Founded in 1988 by the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado, the Colorado Center for the Blind is today a world-renowned blindness-skills training center located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Littleton, 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, progressive 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 in fused with the confidence and belief that they can live the lives they want.
Four rafts head toward white water
Summer staff and students white water rafting on Clear Creek on a hot July, 2017 day.
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.
Eliza, Ryan and Aylin Playing Braille Uno
Summer Youth Canoeing
Rebecca out on Travel near the Greenway entry on Prince Street
Izzy plays the piano at the Talent Show
Leilani stretches her arms up high under a tall tree outside for Yoga Class
Vika shreading chicken in a crock pot for her grad meal – Celia with a tray of cookies
Rocky and Christina crossing the tracks
Tabea showing two cucumbers she just picked from the garden
Cesar in a yellow Kayak at Bear Creek Lake Park Right profile straight on
Leilani is thinking about the answer to a question her Teacher asked in Braille Class about contractions
CCB folks Lewie, Abdi, Matthew Cameron and Skysha walk along a colorful tree lined path leading toward Bowles Ave.
Ashley looks at a Great Horned Owl in Birding by Ear Class
Ty and Shamus with their canes riding on the train
Katie reading Braill outside at the round table with the mountains in the background
Beth at the coffee machine behind the counter at Dirt Coffee
Allie Blanca C.G Dan andMike walkingaround the pond at Sterne Park during Birding Class
Deya and Alma ready to dissect their Shark
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.
Andres hurries along a busy street to get to the light rail station
Mady makes Salsa in the food processor for her Grad Meal
Amanda coming down the steps at the Light Rail Station
Amanda, Rocky and Christina at the Light Rail Station just as the train arrives
Marie and Amanda enjoying icecream cones
Summer Youth working together learning to write code using Swift Playgrounds on the iPad
CCB folks Matthew, Skysha Abdi and Cameron walk along Bowles ave about to cross the bridge over the South Platte River
Aylin carrying in lots of grocery bags for her mini meal
Seniors out for a hike along one of the Greenway trails
Natalia, Celia, and Steve walking along a snowy icy sidewalk
Summer students Mary and Cheyenne each mount a tandem bike with EyeCycle Volunteers while Christina waits her turn
Monique reading Braille at her desk in her office at work
Anahit and Nate Making a Sandwitch
Aylin mixes Cookie Dough for her Mini Meal
Martin workis with an Orbit Braille Display and his phone
Ernesto playing the Piano
Abdi writes Braille using a full page slate
Lisa makes turns in her chair in the gym to find various destinations – Duncan instructing
Wayne and Stephanie work on phone skills in the lobby
Julie and Taylor doing Yoga out on the lawn
A group of students about to board the Light Rail
Trevor uses a Click Rule to measure out pieces for a model of a Light Rail Station he is building in Wood Shop
Vika and Martin walk along a shaded sidewalk toward Littleton Downtown Station
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.
Loren listens to the news on his phone while waiting on a train
Darien works at the computer during Tech Class
Andres runs to catch his train
Stephannie writes using a full page slate
Kelly in sleep shades and mask turns her head to her right while she brushes a white horse named Booger with her left hand. Booger is sticking his tongue out.
Kyra and Trevor walking to the pond for Birding by Ear Class
Dan H gives a tip of his brown felt hat on Etiquette Day, the height of good manners
Holly Hiking along a raging Clear Creek
Janet relaxing and reading Braille
Amanda getting on the train
Andres gets ready to get on an RTD Bus
Suzi in Tech Lab learning to use the computer with a screen reader
David says hello to Rainbow, his right hand gently sliding down the pony’s nose, while his left hand rests on her back.
