NC Lantern - Spring 2008
Newsletter of the LightHouse of the North Coast
The Lantern is free to the community we serve: blind and visually impaired individuals and their families and friends.
Please let us know what you think! To submit feedback about this newsletter, send an email to: lantern@lighthouse-sf.org.
In the Lantern:
North Coast News
Tri County Independent Living News
Announcements and Things to Share
Technology
PHOTO CAPTION: Youth participant and trophy winner examines his trophy up close at the Northern California Regional Braille Challenge 2008.
North Coast News
Local Veteran Encourages Others to Attend Enchanted Hills Camp
For over 50 years, campers have journeyed to Napa to pursue fun and friendship at Enchanted Hills Camp, a program of the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired in San Francisco. It is the only residential camp in Northern California designed for children and adults whose primary disability is sight loss.
Last summer Forest Conley, a resident of Fortuna, received a “Back in the Saddle Again” Award while at the camp. Conley had been in a saddle before and recalls riding mules as a teenager growing up in the hills of Kentucky.
But this time in the saddle was different. Many years had passed since Conley rode a mule at age 12. This time Conley was 56 years old. This time he wore a helmet, and a camp counselor walked alongside the horse. “It's not entirely the same, for safety reasons, and they can't turn you loose,” Conley said. “But there are things you need to do, like digging in your heels and pulling on the reins.”
Over the past 12 years, Macular Degeneration has taken away portions of Conley's sight. What hasn't left the Vietnam War veteran is a desire to keep living life to the fullest, including signing up to go to a camp where he hardly knew anyone.
“I roomed with a Korean War vet, a WWII veteran, an Air Force guy and a Marine who was in Vietnam about the same time I was,” Conley said about the roommates he shared a cabin with at EHC. “I suggest people consider camp because you get to meet so many interesting people from all aspects of life - professional people who had a life before they retired or became visually impaired.”
Conley also recalled that many veterans were musically inclined, “One played the guitar, another the bongo drums, one played the flute and another the harmonica.”
One of the highlights of his camp experience was spending time with Margie Donovan, Conley's VIST (Visual Impairment Services Team) worker from the San Francisco VA Medical Center. “I've been interacting with Margie by phone since 1991. It was a real kick to meet with her in person,” he said.
“I guess my favorite things were going to the pool during open swim and also listening to the young camp counselors, especially the ones from Britain with their unique accent.”
While Conley's camp award was tailored to his horsemanship, a “Back in the Saddle Again” Award could be given to many visually impaired campers who have chosen to find solutions to living with vision loss.
If you are a veteran and would like more information about camp, contact:
- Janet Pomerantz, LightHouse of the North Coast, 707-268-5646
- Mary Baker, Redwood Vet Center, 707-444-8271
- Margie Donovan, VIST Coordinator/VA Medical Center, 415-750-6604.
PHOTO CAPTION: Forest Conley (L) rides a horse in the wilderness at Enchanted Hills Camp. He wears a helmet and is guided by a camp counselor (R) who leads the horse.
Enchanted Hills Camp is for All Ages
Each session of Enchanted Hills Camp offers a great experience for all sorts of people - young children to seniors, adults with special needs, veterans, families of visually impaired campers and people who are both blind and deaf.
Contact theLightHouse of the North Coast at 707-268-5646. Learn More About EHC
- May 16 - May 18, Providers Weekend
- June 14 - June 17, Deaf-Blind Session
- June 19 - June 25, Adult Session
- June 26 - June 29, Family Camp One
- June 30 - July 5, Adults with Special Needs Session
- July 6 - July 12, Elementary Session Grades 1-5
- July 16 - July 19, Veteran's Session
- July 20 - July 27, Jr. High Session Grades 6-9
- July 31 - August 9, High School Session Grades 10-12
- August 13 - August 16, Family Camp Two
North Coast Artist Plans to Send in the Clowns
Eureka resident Pat Clark has been legally blind for more than 30 years, has been riding horses for at least 50 years and has been drawing pictures of them for about 10 years.
Clark also knows the drill when it comes to the Insights art show.
In 2006, Clark had the artwork and a desire to apply to Insights. What she didn't have was help with the application. “That year I just gave up on it,” Clark said about the application packet. “Being blind, you can't fill it out yourself,” Clark said. “You need someone to help you.”
In 2007, with the assistance of a friend, Clark submitted three sketches of horses and was thrilled when the LightHouse mailed her an audio tape, informing her that her work had been accepted and would appear at the Insights show in San Francisco.
Does Clark recommend local artists consider applying to Insights? “Oh yes,” Clark said. “It doesn't matter how it looks. Just apply and you'll probably pick up a few pointers from other artists along the way, like how to do it easier.”
