSVP or to be notified of upcoming STEP workshops, contact Richard Rueda, Junior Blind Director of Transition Services, at rrueda@juniorblind.org or 510-926-9837. Additional workshops may be offered in your region upon request. Visit their website for more information.

Source: STEP Workshop for Blind High School Students

Participants will learn appropriate exercises for strength, flexibility and endurance; healthy eating; relaxation and stress-reduction techniques; medication management; and about working more effectively with healthcare providers.

Participants will make weekly action plans, share experiences and
help each other solve problems they encounter

WHEN: Begins Wednesday, January 11 from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. and continues for the following five Wednesdays: Jan. 18 and 25, and Feb. 2, 9 and 16
WHERE: Community Room at Curry Senior Center, 315 Turk St., San Francisco
TO PRE-REGISTER (required) please call: Christian Intemann, 415-346-6380 ext. 111 or Jane Lev, 415-255-3614

Source: Free Six-Week Diabetes Management Workshop

Source: Bill Barker’s Braille Radio Reading Room – January 2012

Source: LightHouse News – Winter 2012 – Jan-Mar 2012

Source: LightHouse Closed for the Holidays

Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), a non-profit legal center, is investigating complaints regarding barriers that people with mobility impairments and people who are blind or low vision have encountered at areas of construction or other work zones along pedestrian routes.

When pedestrian paths are closed or partially blocked due to construction, maintenance or other conditions, any pedestrian detours or the remaining unblocked pathway that is provided must be accessible.

If you have a mobility impairment, are blind or have low vision, and have experienced any of the following barriers when pedestrian pathways are affected by construction or other activities, we would like to hear from you:

- Pedestrian detours without ramps over sharp vertical steps, drop-offs or curbs
- Use of yellow tape to alert pedestrians to the detour or of the hazardous condition
- Use of unsecured cones or A-frames to alert pedestrians of the temporary route or condition
- Pedestrian detours that have steep slopes or cross-slopes
- Lack of detectable warnings at pedestrian detours that cross roads or vehicle traffic
- Objects protruding into the path of travel along the pedestrian detour
- Pedestrian detours that are less than 36 inches wide
- Narrowing of the existing pathway to less than 36 inches wide
- Open trenches or other hazardous conditions posing dangers to pedestrians
- Use of signage that is only accessible to sighted pedestrians
- Loose gravel, unsecured plywood or other terrain that is not firm, stable and slip-resistant
- Other hazardous or inaccessible conditions along pedestrian detours

If you have encountered barriers like these, please let us know. Send a description of the barrier, along with any cell phone or other photos you can take of the problem, to PedDetours@dralegal.org. Please include your name and contact information as well.

We would appreciate any details about the barrier that you can provide, including:

- The location of the barrier
- When you encountered it
- Whether the barrier seems very short-term
- Whether the barrier seems longer-term
- Who appears to have created the barrier
- Who has jurisdiction over the blocked pathway

You can also reach us by phone. Call Zack Duffly at 510-665-8644 to share your story.

Source: Disability Rights Advocates Seeks Comments About Pedestrian Pathway Barriers

When: Tuesday, January 24, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Where: LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters

The LightHouse advocacy team is examining the process in which travelers who are blind or visually impaired are assisted at various U.S. airports. The team is trying to determine if there are systematic failures with the current procedures. Have you been placed in holding areas for the disabled? Are you told to use wheelchairs even if you do not need one? Have you missed flights because of delays in “assistance”? Are you treated with respect?

Please join the discussion. Light refreshments will be served. To RSVP and for more information contact Beth Berenson at 415-694-7322 or bberenson@lighthouse-sf.org.

Source: Calling All Domestic Airline Travelers

Source: Bill Barker’s Braille Radio Reading Room – December 2011

The slide exhibition of art by artists with disabilities has been developed in partnership with the Access Advisors of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and the Art and Disabilities Network.

The theme for Art Slam 2012 is Disability: Experience, Feelings, Politics and Realities. Artists are asked to address that theme in their work and statement, if possible. The show will include one work and a brief artist’s statement that will be screened alongside each artwork.

