Founded in 1988, the Colorado Center for the Blind is a world-renowned training center located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Littleton, Colorado, about 13 miles south of Denver.

Grounded in the National Federation of the Blind’s positive philosophy of blindness, the Colorado Center for the Blind provides innovative teaching techniques, daily challenges and self-confidence that are the building blocks of independence, opportunity and success. Day after day, year after year, blind students leave the Colorado Center for the Blind’s training program as living examples of the NFB’s motto: “With effective training and opportunity, blind people can compete on terms of equality with their sighted peers.”

Russel at his apartment pouring pasta from a box into a boiling pot

Warren Waiting on the Bus during his Independent Drop

Rocky and Christina doing a street crossing

David K. walks through the snow on a winter morning

Lauren walking down the sidewalk and talking on the phone

Stephannie writes using a full page slate

A small blind woman laughs as her hands rest on a Braille copy of the New York Times Weekly.
Though she retired 20 years ago, CCB founder Diane McGeorge volunteers with our Senior Program every week, teaching Braille and helping lead discussions in support groups.

Laura in sleepshades tends chicken on the grill

Petr and Diane H. returning from travel in the rain

Amanda crossing a bridge near the Light Rail Station

David D. Skiing down the slopes through falling snow

Monique reading Braille at her desk in her office at work

Two women arranging their hands on a page of Braille

staff and students on the front patio grilling and enjoying the day
Everybody was out front today on the grills, making the most of the first day of spring. Delfina, Lyne, Kyra and Libby checking on brats.

Young woman wearing sleepshades focuses on reading Braille

Four rafts head toward white water
Summer staff and students white water rafting on Clear Creek on a hot July, 2017 day.

Amanda, Rocky and Christina at the Light Rail Station just as the train arrives

Beth at the coffee machine behind the counter at Dirt Coffee

Christina and Rocky about to get on the Light Rail

Ashley looks at a Great Horned Owl in Birding by Ear Class

Summer Youth working together learning to write code using Swift Playgrounds on the iPad

Seniors out for a hike along one of the Greenway trails

Cesar in a yellow Kayak at Bear Creek Lake Park Right profile straight on

Carina reading Braille in the Senior Program with Sam and Sue for Spanish Language Group

J.D. in the big raft with Mason, Lesse and Lexy

Loren listens to the news on his phone while waiting on a train

Paul harvested a Poblano pepper and some chives from the CCB garden to cook with some eggs

A dramatic profile view of Peter climbing up a rock face

Natalia, Celia, and Steve walking along a snowy icy sidewalk

Corey decides when it is clear to go and starts the street crossing

Wayne works with Judy under sleepshades outside the front of the Center showing her how to hold the cane and get good feedback from the edge of the sidewalk and the grassy area

A delighted Logan making the letter L in Braille with whiffle balls and an egg carton

Abdi writes Braille using a full page slate

Shawn grinding a knife blade in Shop Class

Chris Parsons instructs Trevor in Tech Class

Matt at CCB reading a Braille book
Matt Wallace

Masson learns how to put power in forward knee strikes while Rachael holds the pad. Maggie waits her turn to give it a try

Deya and Alma ready to dissect their Shark

Summer students Mary and Cheyenne each mount a tandem bike with EyeCycle Volunteers while Christina waits her turn

Stephannie and Eliza take advantage of the warm weather and study Braille outside

Lisa makes turns in her chair in the gym to find various destinations - Duncan instructing — Lisa makes turns in her chair in the gym to find various destinations – Duncan instructing

Rebecca out on Travel near the Greenway entry on Prince Street

Brittany throws Travis flat on his back on the mats

Martin workis with an Orbit Braille Display and his phone

Loice in her first snow catching snowflakes on her toung

Corey and David talk about traffic sounds before making a street crossing

Vika and Martin walk along a shaded sidewalk toward Littleton Downtown Station

Holly, Cody and Lia paddle a green canoe at Bear Creek Lake

Blind Senior in a red hat marches in the Parade with a group from the Colorado Center for the Blind
Eileen, 92, is flanked by Senior Services Director Duncan Larsen and Senior Outreach Specialist Chris Kinney during the Littleton Western Welcome Week Parade. In front of them is Ashley and behind them are Martin and Brad.

Suzi in Tech Lab learning to use the computer with a screen reader

Loren in front of the Littleton Downtown Station Mural

Amanda coming down the steps at the Light Rail Station

Allie Blanca C.G Dan andMike walkingaround the pond at Sterne Park during Birding Class

Paul headed out from the Center with his cane

Five people wearing snow shoes on a wintery forested path with snow covered branches.
Dan, Anthony and Showe with two guides on the snowshoe trail at Lake Eldora. Four inches of fresh, albeit wet, snow flell the night before.