For her 2008 application, Clark has added a twist and plans on sending in two clowns. “People don't want horses all the time,” Clark explained. “Maybe they want a clown.”
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and Iinsights offers a wide variety of art by visually impaired artists: collages to clay, quilts to sculptures, photographs to paintings - the possibilities are nearly endless.
Insights 2008 Call for Art
The 19th annual Insights art exhibition of work by blind and visually impaired artists is calling for submissions. Work by blind or legally blind artists in all mediums - with the exception of video - will be considered.
The show will run from October 2 to December 12, 2008 at the San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery in City Hall. Cash prizes will be awarded.
The submission deadline is June 13, 2008. To receive an application by mail, contact Exhibition Coordinator Kim Shuck at insights@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-431-1481, ext. 335. Download the Insights 2008 Artist Application.
Tri County Independent Living News
Assistive Device Loan Program, Computer Lab and Annual Technology Fair
Tri County Independent Living (TCIL), located in Eureka and serving Humboldt, Del Norte and Trinity Counties, offers an assistive device loan program that helps people with disabilities sample these devices. The list of available items is extensive.
A few examples of items available in the loan program are speech software, communications boards (manual or computerized), magnifiers, hearing amplification devices, a bed shaking clock and a voice-activated answering machine.
TCIL also has an in-house computer lab that is available to the disabled community by appointment. Windows-based computers with Internet access are available for users to improve their skills, advocate for change or work on personal projects.
Save the date: Tri County will hold its annual assistive technology fair on July 25 at the Eureka Red Lion Inn.
To reach TCIL:
Phone: 707-445-8404
Fax: 707-445-9751
TDD: 707-445-8405
Toll Free: 877-576-5000
Janet Pomerantz: Serving One Person at a Time
PHOTO CAPTION: Janet Pomerantz (R) shows a LightHouse of the North Coast client how to use a CCTV to magnify the print in her book.
At the LightHouse of the North Coast, we rely upon the strength and continuity provided by our San Francisco home office, which enable us to provide individualized rehabilitation services to people living in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties.
One of the keys to providing services is our social worker Janet Pomerantz, a New Jersey native who arrived in Humboldt County with her family in 1997.
Janet is usually the first point of contact for those new to the LightHouse.If a person is experiencing vision loss significant enough to impair daily living, and they have goals about how they'd like to adjust to their vision loss, Janet will begin the intake process. She'll ask a series of questions to get to know people and where they are with regard to living with blindness or visual impairment, and she'll make every effort to answer questions.
While some people may already have been diagnosed with Age-related Macular Degeneration for 20 years, they may not have experienced symptoms that affect reading or recognizing faces until now. Others may have recently been diagnosed with Diabetic Retinopathy, have experienced rapid vision loss and may not know what step to take next. Janet may refer them to the local low vision community groups for support, so they don't face vision loss on their own.
People with vision loss have varying desires and needs. Perhaps someone simply wants to pour hot coffee without being burned. Another person might want to travel with an accessible touring company that makes arrangements forpeople with special needs.Someone may have purchased a white, folding cane and needs mobility instruction. Others may want to enjoy the news by listening to it using a push-button telephone, computer or reading service receiver.
Tailoring client support and vision rehabilitation services to people adjusting to vision loss is at the core of LightHouse services.Janet provides focused case management for people with goals related to their visual impairment or blindness. In March, Janet received the Soroptimist “Making a Difference for Women” Award for her assistance to women in the visually impaired community. Janet Pomerantz is a crucial member of the LightHouse team, providing solutions for people living with vision loss, one person at a time.
Help Us Find More Large Print Books on the North Coast
The LightHouse of the North Coast strives to be a viable resource for visually impaired people in both Humboldt and Del Norte Counties. We know where to find some large print books, but certainly not all. Contact us at 707-268-5646 or northcoastinfo@lighthouse-sf.org if you can help us develop our list.
For those who enjoy surfing for large print books on the Internet, here are a few web sites to get you started:
For those who prefer to browse large print books before taking one home:
The Humboldt County Library System has branches in Blue Lake, Arcata, Eureka, Ferndale, Fortuna, Garberville, Hoopa, McKinleyville, Rio Dell, Trinidad and Willow Creek. Library cards are free to residents of these communities.
The Humboldt Senior Resource Center offers large print books as well as large piece puzzles. Activities Director Jessica Osborne welcomes visitors and phone calls at 707-443-9747, ext. 228.
Humboldt State University Library has 26 large print books available. Library cards are free for students, staff and faculty. Community members can obtain a HSU library card for approximately $20 for four months or $40 for a year.
College of the Redwoods Eureka Campus Library offers free library access to community members who provide identification. Presently, CR has 16 large print books available.