Art Slam 2012 will be shown in the Koret Auditorium at the de Young Museum on March 31, 2012, during the Access Advisors Open House and Disability Arts Festival. There will be a preliminary screening on March 29, 2012. Thereafter, Art Slam will be available on the de Young Museum website.

There is no entry fee. Art Slam 2012 is open to all artists with disabilities who are at least 18 years old.

All entries must be postmarked no later than January 31, 2012. Only 200 entries can be accommodated, and the art will be accepted in the order received. By February 15, 2012, artists will be informed if their work is to be included in Art Slam.

For more information and an application contact Tish Brown via phone at 415-750-7645 or email tbrown@famsf.org.

Source: Art Slam 2012 Accepting Submissions

Traditionally, holidays signaled a time for connection with loved ones….a moment to ritualistically pause and enjoy each other and the gifts that love provides. Today, in the midst of the collective “commercialization and restlessness” it is challenging to just pause and inhabit calm.

Whatever your holiday experience is, this afternoon is designed to “Inhabit Now, Now” with awareness while we are playfully stretching, breathing, opening and moving into the rhythm of now.

Join us for a wonderful workshop of stretching and breathing, calm and freedom.

When: Saturday, December 17, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Where: LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters, 214 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco

For more information, contact Brandon Young at 415-694-7372 or byoung@lighthouse-sf.org.

Source: Join Us Saturday for Our Monthly Yoga Workshop: ‘Inhabit Now, Now’

This morning, BART issued the following bulletin:

STREET-LEVEL ELEVATOR
OUT-OF-SERVICE
AT CIVIC CENTER STATION
December 14, 15 and 16

We apologize for the inconvenience that will be caused by the street-level elevator repair at Civic Center Station. The flooring needs to be replaced and the work should take no more than 3 days to complete.

While the repairs are going on, the elevator will not be available for use. Passengers who rely on the elevator should plan to use the elevator at a different station. We hope that once the work is complete, it will result in many more years of trouble-free operation.

Thank you for your patience.

To check the operational status of the elevators at nearby stations, please call 510-834-LIFT or 888-2-ELEVAT.

If you need language assistance services, please call BART’s Transit Information Center at (510) 465-2278.

Source: Elevator Out of Service at Civic Center Station December 14, 15 and 16

A LightHouse ‘Love and Intimacy’ Workshop Series

Are blind people naturally better in bed? Can blindness be sexy? Join the ‘Building Meaningful Relationships’ crew for a discussion of these and many other sex positive topics in our final workshop of the year, Sex: Questions and Answers.

When: Saturday, December 10, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Where: LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters

In our two previous workshops we have explored the excitement of flirting, examined the possible pitfalls of dependence, and now we are hosting an A to Z discussion about sex in the blind community which promises to be our most inspiring topic to date!

Sex can be an exciting topic; however, we are aware that for some it can be an embarrassing topic as well. For this reason we will not require that workshop participants share anything personal with the group. Feel free to come, and simply listen. Adults 18 and over are invited to join us in creating a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental space. The “Building Meaningful Relationships” workshop series is guided by blind professional therapists, counselors and psychologists; these workshops fill a much-requested need we hear from our community. And we expect to break some new ground!

Our first workshop installment, Flirting While Blind, sparked much enthusiasm and interest for more in-depth discussion and sharing of ideas to help us connect better with people who we want to get to know more intimately. The second workshop of the series, Navigating Love & Intimacy, focused on the ways in which disability and dependence can affect relationships. Now, for our final installment of the year, Sex: Questions and Answers, we will explore the areas of sex, gender, and culture. Visually impaired individuals, couples, and couples with mixed abilities are all encouraged to come and share their experiences, or just listen.

Whether this will be your first workshop or you are a returning participant, come and enjoy some refreshments, and enlightening conversation. Please RSVP by December 9 to Brandon Young at byoung@lighthouse-sf.org.

This workshop is free of charge. Voluntary donations of $5.00 to $15.00 are encouraged for those who are able. We’ll see you there!

Source: This Weekend! Building Meaningful Relationships

Our next jobsite excursion will take place on Wednesday, November 30th. We will be visiting Catherine Kudlick, a UC Davis history professor. We will be using the LightHouse’s office space at the Ed Roberts Campus to facilitate the meeting.