Amanda reading Braille in Jen's class — Amanda reading Braille in Jen’s class

Cristian and Charis Hike along the Clear Creek Trail

Outdoor Braille Class on the Picnic Table during Confidence Camp

Kyra and Trevor walking to the pond for Birding by Ear Class

a smiling woman with a cart full of groceries outside the store
Lyne did her mini-meal shopping at the Walmart Neighborhood Market in early 2017. She planned, shopped, prepared and served for 15 people.

A group of students about to board the Light Rail

Shaun, Davina, Loren, Mikayla and Dan cross at Church and Prince on the way to ACC

Laurie uses a pencil grip on her cane and takes her first step down the stairs - Petr instructing — Laurie uses a pencil grip on her cane and takes her first step down the stairs – Petr instructing

Jerad uses a click rule to measure for a cut out around an electrical light fixture at the top of a wall

Mikayla plugs a Refreshable Braille Display into the Computer

Trevor talks to J.D. while he works with some wire and the Helping Hands Clips

Vika shreading chicken in a crock pot for her grad meal - Celia with a tray of cookies — Vika shreading chicken in a crock pot for her grad meal – Celia with a tray of cookies

A trim man with dish towel over his shoulder pours a thick white mixture from a bowl to a pan
Marcus’ meal featured ribs and cheesecake. Here he’s pouring the mixture for his dessert into a pan.

Stephannie and Mark work together using a color identifier to match the correct wire colors to re-wire a light fixture in Home Maintenance Class

Large group of CCB staff and students walk along the curve of the sidewalk toward the Art Gallery building

Kameron chopping Bell Peppers for part of his Grad Meal

Smiling young man prepares to board the RTD bus
Thomas boards a bus during travel class last summer.

Lauren out on the sidewalk standing on the skateboard she made

Loice and Kirk outside enjoying huge snowflakes coming down

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Get Involved!

Colorado Gives Day is Dec. 10!

Like holiday shopping, you can get your giving done early. Schedule your Colorado Gives contribution now, and check it off your list!

Tomorrow is Colorado Gives Day!

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Upcoming Events

December 10, 2019, All Day: Colorado Gives Day
December 13, 2019, 11:00 am: Seniors Holiday Party
December 14, 2019, 10:00 am: NFB of Denver & FAST Holiday Party
December 20, 2019, All day: Last day for Independence Training staff and students
January 1, 2020, 10:30 am: CSDB Mentoring Program

Julie at bat with the ball in mid air after the pitch
Julie takes a swing at the Beep Baseball at the NF Challenge Olympic Day 2017

Martin demonstrates how to play Goal Ball at Western Welcome Week

At the Tactile Art Show, Alysa and Penny each look at casts of different emotional expressions

A view down the table as Fast Saturday kids get hands on experience making simple circuits

Group shot Making Connections Employment Seminar 2018

Shelby passes out Braille cards to a large group of young people at Western Welcome Week Open House

A salute to Our Graduates #COGivesDay

Executive Director Julie Deden wrote this salute to the final five students graduating from the Colorado Center for the Blind in 2019.

Colorado Gives Day is this Tuesday, December 10, and as we do each year at this time, we are asking for your financial support for our programs at the Colorado Center for the Blind. In the next couple of weeks, five students will graduate from our Independence Training program. Each of these students have made tremendous accomplishments that will propel them towards an exciting life. Each of them now realizes that being blind does not need to stop them from doing what they want to do with their lives. By introducing you to these students and their compelling, unique stories, we hope you will be inspired to make a contribution to the Colorado Center for the Blind on December 10. As I wrote about each of them, I was inspired myself!

Patrick from Missouri lost his vision as a result of diabetes. He realized that he needed to do something big in order to get his life back. So, he let his daughter and family know that he would be in Colorado for nine months to get the training that he needed in order to go back to work. Patrick didn’t like cooking when he was sighted, yet on Friday he was busy preparing his graduation meal for 60 people. His plan now is to enter into business – one that may involve some cooking! This Tuesday he will ring his freedom bell standing on a leg with a hairline fracture, which he sustained during our last big storm. It’s clear that Patrick is determined to finish his program and start a new chapter in his life.

Holly came to us from the United Kingdom. Blind since birth, she had not had high expectations placed upon her and knew that she wanted to live an exciting life filled with accomplishment and adventure. Holly worked hard to gain a scholarship to attend the center. On Monday she will complete one of her final projects her monster route. All in one day, she will travel to four unfamiliar locations in four different Metro-area cities on RTD buses and light rail trains. WE will celebrate this accomplishment with her wen we meet her at the Damascus Grill on Monday evening. In January, Holly will return to complete an apprenticeship in order to be qualified to work with blind adults in the teaching profession.