Announcements and Things to Share
Northern California Braille Regional Challenge 2008
The Northern California Regional Braille Challenge took place at the LightHouse in San Francisco on February 9, 2008. This unique academic competition serves to encourage blind and visually impaired children and youths to fine-tune their Braille skills, which are essential to their success in the sighted world. The LightHouse would like to thank the many volunteers who helped to make this event a supportive and fun competition for all!
During this preliminary round of competition, participants ranging from age 5 to 18 competed in challenging categories that required them to transcribe type and read Braille using a device called a Perkins Brailler. Each category is designed to test students' Braille skills in several areas: reading speed and comprehension; spelling; chart and graph reading; proofreading; and Braille speed and accuracy.
“Braille literacy is crucial to the academic success and future employability of a blind youth,” explained Vi Huynh, LightHouse Youth Services Coordinator. “Unfortunately, only a small percentage of blind students master Braille, though we know that early Braille education leads to employment. Studies show that 90 percent of blind adults who successfully gain employment are Braille literate."
One of the mothers in attendance at the Braille Challenge stated, “Sara was feeling very uncomfortable having to learn Braille because other kids were not learning Braille in her classroom. After spending the day at the Braille Challenge, she is very excited to be learning Braille and cannot wait to sign up for next year's Challenge!”
An event like the Braille Challenge brings a segment of the community together that doesn't normally have the opportunity to interact. Families have a chance to share ideas and experiences, and walk away feeling more knowledgeable and inspired about the path they will choose for themselves or with their children.
Happenings with the Humboldt Council of the Blind
By Doug Rose, HCB Secretary
The Council has doubled its membership this year, which means we can do twice as much work to serve Humboldt County's blind and visually impaired residents.
To get started, President James Forbes is working on a benefit CD for the Council. Bands or artists with visually impaired members are invited to submit songs in all genres of music. The CD will be released in September 2008. Contact James at darkarts66@gmail.com.
In addition, Humboldt Council of the Blind can now benefit every time you search the Internet or make a purchase online!
goodsearch.com is a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue - about a penny per search - to the charities its users designate. Just go to goodsearch.com and enter Humboldt Council of the Blind as the charity you want to support. There is also a link on the Council website that takes you directly to goodsearch.com and automatically picks HCB as the recipient charity. Currently, the Council has raised $1.57.
Meanwhile, goodshop.com is a new online shopping mall that donates up to 37 percent of each purchase to your favorite cause. Hundreds of great stores - including Target, Gap, Best Buy, eBay, Macy's and Barnes & Noble - have teamed up with goodshop.com. Every time you place an order, you'll be supporting your favorite cause.
Humboldt Council of the Blind 707-839-7266 or visit www.humguide.com/hcb/.
New Eureka Intersection Includes Accessible Pedestrian Signals
By Doug Rose, Humboldt Council of the Blind
Pedestrians crossing Fifth Street near the Humboldt County Courthouse in Eureka needed a safer path of travel. Several blocks in this section of Fifth Street lacked a signalized intersection. As a result, the California Department of Transportation and the City of Eureka installed a traffic signal at Fifth and L Streets.
Due to the Humboldt Council of the Blind's prior advocacy work, accessible pedestrian signals were also installed. Accessible signals provide additional information for a visually impaired pedestrian to use when crossing a street. These signals consist of a cuckoo sound when it is time to cross one street and a chirp sound when it is time to cross the other street of an intersection.
A pedestrian push-button also vibrates when it is time to cross the street. The pole with the push-button emits a clicking locator tone to make it easy to find. Pedestrians must press the push-button to activate the accessible signal.
These audible and tactile signals are designed as secondary cues of when to cross a street. The cues are not intended to replace other mobility skills, such as listening for parallel traffic. Accessible signals can also be found in Eureka at intersections of Fourth and Fifth Streets on R and V Streets.
Doorstep Services
When we consider the words “home delivery”, many of us think of pizza or United Parcel Service. Thankfully, there's a lot more than pizza and packages being delivered to homes on the North Coast.
These providers may open doors to your access to a variety of services:
In the Eureka area, Redwood Pharmacies delivers prescriptions free of charge. You can reach Redwood Pharmacies at Myrtletowne at 707-443-4885 or in the Henderson Center at 707-442-5774.
Similarly, Lima's Professional Pharmacy makes free deliveries, serving from Trinidad to King Salmon and east to Blue Lake. Call Lima's in Eureka 707-441-8500, or McKinleyville 707-839-2867.
Within the Eureka City limits, Ray's Food Place 707-442-9261 delivers door to door.
Schwan's Home Service delivers a variety of frozen meals from shrimp scampi to vegetable dishes, appetizers and juices. For information about their charge per delivery or their Live Smart dietary program contact Schwans at 1-888-724-9267.