Cathy teaches courses in European history, women’s history, disability history and history of medicine. She has published two books and numerous articles on topics related to epidemics, as well as the history of blind people in France and the United States. Her job entails a lot of writing and research, delivering lectures, meeting with students, and traveling to share her work with people across the United Sates and in Europe.

Please RSVP by Tuesday, November 29, as space is limited.

To register for the Jobsite Conversation Series, or to find out more about it, please contact:

Rich Russo
Community Services Program Assistant
(415) 694-7352
rrusso@lighthouse-sf.org

Source: UC Davis History Professor is Focus of Next LightHouse Jobsite Series Visit

The San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency is analyzing the environmental impact of three BRT build alternatives and one design variation. They include:

• Dedicated bus lanes, helping reduce transit travel time by 32%.
• Transit signal priority, giving buses more green lights and helping increase transit reliability by up to 50%.
• Faster, level boarding through all doors to reduce transit delays by more than 40%.
• These benefits are estimated to contribute to a 35% increase in transit ridership along the corridor.
• While undergoing planning and design, the project received the FTA’s highest rating for cost-effectiveness several years in a row, an indication of its high benefit-to-cost ratio.

A Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) is available for public review and comment for 45 days, with all comments due December 19 (see How to Read and Comment on the EIS/EIR). The document compares BRT alternatives to conditions without BRT and documents how the BRT alternatives would affect a range of issues.

A formal public hearing for the EIS/EIR will take place on November 30 and an online webinar will take place on December 5 (see details below).

• The public hearing will be held on November 30, 2011, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Golden Gateway, 1500 Van Ness Ave. The event will include an open house from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. with staff available to answer questions, followed by a short presentation. A court reporter will be available during the public hearing to take verbal comments on the EIS/EIR.
• A webinar will be held on December 5, 2011, at noon. Register here.
• The next meeting of the Van Ness Avenue BRT Citizens Advisory Committee, open to the public, will be held on Tuesday, November 15, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the SFCTA offices, 100 Van Ness Ave., 26th floor.

Source: Bus Rapid Transit on Van Ness Avenue – Public Comment on Environmental Impact Accepted through Dec. 19

Apple TV (and all things accessible from Apple)
BraillePen Slim and BraillePen 12 (Bluetooth Braille enabled access tool for your smartphone or computer)
PenFriend (voice labeling system)
Dolphin Guide (simple talking computer software)
The Wilson (digital voice recorder)
iBill (talking money identifier)
SleepPhones (comfortable headphones for sleeping)

Click here to take survey

Source: Technology Seminar: Accessible Gifts – the December Dilemma – 11/15/11

If someone is newly blind or learning a neighborhood from scratch, having access to maps is a real asset. But for blind people, obtaining maps has been difficult and expensive.

The LightHouse is making significant change in this area by developing accessible transit maps to enhance the ability of blind and visually impaired individuals to effectively use public transit in the Bay Area.

We are developing, and will distribute, “strip maps,” which will present concise information about selected transit routes in Braille and large print. The strip maps will be developed for BART, Muni, SamTrans and Caltrain routes.

We need your help to select additional transit routes for which we may produce strip maps in the future. Currently, our highest priority will be to make strip maps for additional Muni and Samtrans routes, particularly routes serving the Market Street corridor or routes linking to BART or Caltrain, but your recommendations about routes throughout the Bay Area are welcome.

Click here to take the survey

For more information about this project please call Frank Welte at 415-694-7363 or send email to fwelte@lighthouse-sf.org.

Source: LightHouse Seeks Community Feedback for Transit-Mapping Project

Traditionally, the holidays signal a time for connection with loved ones….a moment to pause and enjoy one another and the gifts that love provides. Today, in the midst of all the collective “commercialization and strife” it is challenging to pause and remember our heart-felt sacredness and calm.

Whatever your holiday experience is, this afternoon is designed to open you to the creative, playful (giggling), wise and loving transformational energy of our Beautiful Breath and the healing tools of yoga.  Together we will explore dynamic and meditative yoga practices to awaken and open the heart for greater joy and connection to the rhythm of your life-force.

Join us for a wonderful workshop of stretching, breathing, relaxation and freedom, led by yoga instructor Nancy Yates.