Petr and Diane H. returning from travel in the rain
Lauren walking down the sidewalk and talking on the phone
A delighted Logan making the letter L in Braille with whiffle balls and an egg carton
Tom M. Working on his Winning Sauce for the Great Taco Challenge
Christina getting on the bus
Ta’lia reading Braille outside on a bench
Outdoor Braille Class on the Picnic Table during Confidence Camp
Two women arranging their hands on a page of Braille
Jerad uses a click rule to measure for a cut out around an electrical light fixture at the top of a wall
Warren Waiting on the Bus during his Independent Drop
LaDonna- smiling, holding a Hockey stick in the rink doorway as part of our Blind Hockey Program
Trevor talks to J.D. while he works with some wire and the Helping Hands Clips
Vanessa and Alejandro with his guitar ready for the show – both
Julie and Lexi Reading Braille
David K. walks through the snow on a winter morning
Lauren out on the sidewalk standing on the skateboard she made
a group of students labor in the snow to build a snow person
Students took advantage of a big snowstorm in late February to work on a snow person at the McGeorge Mountain Terrace Apartments. Some students from warmer states don’t get this chance at home.
Carolina working on the computer in Tech Class
Katie back from her Independent Drop giving the Thumbs Up and a Huge Smile
Jen Working on the computer at the Front Desk
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.
Stephannie and Eliza take advantage of the warm weather and study Braille outside
Alice reads Braille in Eliza’s Braille Class
Mady slices Tomatoes for her Grad meal
Mady working at the computer in Tech class
Christina getting on the train
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.
Senior Using an iPhone for Taking Notes
Paul headed out from the Center with his cane
Kameron chopping Bell Peppers for part of his Grad Meal
a senior woman navigates the hallway among other students with her instructor following
Janice and Chris return from a travel lesson and got caught in the traffic between ITP classes, which Janice navigated smoothly. Julie Deden is coming up behind them.
Corey decides when it is clear to go and starts the street crossing
Andres walks along a neighborhood street
Shaun, Davina, Loren, Mikayla and Dan cross at Church and Prince on the way to ACC
Laura in sleepshades tends chicken on the grill
Carina reading Braille in the Senior Program with Sam and Sue for Spanish Language Group
Ernesto, Taylor and Jordan on their way back from Travel Class
Loice in her first snow catching snowflakes on her toung
Carolina, Leilani and Charles out on Travel along the gravel trail West of the Center
Stefanie takes a swing at the Zip Ball on Game Day
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
Andres stepping on to the light rail
Lexy and Kosy in a double kayak
Shawn grinding a knife blade in Shop Class
Cristian and Charis Hike along the Clear Creek Trail
Large group of Summer Youth out in the garden with their bags full of things they picked
Laurie uses a pencil grip on her cane and takes her first step down the stairs – Petr instructing
David D. Skiing down the slopes through falling snow
An older woman uses a support cane in her left hand and shorelines on the right with her white cane while her instructor observes
Kathy quickly found her level using a white cane in one hand and support cane in the other. And she and her instructor Stephanie B took full advantage of the fall afternoon out front at the center.
Judy shows two pillows she made
female student how to hold the knife as she slices an onion
Here’s a photo from 2017 showing Delfina teaching Ceci how to slice an onion. Many of the techniques we use in teaching involve hands-on instruction. Delfina, who is also blind, puts her hand over Ceci’s in order to show her the proper way to hold the knife, angle and so on, as well as to check that she is able to do so.
a blind instructor talks with his student, a senior woman as they walk with white canes along a residential street
Dishon and Olive on the return leg of a travel lesson near the center. Seniors in Charge this year was blessed with lovely fall days.
Tom M. working on the computer in Tech Class
J.D. in the big raft with Mason, Lesse and Lexy
Chris P. reading Braille at her desk
Confidence Camp kids in Downtown Denver
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See photos of our programs in action!
Be a Part of Our Positive Philosophy about Blindness!
“I learned I don’t have to stay in my room anymore!” That was Alice’s story after attending our intensive five-day Seniors in Charge program. “(When I lost my vision) I was just going to stay in my room and never leave unless someone came to take me somewhere. Now I’m not going to stay in there anymore!” and in the years since Alice said that, she’s been true to those words. She is still living an active, independent life as a blind senior.