The Humboldt Senior Resource Center (HSRC) offers lunches for people of all ages. HSRC's pre-paid, boxed lunches are delivered to your doorstep or office. An optional hot lunch of the day is also available. The Senior Nutrition Program makes every effort to ensure that each meal is healthy and appealing. Call 707-443-9747, Ext. 264, by 3 pm for next day delivery for one person or three days ahead of time for larger orders.
For women facing breast cancer, “It's Me Again”, provides post-mastectomy services by appointment, providing consultations regarding prostheses, swim wear, and more. Located in Fortuna 707-725-6116, their services are covered by Medicare.
Cartridge Imaging, 707-822-9212is a locally owned cartridge recycling company serving the North Coast, from Crescent City to Southern Humboldt. The owners, Pete Hecht and Pat Saito, will pick up, recycle, and deliver cartridge replacements for printers and copy machines.
If you need medical services, both routine and emergency, for small animals, call mobile veterinarian Dr. Sarah Greene 707-822-8387.
For hair cuts and styling, Kaylynne Harley, from Hairport Salon in Eurekawill make house calls, by appointment.Haircut prices are between $15.00 and $23.00, depending on the length of the hair and a permanent is $55.00. Harley will travel to Humboldt Hill for an additional $5 charge.
Are you eligible for in-home support services? In Del Norte County call In Home Support Services (IHSS) 707-464-3191, in Humboldt County, call 707-476-2100. Ask to speak with a social worker or nurse to determine your eligibility.According to the Humboldt County website, to be eligible an individual needs to: be living in their own home, are disabled, blind or 65 years or older, and are unable to live safely at home without care and meet certain financial requirements.
Dial-A-Ride Para transit will provide door-to-door transportation for people with disabilities. Dial-A-Ride, a shared van service, serves residents in Eureka, Arcata, McKinleyville, and Crescent City. First call Dial-A-Ride 707-443-0826 to apply for services and purchase tickets. Then call 707-442-4555 to make an appointment, at least 24-hours ahead of time,to be picked-up.
Dial-A-Lift, for people who use wheelchairs, is presently available in Eureka and Arcata. The Humboldt Senior Resource Center can assist with applications, 707-443-9747 ext. 240.
People in outlying areas can call Humboldt Community Access and Resources (HCAR) for Dial-A-Ride services. HCAR Dial-A-Ride serves Fields Landing, Freshwater, Humboldt Hill, Indianola Cutoff Area, King Salmon, Manila, Ridgewood Heights, and Samoa.
Door-step to door-step, you can stay connected to your community.
Technology
Local Woman Smitten with Cell Phone
My name is Lindy Timmerman, and I live in Humboldt County. I am legally blind, with low vision. I wanted to share with other visually impaired people how pleased I am with my cell phone, the Jitterbug.
Jitterbug allows me the independence I need to enjoy life outside of my home. I simply open the phone, press the on/off key and wait for the music. It directs me step-by-step. The first screen is voice dial. All I do is press “yes” and it talks to me. When I need to make a call, it simply asks me for the name I wish to contact and automatically dials the preprogrammed number.
Programming phone numbers is easy. The people at Jitterbug provide this service so I don't have to do it. When ordering the phone, they automatically preprogram at least two numbers that you request. For example, I needed to program the Lighthouse number, so I had it in front of me on my CCTV. I told them that number and my son's number, and they added them in an instant. The phone will program up to 50 numbers. I have just begun my phone list, which includes numbers to contact transportation and emergency services.
Another feature of this phone is the large, backlit buttons that allow me to easily dial numbers. I also have voice mail for $3 per month. With my phone, I press the number four and then listen to find out if I have any messages. If the recording tells me I do have messages, I just press “yes” and I'm connected.
The initial cost was affordable, with three payments of $49. There do not appear to be any hidden charges. For my monthly rate, I chose the minimum plan of 30 minutes at $15 a month since I don't use it much. You can also consider the plan with 60 minutes a month for $20.
Jitterbug also directs me if I want to record my own outgoing message. It allows me to hear more instructions about this feature if I choose. There's also an 800 number you can call from any location to check your messages.
For those who can see it, the screen can list a history of missed calls, incoming and outgoing calls.
If you are interested in this phone, call Jitterbug at 800-733-6632. The phones are presently not sold in retail settings. You can also call the LightHouse Vision Loss Resource Center at 888-400-8933 to get information about the Jitterbug and other cell phone products.
The cool thing about this is that I got my new cell phone when I was visiting my two granddaughters, and we all had a ball figuring out our cell phones. They just whizzed through everything as I tried to figure out my simple cell phone, and I cracked up laughing at how the girls resembled those TV commercials with their text messaging vocabulary.
Lindy Timmerman can be reached at 707-832-4431 or lynhrtsng@att.net.