When: Saturday, November 19th, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Where: LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters
Strawberries and Chai tea will be served
For more information, contact Brandon Young at 415-694-7372 or byoung@lighthouse-sf.org.

Source: This Saturday! A Special Yoga Workshop – Embracing Your Sacred Heart

Ten respondents will be chosen at random to receive a free Stream SoftPak upgrade to their device. Participation ends November 20, 2011, and the winners will be announced on November 21, 2011.

Information provided in survey responses will be treated as confidential for HumanWare use only.

Source: Victor Reader Stream Survey

Yoh, a leading provider of talent and outsourcing services, has an immediate, Part Time or Full Time , opportunity for a Staffing Specialist to join our Yoh RPO team at our client’s site in San Ramon, California .

GENERAL DUTIES :

The Staffing Specialist provides general Recruiting and HR Administrative services. This position supports our client by providing HR support and customer service.

JOB DUTIES:

- Initiate Job Posting & submit updates for current job postings during the recruitment process

- Review applicant resumes, disposition applicants, phone screen, and forward chosen candidates to the hiring manager

- Monitor and update applicant data in ATS to meet compliance regulations

- Responsible for coordinating all interview details

- Coordinate & facilitate interview debriefs

- Work with manager to coordinate and collect results for any necessary applicant testing during hiring process

- Review and coordinate collection of all HR Compliance documentation for hiring processes including applications, I-9’s, etc.

- Generate, Submit with Supporting Documentation & serve as Point of Contact for all inquiries regarding offer requests

- Track & Provide reporting / metrics on all recruitment and staffing activity: recruiting, posting activity, offer (accept/decline), and onboarding progresses and provide updates to managers

- Monitor, Follow up, & Support Background and Drug Screen Progress prior to start date.

- Submit drug screen packet & background requests for current client employees as needed for any special off-site projects

- Efficiently execute all details of the onboarding/welcome process

- Answer all appropriate Candidate Questions or refer to the correct source of information within 2 business days.

- Process candidate expenses and provide monthly special purpose account rollup

- Serve as Point of Contact on staffing process, , for Client Hiring Managers, HRMs, & applicants

- Complete & submit transaction forms to request employee record changes

- Coordinate and facilitate manager training sessions

- Execute necessary components of the employee exit process including client record update and equipment deactivation requests.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:

- Ability to organize work assignments and work independently.

- Ability to multi-task, meet deadlines, and work in a fast paced environment.

- Exceptional attention to detail, interpersonal, and organizational skills a MUST.

- Familiarity with the broader HR Process, with an in-depth understanding of Staffing processes

- Proficient computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite, including a must.

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

- Ability to work in an ambiguous environment, anticipate needs proactively, and see the bigger picture

- Experience with Oracle HR or a similar employee database tool preferred. Experience with ATS (e.g. Brassring/Hiresytems)

- High levels of proficiency in PowerPoint & Excel

MINIMUM EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

- Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Human Resources, and/or Business, or 3+ years of HR related experience.

- Minimum of 2 years experience in human resources or a degree in a related field

Discover all that’s possible with Yoh. Apply now.

Recruiter: Jaime Leben

Yoh, a Day & Zimmermann Company, is an Equal Opportunity Employer,

Source: Employment Opportunity: YOH Staffing Specialist – San Ramon

Position Description

FACILITY INFORMATION

CHW Medical Foundation (CHWMF), established in 1993, is affiliated with Catholic Healthcare West – the fifth largest hospital system in the nation -, with 40 hospitals and medical centers in California, Arizona and Nevada. Today, CHWMF works hand-in-hand with medical groups throughout northern California to provide comprehensive healthcare services to the many communities we serve.