Alice
Senior Programs
“They will help provide me with the confidence and resources I need to successfully get through Middle School, High School, and hopefully College and Medical School,” she says. “I like to talk with people who get it.“
CCB students go out on the ice in their hockey gear
David looking at a box frame with tactile art
Two women pass a large ball with perforations back and forth in the gym
Two visitors test out the goal ball at our 2016 tour.
A large gathering along the tables at the exhibit hall at the Career and College Seminar
A view down the table as Fast Saturday kids get hands on experience making simple circuits
Evan waits as Katie and David come across the entrance to Littles Creek Greenway Trail
Katy holds up her daughter Zoey who is wearing sleepshades so she can touch ta tactile art piece of the mountains
CCB folks Lewie, Abdi, Matthew Cameron and Skysha walk along a colorful tree lined path leading toward Bowles Ave.
Stefanie takes a swing at the Zip Ball on Game Day
At the Tactile Art Show, Alysa and Penny each look at casts of different emotional expressions
Ann explores tactile art with a group of blind students at the Denver Art Museum
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.
His team the Ravenous Guinea Pigs (RGP) watches as Cameron runs his leg of the Egg Relay on Game Day
Alexandra Hall gives the Keynote address at the Career and College Seminar
Brett leads the 2 Minute Mystery Detective Game while Ramona, Evette, Lewie and Matthew try to figure it out
Charles controls the Zip Ball on Game day
Workers with shoels, rakes and brooms in the snow and rain
More than 60 Comcast employees turned out on April’ 30s Concast Cares Day to take on a big landscaping project for the Center.
Laura looks at tactile art made using various types of screws
CCB students take turns exploring numerous tactile art pieces on the walls
A young woman hits the zip ball
Ernesto and Chris P. Play Blindness Skills Jeopardy using Braille on Game Day
CCB folks Matthew, Skysha Abdi and Cameron walk along Bowles ave about to cross the bridge over the South Platte River
Tactile art at the Denver Art Museum
Hands explore a tactile image at the Denver Art Museum. A sign reads: OK to Touch
Julie Deden at the podium in a main session at the Career and College Seminar
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
A student in sleepshades prepares to make a throw iwht the goal ball
Three smartly-dressed women chat in a large, busy gym
Employment Specialist Monique Melton talks with Courtney and Libby at Making Connections 2017.
A group of CCB students sit on a bench and put on hockey gear
Shelby passes out Braille cards to a large group of young people at Western Welcome Week Open House
Alexandra Hall gives the Keynote address at the Career and College Seminar
Ravi flashes a huge smile from inside her hockey helmet and mask
Richie, Chandler and a group of CCB students start up the escalator at Union Station
Group shot Making Connections Employment Seminar 2018
Martin demonstrates how to play Goal Ball at Western Welcome Week
The certificate has arrived! Of course, the winners of the 2021 Littleton Western Welcome Week Grand Parade were announced back in August, but now that we have that piece of paper we can’t help but crow a little! And so we won first prize in the Group/School category! Hooray! Was it the noisemakers? Was it the matching T-shirts? Was it the goofy object Gene wore on his head? Those probably all helped, but it was more likely the excitement and the sense of release as we shook our tamborines and maracas and chanted, “Who are we? CCB!” as we marched…
Watch our CCB2020 video, which we put together for our NFB of Colorado convention in October. This section focuses on our ITP students.
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
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.
Watch this video to see our Summer Senior Program in Action!
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.
Kenny (forground) Arron (background) peeling apples
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
A woman in sleepshades slides a batch of cookies into the oven
Scott walking with his cane in front of the CCB street sign
Scott walking with a cane through the front lobby
Kenny chopping apples
Christie walking with her cane in front of the CCB street sign
Aaron mixing ingredients in the kitchen
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See photos of our programs in action!
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.
