Month: April 2016

  • What Color Is Tuesday? Haylee’s Speech

    Julie hugging Haylee and presenting the Bell - Big Smiles and warm hugs

    This is Haylee’s speech for our short-term public speaking class, given last fall before she graduated. Not only did we learn about synesthesia from Haylee, we also learned during the question-and-answer segment (not shown) from Tabea how she and her sister Sarah argued as children over things like what color Tuesday was. They both had very different ideas. Here’s the speech though:

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  • Joey’s Hollywood Ending

    Joey grins as he rings his Bell of Freedom

    Joey wanted to return to the Center for a full training program ever since he came to a summer program as a teenager in 2005. Finally, his Dad put the question in his mind – was he ready to take care of himself if something happened to his parents? That’s when Joey went into action. It took work to do it, Julie told us, but ultimately Joey returned to the Center last summer. He graduated on April; 13.

    “Joey is a man who follows through on everything,” Julie remarked before awarding his Bell of Freedom. “Your teachers are so impressed at how you get your assignments done without procrastinating.”… Read the rest “Joey’s Hollywood Ending”

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  • Shelby: The Choir Director Gets Her Bell

    a smiling Shelby rings her Bell of Freedom

    a smiling Shelby rings her Bell of Freedom
    Shelby’s graduation on April 8 brought her parents and, grandparents all the way from South Carolina, as well as a family friend who lives in Scotland.

    Shelby came to the Center as a brand-new high school grad last summer, and so it was the second time her parents and grandparents had been to the Center – they also came for the summer youth graduation at the end of July.

    “When we have students come to us right out of high school and stay for a full training program, we see so much growth in them. That’s certainly true of you, Shelby,” Julie told her as she prepared to present the bell of Freedom.… Read the rest “Shelby: The Choir Director Gets Her Bell”

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  • Vika: If I can cook for 64, I can cook for my family someday

    Vika receiving her bell

    Vika ringing her bellOn April 6 it was Vika’s turn to ring her Bell of Freedom. She cooked a meal of barbecued chicken, potato wedges that used 30 pounds of spuds, and peach cobbler.

    Vika slicing potatoesWhen Julie asked if if she’d ever done any cooking before coming to the Center, she said no.

    “My parents were afraid I would hurt myself, and they didn’t know how to teach me. That’s why I wanted to come here and be around other blind people who know how to do things and can teach other blind people.”

    “And I’ve met so many wonderful people and had such wonderful teachers.”… Read the rest “Vika: If I can cook for 64, I can cook for my family someday”

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  • Peter: This is your journey to make

    two isntructors awrd the bell to the student

    Peter culminated his amazing journey on April 1 with his grad meal and the Bell of Freedom he worked so hard to earn.

    “It was suggested that I come here 20 years ago,” Peter toldus. “I didn’t because I didn’t believe I was blind.”

    Peter with the horse he carved out of alabasterIndeed, Peter came from Brooklyn as one of our more mature students, but clearly young enough (and wise enough) to work hard and learn. In the mix he brought his mentorship to his fellow students and re-discovered his passion for making art in Ann Cunningham’s class

    Peter forms a bowl on the potters wheel with both hands cupped around the clay and both thumbs forming the center“I’m so happy and proud … This has been an amazing journey for me,” he told everyone.… Read the rest “Peter: This is your journey to make”

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  • Marcus’s Speed Bag Project

    Marcus has made plenty of things in wood shop, before and after coming to the Center. So when it came time to do a final project, he chose something for the Center. By the way, it’s used almost every day.

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  • Tabea: I didn’t know I would grow in the ways that I have

    Tabea grins as she holds her bell of freedom

     

    a young woman grins as she holds her bell of freedomTabea’s time in the spotlight came on March 12 when her travel instructor David Nietfeld presented her with her Bell of Freedom.

    “When Tabea first got here her sister Sarah was finishing up,” David said. “For a while it was kind of the Meyer Show. Some might have been tempted to wonder how Tabea would do once her sister left, but we know for sure now the kind of person she is.”

    “She is a go-getter, she pushes herself. She is definitely someone who gets things done.  I am proud of her, and many others are too.”

    David teased that “she’s a bit of an over-achiever”, going to six new locations on her Monster Route, not just the required four.… Read the rest “Tabea: I didn’t know I would grow in the ways that I have”

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  • Warren’s First Month at CCB

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  • Poetry in Philosophy Class

    Josie Mills

    Thanks to Josie Mills, chair of the Arapahoe Community College’s English Department. She came to philosophy class today to discuss John Milton’s poem, “On His Blindness.” Though almost everyone was new to this poem, there were a lot of very thoughtful responses.

    Maybe the best part of class for many, judging by the hush in the room when she finished reading it, came when Josie shared one of her favorite poems, which appears below:

    The Waking

    I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
    I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
    I learn by going where I have to go.… Read the rest “Poetry in Philosophy Class”

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  • Vicki: New House for Her Dog Bella

    Vicki uses a cordless drill to screw a large trianguler peice onto a frame for her dog house woodshop project

    All ITP students take wood shop and home maintenance at the Center, and building a project is a graduation requirement. Vicki will tell you about hers:

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