As CHWMF continues to grow and , establish new premier medical groups, we provide increasing support and investment in the latest technologies, finest physicians and state-of-the-art medical facilities. We strive to create purposeful work settings where staff can provide great care, while advancing in knowledge and experience through challenging work assignments and stimulating relationships. Our staff is well-trained and highly skilled, qualities that are vital to maintaining excellence in care and service

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

The Medical Office Representative (MOR) position is often the first point of contact for our patients, physicians, other clinic staff, internal and external laboratory and imaging staff, hospital staff, patient family members, and vendors. The MOR provides superior customer service, communications, and appropriate distribution of phone calls and messages. The Office Representative may also perform a variety of other duties including but not limited to collecting and updating demographics and insurance information, verification of health plan eligibility, taking complete and accurate messages, and scheduling mutually acceptable appointment times utilizing an electronic practice management system. The Office Representative may also be asked to perform other clerical duties as needed and requested to support daily clinic operation goals, bench marks, and quality patient care initiatives per departmental guidelines.

Requirements:

High School diploma or equivalent. Six (6) month’s experience in an outpatient setting as a Medical Office Receptionist preferred; or an equivalent amount of experience in a high-volume customer service role in another industry/environment; or 6 months experience as a Phone Receptionist or Health Information Associate within CHW Medical Foundation.Familiarity with an electronic practice management system is preferred. Experience with multi-line phones/ACD phones preferred. Medical terminology preferred.

Please copy and paste the link below, into your browser bar, or go to http://www.sanfranciscodiversity.com to find more opportunities like this one.

http://www.sanfranciscodiversity.com/jobs.asppagemode=15&jid=2523955&utm_campaign=JCpartner&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=jobLink&utm_content=v1

Source: Employment Opportunity: Catholic Healthcare West – Administration

Our next jobsite excursion will take place on Wednesday, November 16th. We will be visiting Gena Harper, Senior Vice President-Wealth Management, Senior Investment Management Consultant and a CIMA at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Berkeley, California.

Gena was born with glaucoma and is totally blind in one eye and can see very little with the other. Nevertheless, she became a financial consultant at 22 and is one of the few blind people in the investment industry in the United States.

Gena has served on the Glaucoma Research Foundation Board and also on the Governor’s Committee for the Employment of Disabled Persons. She is past President of the Downtown Berkeley YMCA and is a Junior Girl Scout troop leader for fourth and fifth graders. In 1995, Gena became the first recipient of The Glaucoma Foundation Award of Merit. Her passions include downhill skiing, rock climbing and tandem cycling.

Gena also sits on the LightHouse Board. She had this to say about her decision to commit her time to this pursuit:

“I think I can make a big difference in the lives of blind people by mentoring and setting a good example. I also would like to motivate and inspire others to set big goals and accomplish their dreams, and to know they can become extraordinary people in spite of having a disability of any kind.”

Please RSVP by Tuesday, November 15th, as space is limited.

To register for the Jobsite Conversation Series, or to find out more about it, please contact:

Rich Russo
Community Services Program Assistant
(415) 694-7352
rrusso@lighthouse-sf.org

Source: Join Us for Jobsite Visit to Morgan Stanley Smith Barney – Register by Nov. 15

Source: Bill Barker’s Braille Radio Reading Room – November 2011

• Red tickets (for individuals with disabilities) and green tickets (for seniors) will continue to be sold but only at nine locations.
• BART faregates will always accept red and green tickets.
• Clipper is the most convenient way to pay discount fares.
• The RTC Discount Card is also a Clipper card so if you have one you’re ready to make the move now!

Once you get the hang of it, you’ll see that paying by RTC/Clipper or Senior Clipper card is easier than dealing with red or green tickets. And, of course, you’ll get the 62.5% discount each time you take a trip!

Here’s how to use the RTC/Clipper and Senior Clipper card:
First, you need to load money on your RTC Discount Card or Senior Clipper card. Use cash or credit or debit card.

• You can do this at ticket vending machines in all BART stations.
• Or, you can call or go online to Clipper Customer Service.

Now, you’re ready to use your RTC Discount or Senior Clipper card to pay your fare.

• As you enter and exit, touch your card to the Clipper disk on the faregate. It’s the raised round blue disk on top. If you’re using the accessible gate, you’ll find the disk to your right on the side of the faregate.
• As you exit, check the faregate display. You’ll see the discount fare paid and your card balance.