Rocky from Colorado lost her vision as a result of diabetes. She was working at a preschool and could no longer handle the paperwork and did not feel comfortable monitoring the children. But Rocky is a woman of determination and even with some health issues, she has completed all requirements except for her graduation meal, which she will prepare and serve this week. Rocky has learned Braille; she can use a computer in her job and realizes that she will easily be able to track the kids that she works with. On December 11 she will proudly ring her freedom bell. Rocky will be returning to work at the preschool and she has her own apartment. She cannot wait to see what the future brings!

On Monday December 16 Millad from Pennsylvania will be graduating. Millad has been challenged throughout his program. He realized that he did not want to settle for low expectations. Millad has his master’s degree in public Health Administration. Even though he obtained this degree, he realized that he did not have the confidence and the skills to compete in his chosen profession. Now he does. Millad will stay in Colorado. He has his own apartment and has already begun looking for work. He now realizes that he does not need to let his blindness hold him back.

Paul from Colorado is not legally blind, but functionally blind. Exposure to normal light causes severe pain. Prior to attending training at the center, Paul stayed down in his basement during the day, his kids guided him on walks in the evenings. He lost his job of many years as manager at a manufacturing firm. After contacting the center and the Colorado Division of vocational Rehabilitation, He learned that he did not have to live his life this way. Paul embraced the sleep shade training required at the center. In fact, Paul loves his sleep shades, and is one student that will continue to use them most of the time when he graduates. Paul is a single dad with three kids. He has relocated to Littleton and has his own apartment. He will shortly complete his degree and plans to obtain work. His kids know that they no longer need to guide him. He is truly their guide and a great dad. Paul will ring his bell of freedom on December 18th.

I hope you enjoyed meeting these students. They are now part of our Colorado Center for the Blind family. We are proud of their determination and all that they have achieved! Thank you in advance for your support of our programs. These five people are definitely ready to “Take Charge with Confidence and Self-reliance!”

Julie Deden, Executive Director
December 8, 2019

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Posted in From The Director, General Colorado Center Information, Independence Training Program | Tagged blindness, Colorado Gives, Colorado Gives Day, Confidence, graduation, self-determination | Leave a comment

CCB in the Media

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Independence Training Program Video

Watch this video to see our Independence Training Program in Action!

Our Independence Training Program (ITP) is designed for blind adults (18 years of age and older). Typically students complete the program in six to nine months while residing in nearby McGeorge Mountain Terrace apartments, which are owned by the Center. Participants not only build the skills that they need to be independent, but also focus on gaining confidence and belief in themselves as blind people

Program Areas

Additional Rotating Classes

Art
College Prep
Career Exploration
Gardening
Resume Writing
Martial Arts
Sewing
Yoga

Contact us for more information or to learn how to participate in our program

Year-round Youth Programs

FAST stands for Fun Activities and Skills Training. This program will meet the second Saturday of each month throughout the school year. Some Saturdays we will simply focus on having fun as we develop skills. Other Saturdays we will participate in a variety of challenge recreation activities.

Summer Programs

Contact us for more information or to learn how to participate in our program

The Colorado Center for the Blind works to change the experience of older blind and visually impaired persons from frustration to independence. With education and training seniors can and do obtain the skills and confidence necessary to stay in their own homes and continue be contributing members of their communities.

Program Areas

Contact us for more information or to learn how to participate in our program

Training for Professionals on Blindness

Brent instructing Scott and Christie how to follow the sidewalk in front of the Center

A woman in sleepshades slides a batch of cookies into the oven

Christie going down the stairs for the 1st time with a cane and wearing sleepshades

Scott and Christie walking with canes and sleepshades in front of the CCB building

Brent instructing Christie walking outside with a cane

Scott, Christie and Brent walking down Sycamore st. with canes and sleepshades

Scott going down the stairs for the 1st time with a cane and wearing sleepshades

Kenny (forground) Arron (background) peeling apples

Christie walking with her cane in front of the CCB street sign

Scott walking with his cane in front of the CCB street sign

Christie , Scott and Brent in front of the CCB building for the 1st time with canes and sleepshades listening to environmental sounds

Scott walking with a cane through the front lobby

Our Professional Training Seminars include information about causes of blindness, alternative techniques used successfully by blind people, an introduction to sleepshades and their use with a white cane or in preparing lunch, and we spend time talking about the myths of blindness as well.

Contact us for more information or to learn how to participate in our program

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Get Involved!

Colorado Gives Day is Dec. 10!