Welcome
Welcome to the
Decertify LightHouse Now Campaign!
Explore our site to learn more about our mission and how you can support DeafBlind Californians. Use the menu to view our campaign timeline, read stories from DeafBlind voices, take action by signing the petition, donating to our cause, or sharing our campaign badges to help raise awareness, read our FAQs, or reach out through the contact form.
We believe that every DeafBlind person deserves access to communication.
Thank you for your time and support—together, we can make a difference!
The FCC iCanConnect Program
If one cannot hear or see, how does the person call a friend, a school, or even emergency services? DeafBlind people with excellent training and tech know how to make calls, operate smartphones, and even build websites like this one. We use a variety of tech tools from Braille computers, screen reading software, and magnification software for those with low-vision. Depending on the person’s specific vision, hearing, and training they may make a phone call by typing on a Braille display connected to a laptop, visually read large font on a monitor showing a captioned call, or have a large monitor to see American Sign Language on a video call. The tech can cost thousands of dollars, and qualified trainers are hard to find. Congress passed the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, and that law includes a program to ensure low-income DeafBlind people receive equipment and training. The program is called iCanConnect and it’s run by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The FCC gives the San Francisco LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired (LightHouse) almost $1 million every year to run the iCanConnect program in California. The experience for DeafBlind Californians has been horrendous.
What is wrong with LightHouse?
An investigation of the LightHouse conducted by ADP, Inc. found nine substantiated cases of sexual harassment by the former CEO. LightHouse executives and Board members reviewed the report and chose to have the CEO continue receiving a paycheck rather than leaving immediately.
The hiring of the new CEO did not improve the conditions at LightHouse. Nor did it reduce the prevalence of sexual harassment. As a result, both workers and DeafBlind iCanConnect consumers suffered more.
The current LightHouse CEO and leadership refused to voluntarily recognize blind workers’ call for a union. A journalist investigated the struggle, reporting on workers’ frustration with not having a seat at the table. The reporter also highlighted the fear caused by LightHouse letting people go “in a cloud of secrecy.” LightHouse used a variety of tactics to stop them, but workers successfully voted to form a union.
In 2023, LightHouse workers who were part of the iCanConnect program alerted LightHouse that there were several significant problems with the program. Over the next few months, LightHouse removed all those workers from the iCanConnect program. One worker, DeafBlind, notified the FCC about some of the problems, and the LightHouse quickly terminated him.
LightHouse refused to hire a talented interpreter who is Deaf. It was explained to LightHouse that qualified interpreters provide communication access for DeafBlind people, but LightHouse still refused to hire the interpreter. The interpreter sued LightHouse for discrimination and won. The interpreter was awarded a small amount in damages, but LightHouse wanted to fight to reverse it using LightHouse assets instead of trying to correct the problems highlighted in the court case.
LightHouse terminated a Deaf employee who remains deeply loved by the DeafBlind community for her dedication. She served the DeafBlind program until LightHouse’s leadership forced her out in 2024.
LightHouse takes almost $1 million from the FCC annually to allegedly provide equipment and training to DeafBlind people. Many DeafBlind people are not getting the equipment and training they need, leading to isolation and endangering their health. Those who attempt to receive services from the LightHouse face an organization suffering from a toxic culture.
Help DeafBlind Californians by adding your name to our petition
The Northern California Association of DeafBlind launched this campaign, and we have since gained support from partner organizations and individuals. If you believe DeafBlind Californians deserve access to effective communication, join us in urging the FCC to decertify the San Francisco LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired and transfer the iCanConnect program to an organization that truly prioritizes the needs of DeafBlind Californians.
You can sign either our online petition or our Change.org petition spread the word today!