What you’ll love best about using your RTC or Senior Clipper Card:

• You can put money on your card in BART stations. No more searching for a vendor that sells red or green BART tickets before you make a trip.
• You can add whatever amount works best for you instead of being limited to a set denomination red or green BART ticket. And, you can use cash or credit or debit card and order by phone or online, too.
• You’ll never have to deal with leftover tickets again.
• You can check the card balance at any ticket vending machine before you start the trip and add money if you don’t have enough.
• You’ll know the true fare for each trip you take since your card will be charged the 62.5% discount fare as you exit.

You can get in-station help from a BART station agent or you can call the BART Transit Information Center (510-465-2278) or Clipper Customer Service (877-878-8883), or go online to http://bart.gov/ or https://clippercard.com.

RTC Discount Cards are issued to individuals with qualifying disabilities. Call your local transit agency for an application.

You can apply for a Senior Clipper card at one of BART’s outreach events, at the Lake Merritt BART station or at any other local transit agency.

Source: Important Information for Red and Green BART Ticket Users

First prize will include airfare to the convention for the winner and a companion, hotel accommodations, the convention registration fee and a banquet ticket, and the opportunity to meet and spend time with a whole organization of blind veterans. Entry to the contest is available here.

For more information about the contest or the National Association of Blind Veterans, please visit www.nabv.org or call Dwight Sayer at 407-877-8668.

Source: Blind Veterans: Enter to Win a Trip to the NFB Convention

This year APH hosted two multiple disabilities focus groups: birth to grade 12 in March and adults in June. Each group helped create a product needs survey.

APH invites you to take the survey that addresses the specific population with whom you work or parent, or the group of which you are a member. The survey links will be available until November 15, 2011.

Children Birth to Grade 12 Product Needs Survey

Adult Product Needs Survey

Source: Give APH Your Input – Survey Deadline Extended to Nov. 15

Peruvian Highlands: Cusco, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu, Peru, July 8 to 17, 2012

The Peruvian highlands are an ideal landscape to experience the power of a determined human spirit and to challenge yourself as a leader. Spend the first three days experiencing culture in the city of Cusco and the breathtaking Sacred Valley and the next five days hiking through spectacular mountain vistas and ancient Inca ruins.

Rim to River: Grand Canyon, Arizona, July 20 to 31, 2012

Spend the first three days engaging in service and experiencing the vast culture of the area on the South Rim of the Canyon and the next seven days on the upper half of the world-renowned Colorado River. The team will raft exhilarating whitewater, float through calm stretches and journey by foot through slot canyons.

Full scholarships are available, including special scholarships designated for participants from Massachusetts and the Pacific Northwest.

The deadline to apply is Friday, November 18, 2011.

If you have any questions or would like more information (braille and large print materials are available), please contact Laura Portalupi at laura@globalexplorers.org or 1-877-627-1425. Learn more about Global Explorers at their site.

Source: Global Explorers Welcomes Blind Student Applicants

The Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind recently published an article about non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder and about improving sleep and alertness in the blind. Read it here.

Source: Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder – Are You Affected?

In September 2011 the LightHouse offered its very first Employment Summit, a series of presentations and networking opportunities dedicated exclusively to blind and visually impaired jobseekers. Watch or listen to any or all of the 24 lively, informative, inspirational and interactive presentations from the Summit. // WATCH // LISTEN

Source: Watch or Listen to our 2011 Employment Summit Presentations!

Enroll by Friday, November 4!

Last summer we gave children attending Enchanted Hills Camp the opportunity to participate in “Science Camp”. Well we have great news! The LightHouse, in partnership with Howtosmile.org, the Lawrence Hall of Science, and CINVESTAV México is offering a special opportunity to experience two multi-sensory science classes designed especially for K12 students.

Science instructors Sherry Hsi and Cristina Reynaga, from the Lawrence Hall of Science, ran our very successful Science Camp this summer and are looking for enthusiastic kids who might be interested in participating in these classes.

When: Saturday, November 5
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon OR 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Where: LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters

Please note: space is limited to 10 participants per workshop. Please enroll by November 4, 2011!

See below for details on each workshop.

If you are interested in having your child participate or would like to learn more, contact Brandon Young at byoung@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7372.

