CCB COVID-19 Response

Health and Safety Protocol for COVID-19

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.”

Lauren walking down the sidewalk and talking on the phone

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.

Warren Waiting on the Bus during his Independent Drop

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

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

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

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

Paul headed out from the Center with his cane

Young woman wearing sleepshades focuses on reading Braille

A dramatic profile view of Peter climbing up a rock face

Shawn grinding a knife blade in Shop Class

Amanda coming down the steps at the Light Rail Station

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

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

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

Christina and Rocky about to get on the Light Rail

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

Stephannie writes using a full page slate

Beth at the coffee machine behind the counter at Dirt Coffee

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

Outdoor Braille Class on the Picnic Table during Confidence Camp

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.

Laura in sleepshades tends chicken on the grill

Amanda crossing a bridge near the Light Rail Station

Two women arranging their hands on a page of Braille

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

Brittany throws Travis flat on his back on the mats

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

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

Loice in her first snow catching snowflakes on her toung

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

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

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

Chris Parsons instructs Trevor in Tech Class

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

Cristian and Charis Hike along the Clear Creek Trail

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

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.

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.

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

David D. Skiing down the slopes through falling snow

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

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

Loice and Kirk outside enjoying huge snowflakes coming down

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

Trevor gets ready to make a cut on the Chop Saw

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

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

Abdi writes Braille using a full page slate

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

Rebecca out on Travel near the Greenway entry on Prince Street

Martin workis with an Orbit Braille Display and his phone

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

Lauren out on the sidewalk standing on the skateboard she made

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

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

Loren in front of the Littleton Downtown Station Mural

Monique reading Braille at her desk in her office at work

Petr and Diane H. returning from travel in the rain

Deya and Alma ready to dissect their Shark

Mikayla plugs a Refreshable Braille Display into the Computer

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

Rocky and Christina doing a street crossing

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

Matt at CCB reading a Braille book
Matt Wallace

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

David K. walks through the snow on a winter morning

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

Kameron chopping Bell Peppers for part of his Grad Meal

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

Seniors out for a hike along one of the Greenway trails

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.

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

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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.“

Chloe

Youth Programs

Get Involved!

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Upcoming Events:

October 1, 2020, All day: 3rd annual NFBCO 6 Dot Dash 5K

View our Full Events Calendar

Photos from Previous Events:

Ravi flashes a huge smile from inside her hockey helmet and mask

Laura looks at tactile art made using various types of screws

Ernesto and Chris P. Play Blindness Skills Jeopardy using Braille on Game Day

Evan waits as Katie and David come across the entrance to Littles Creek Greenway Trail

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

David looking at a box frame with tactile art

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.

Richie, Chandler and a group of CCB students start up the escalator at Union Station

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

CCB students go out on the ice in their hockey gear

Katy holds up her daughter Zoey who is wearing sleepshades so she can touch ta tactile art piece of the mountains

Ann explores tactile art with a group of blind students at the Denver Art Museum

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.

Alexandra Hall gives the Keynote address at the Career and College Seminar

CCB folks Lewie, Abdi, Matthew Cameron and Skysha walk along a colorful tree lined path leading toward Bowles Ave.

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

Tactile art at the Denver Art Museum
Hands explore a tactile image at the Denver Art Museum. A sign reads: OK to Touch

A student in sleepshades prepares to make a throw iwht the goal ball

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

CCB students take turns exploring numerous tactile art pieces on the walls

Martin demonstrates how to play Goal Ball at Western Welcome Week

Group shot Making Connections Employment Seminar 2018

A large gathering along the tables at the exhibit hall at the Career and College Seminar

Julie Deden at the podium in a main session at the Career and College Seminar

His team the Ravenous Guinea Pigs (RGP) watches as Cameron runs his leg of the Egg Relay on Game Day

Brett leads the 2 Minute Mystery Detective Game while Ramona, Evette, Lewie and Matthew try to figure it out

CCB folks Matthew, Skysha Abdi and Cameron walk along Bowles ave about to cross the bridge over the South Platte River

Stefanie takes a swing at the Zip Ball on Game Day

Charles controls the Zip Ball on Game day

A group of CCB students sit on a bench and put on hockey gear

Three smartly-dressed women chat in a large, busy gym
Employment Specialist Monique Melton talks with Courtney and Libby at Making Connections 2017.

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Latest News …

Horsing Around with Arapahoe County Sheriff Office’s mounted Unit @ArapahoeSO

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.

Monday August 3 students and staff at the Colorado Center for the Blind met up with members of the Arapahoe County Sheriff Offices Mounted Unit at nearby Sterne Park. When Lt. Rich Anselmi, the unit’s commander first contacted Executive Director Julie Deden a while back about planning something together, Julie immediately reacted that it sounded like a lot of fun. She probably meant it would be fun for the students, too.

Four deputies, all members of the Mounted Unit, and about 20 volunteers were on hand with eleven horses, two of which were miniatures and one a small pony. Students and staff all got up close with one of the horses to learn about the animal and the basics of grooming, which usually requires three different brushes. For some, it was like renewing old acquaintances, while other students had never encountered a live horse before. And it was a great opportunity to get to know members of the Sheriff’s Office. It’s been a strange summer for us without our traditional summer youth programs, no opportunities like whitewater rafting or rock climbing on the immediate horizon, so the activity was a welcome twist on learning blindness skills and taking on new challenges.

And Julie was right – it was fun!

“All of my people loved working with your folks,” said Lt. Anselmi. “My folks were very complimentary of the students’ eagerness to learn and we were all so impressed with their ability to do so much! You all have a very impressive and professional organization. We feel like we benefited and learned at least as much today as your students did. We are very much looking forward to working with the students and staff at the Colorado Center for the Blind again!”

Well, that’s definitely a fair exchange! Thanks to Lt. Anselmi and the other deputies and all the volunteers. here’s to the next time we meet!

Posted in Challenge Recreation, General Colorado Center Information, Independence Training Program | Tagged Arapahoe County Sheriff's Mounted Unit, blindness, Challenge Rec, Confidence, Horses | Leave a comment

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Our Programs

Independence Training Program for Adults

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

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

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Youth Programs

Youth Programs Video

Watch this video to see our Summer Youth Program in Action!

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

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Senior Programs

Senior Programs Video

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.

Program Areas

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

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Training for Professionals on Blindness

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

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

Brent instructing Christie walking outside with a cane

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

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

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

Scott walking with a cane through the front lobby

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

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

Kenny (forground) Arron (background) peeling apples

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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.

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

CCB COVID-19 Response

Be a Part of Our Positive Philosophy about Blindness!

Alice

Chloe

Get Involved!

Be Sure to:

Upcoming Events:

View our Full Events Calendar

Photos from Previous Events:

Recent Posts:

Horsing Around with Arapahoe County Sheriff Office’s mounted Unit @ArapahoeSO

How we held our first Juneteenth celebration

We’re in NFB Convention Mode, Virtually! #NFB20

Giving Back – A Tribute to Robert Dyson

It’s a new kind of graduation, and Charis is the first!

CCB’s 2020 Virtual Summer Sessions for Youth – Join Us!

Program Areas

Additional Rotating Classes

Year-round Youth Programs

Summer Programs

Program Areas

General:

Our Programs:

For VR Counselors: