What would you do with $25,000? This year the LightHouse for the Blind
and Visually Impaired<http://lighthouse-sf.org/> is asking blind
people worldwide that very question. It’s not just an exercise, but a
new set of awards designed to fund the international projects of
legally blind individuals: this is The Holman Prize for Blind
Ambition.
With 2017 as its pilot year, the LightHouse for the Blind has designed
The Holman Prize to support emerging adventurousness and the can-do
spirit of blind and low vision people worldwide. This endeavor
celebrates people who want to shape their own future instead of having
it laid out for them.
“The Holman Prize is not meant to save the world or congratulate
someone for leaving the house,” says LightHouse CEO Bryan Bashin,
“This prize will spark unanticipated accomplishments. You will see
blind people doing things that surprise and perhaps even confuse you.”
The Holman Prize website<http://holmanprize.org/>, now accepting
applications from blind individuals around the world, already reflects
a diversity of faces and ideas: blind podcasters from
Brooklyn<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNuuuzLedH4&index=4&list=PLBgTkRMP5uaz784GjDzUKRvog4TSpAwPA>,
blind skateboarders from the
Midwest<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyQXU-WI-Ro&index=6&list=PLBgTkRMP5uaz784GjDzUKRvog4TSpAwPA>,
and blind technologists, educators and scholars passionate about
taking on their own projects anywhere from Canada to Kyrgyzstan. In
March, the LightHouse’s hand-picked Holman Committee will select a
group of semifinalists to go through a formal application process,
ultimately resulting in a few large awards to be given this summer.
Applicants must be 18 or older and able to produce proof of legal
blindness upon request.
For the LightHouse, putting “blind ambition” on display across social
media is as much a goal as the projects themselves. Contestants are
encouraged to promote their videos widely to their friends, family and
followers, with the promise that the most popular pitch on social
media will be guaranteed consideration in the Holman Prize’s final
round.
Facebook Live Q&A:
The Holman Prize is unprecedented in scope and size, and as such, the
LightHouse would like to give prospective applicants a chance to ask
questions and feel confident in their emerging proposals. On February
15 at 4 PM Pacific Time, Holman Committee members will host a live Q&A
session on the LightHouse’s
Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/lighthousesf/>.
Prospective applicants can send questions ahead of time to
holman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:holman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, or via
Facebook during the Q&A itself. To tune in to the Q&A, just head over
to our Facebook page, LightHouse for the Blind - San Francisco Bay
Area<mailto:https://www.facebook.com/lighthousesf/>, at 4 PM PST on
February 15.
About LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Founded in 1902, San Francisco’s LightHouse for the Blind and Visually
Impaired promotes the independence, equality and self-reliance of
people who are blind or have low vision. The LightHouse offers
blindness skills training and relevant services such as access to
employment, education, government, information, recreation,
transportation and the environment. We also pursue the development of
new technology, encourage innovation, and amplify the voices of blind
individuals around the world.
Links:
YouTube Playlist: Holman Prize
Candidates<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaBef3zywxI&list=PLBgTkRMP5uaz784GjDzUKRvog4TSpAwPA&index=1>
Holman Prize FAQ for Prospective Applicants<http://holmanprize.org/faq>
CEO Bryan Bashin Talks about ‘The Holman Prize’ Live on Canadian
Radio<https://soundcloud.com/user-205085650/bryan-bashin-talks-holmanprize-for-blind-ambition-with-ami-live-from-studio-5>
Who was James Holman? Learn about the prize’s
namesake<https://www.holmanprize.org/jamesholman/>
How blind people use YouTube: Screen Reader
Support<https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/189278?hl=en>
Other Dates:
January 18, 2017: Applications open at HolmanPrize.org<http://holmanprize.org/>
February 15, 2017: Q&A with Holman Prize committee on Facebook
Live<https://www.facebook.com/lighthousesf/>
February 28, 2017: Applications close at 12 PM Pacific Time
March: Semifinalists announced
May: Finalists announced
July: Prizewinners announced
The Holman Prize is a new set of awards to support adventurous
projects by ambitious blind people. Applications deadline is February
28th – learn more at HolmanPrize.org<http://holmanprize.org/>
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