Class Descriptions

Class No. 1 – Modeling Cells and Making Musical Instruments
Ever wanted to get hands-on experience with several sides of science? Would you like to spend a morning learning about microscopic cells and how sound travels? Want to feel how all the structures in a cell fit together? In this “make and take” science and art workshop, it’s all about getting involved and learning with no barriers. Now it’s your turn to use your hands to learn about cells, as well as construct amazing musical instruments using everyday materials while learning about how sound travels, how ears work, and the concept of vibration and waves.

Grade Level: 4th to 6th grade
Enrollment Limit: 10
When: November 5th, 2011, 10:00 a.m. – 12 noon
Location: LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters

Class No. 2 – Exploring the Secret Lives of Molds, Fungi, Yeast
Ever wondered how the largest organism on earth grew? Want to learn what you and yeast have in common? Couldn’t participate in a dissection in your class because the teacher wouldn’t let you dive in with your hands? If you’re a Middle or High school student interested in science, this hands-on workshop may teach you more than you ever expected to learn about living things microscopic and larger. Discover the world of microscopic fungi, how they grow and reproduce and their role in everyday life. You will conduct experiments, use tactile models, and build with arts and craft materials to explore the hidden worlds of single and multi-cellular organisms.

Grade Level: 7th to 12th grade
Enrollment Limit: 10
When: November 5th, 2011, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Where: LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters

Logistics
There is no charge to attend the workshop. Sign up today to reserve your place in this free activity. As space is limited we’ll reserve your place on a first-come, first-served basis.

Food will not be served at this event. Students should plan to bring snacks and a bag lunch.

Click here to read about this summer’s Science Camp at Enchanted Hills: http://conta.cc/ehcscience

Source: Enrollment Deadline Extended to This Friday! Science at the LightHouse – Workshop for Kids on November 5

If you’d like to donate towards Chris’ goal, just click here to see his dedicated page: http://lighthouse-sf.org/supportchris/. Thank you!

Chris Downey and Hans Bogdanos on the Golden Gate Bridge

The “LightHouse Blind Cycle Challenge” on Sunday, October 23 lived up to its name as my captains and I rode 64 miles (100km) from the door of the LightHouse in San Francisco to the lighthouse at the southern tip of Point Reyes. Not only did the name celebrate the lighthouse at either end of the ride but it also captured the challenge that played out between the two points – especially the final 15 miles!

To our delight, the day was sunny and warm from start to finish. Heading out of the LightHouse on Van Ness at 8 a.m., we went for a majestic start loop around City Hall before cutting over to Folsom Street to head east to the Embarcadero. We made it around the waterfront before the locals hit the Ferry Building and before the tourists had a chance to descend upon Fisherman’s Wharf. Even the ride across the Golden Gate Bridge was sunny, clear and warm without the powerful gusts of wind that so commonly encircle the towers.

From there we continued north through Sausalito, along a string of bike trails, then rode through the towns of Larkspur, Ross, San Anselmo and Fairfax before clearing the hustle and bustle of Sunday morning Marin coffee traffic. We made quick work of White’s Hill before dropping into the San Geronimo Valley and then riding north to Nicasio. After a brief stretch and an energy bar, we continued around the Nicasio Reservoir, and out to Point Reyes Station where we met my wife and son, Rosa and Renzo. Thinking we had sufficiently “tamed the beast”, we feasted on hearty lunches. We slipped into a premature sense of success, thinking that the end was just around Tomales Bay and beyond Inverness, on the Point Reyes Seashore. Little did we know, the real challenge was about to begin.

Cresting over the hills west of Inverness we heard the sounds of the roaring coastline and felt a false sense of achievement. We began our proud descent down the narrow road that we thought would take us right to the lighthouse. A quick glance at the odometers at the base of the descent was our wake-up call that something else was in store for us: there were 15 miles to go! We spent those next 15 miles traversing the ups and downs of undulating country roads between wind-swept pastures. Cyclists affectionately call these “rollers”.  At this point in our ride, we could think of a few other things to call them.

Our final half-mile was a rather steep ascent up to the cliffs above the lighthouse. We slowed to a pitiful 3.5 mile per hour pace. At times like this, it’s beneficial not to see the climb ahead. There’s no chance to be defeated or demoralized by the sight, so you just hunker down and get into an easy sustainable spin.  At the end, despite fears of the usual cold and windy fog that typifies the Point Reyes peninsula, the sun graced us warmly as we crossed the finish line.

My captains Mike Brown and Hans Bogdanos did a great job piloting the tandem from start to finish with a tag team trade-off between a solo bike and my tandem. These two treasured friends have been riding with me since only four months after I unexpectedly lost all sight, just over three and a half years ago. In particular Mike, an old riding partner of mine, confidently declared (while I was still in the hospital, having lost all sight just days before) that we would start riding tandem together as soon as I was out. Riding with these guys and for the LightHouse made for a most spectacular and memorable ride. There was so much karma in the air that the sun had to glow from start to finish.

Thanks to all who supported the ride, and it’s not too late for those that would still like to take the opportunity to contribute through the first ever LightHouse Blind Cycle Challenge. Together we can reach the goal of $10,000 in support of this wonderful organization that has been and continues to be so critical to Bay Area children, adults and seniors – and even an architect like me, to build or re-build a meaningful, successful and exciting life without sight.

Donate towards Chris’ goal by clicking here: http://lighthouse-sf.org/supportchris/. Thank you!

Source: Chris Downey Takes On the LightHouse Blind Cycle Challenge

Our next jobsite excursion will take place on Wednesday, November 9th. We will be visiting Jim Barbour, Principal Systems Architect at Yahoo.

Jim has been working at Yahoo for 2 1/2 years. He leads small teams of engineers through projects involving computer programming, cloud computing management, capacity planning (how many machines it takes to handle 10,000 queries per second) and systems management (what to do when a bunch of computers lose power). Before joining Yahoo, Jim worked at Google for five years.

When not working, Jim enjoys hiking, skiing and cooking, and he does a fair bit of reading.

Please RSVP by Tuesday, November 8th, as space is limited.

To register for the Jobsite Conversation Series, or to find out more about it, please contact:

Rich Russo
Community Services Program Assistant
(415) 694-7352
rrusso@lighthouse-sf.org

Source: Jobsite Series to Visit Yahoo – RSVP by Nov. 8

There will be two single-day ski and/or snowshoe events. The first is on January 21 and the second is on February 11. Both events take place at Tahoe Cross Country, Tahoe City, California. For further information on the single-day events, contact Betsy Rowell at 916-362-5557 or email montbets@pacbell.net.

The three-day event will take place at Tahoe Donner Cross Country in Truckee, California. For more information contact Cindy Quintana at 510-483-2948 or CindyQ12345@sbcglobal.net.

The deadline to sign up for all events is January 1, 2012. SRSFL has great guides and instructors. For further information or to get the application, visit www.SRSFL.org.

Source: Sierra Regional Ski for Light Upcoming Events

Written and directed by Talkington, the show features 360-degree sound, set and video design. Audience members will sit on swiveling chairs in the middle of the theater, traveling with the characters through multiple dimensions of time and following the action as it moves around them.

“Sticky Time” runs from October 27 to November 18 at the Brava Theater (Second Stage), 2781 24th Street, San Francisco. Preview shows are scheduled for October 27 and 28. Blind and visually impaired audience members are encouraged to attend the audio-described performance on Wednesday, November 2 at 8:00 p.m.

For more information about “Sticky Time,” visit http://www.crowdedfire.org/. Purchase tickets at https://www.ticketturtle.com/index.php?show=21372.

Source: New Play ‘Sticky Time’ is a Multimedia Experience. Audio-described Performance Offered Nov. 2.

Shuttle Routes:
Tuesdays – West Loop (between Alameda Point, Webster Street, Mastick Senior Center and downtown Alameda)

Wednesdays – East Loop (between Bay Farm Island, High Street, downtown Alameda, Alameda Hospital and Mastick Senior Center)

Thursdays – Central Loop (between South Shore Center, Shoreline Drive/Westline Drive, Mastick Senior Center, Alameda Hospital, Marketplace and Bridgeside Center)

For more information, contact Donatella Zepplin of the Mastick Senior Center at 510-747-7513 or dzepplin@ci.alameda.ca.us. Schedules are available at http://alamedaparatransit.com/.

City of Alameda Paratransit services are funded by Measure B.

Source: Alameda Paratransit Shuttle

Source: Love, Dependence and Independence