Take Charge with Confidence and Self-Reliance

Month: July 2016

  • A Send-off for Two Colleagues and Friends

    by

    Dan Burke

    Not only did we say good-bye to our 24 summer students in the past week, we also saw the departure of two friends and colleagues who’ve been with us for much of July.

    We’ve been excited to host Kimie Beverly as a student for the past three weeks. Kimie is President of the National Federation of the Blind of Nevada and a past NFB Scholarship recipient. Sunday she flies to Baltimore where she starts on Monday working at our National Center for the Blind on legislative initiatives such as the Transitioning to Integrated and Meaningful Employment , or TIME Act.… Read the rest “A Send-off for Two Colleagues and Friends”

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  • Summer’s end 2016 …

    by

    Dan Burke

    A young woman and young man with guitar perform before a seated crowd. They wear stunning hats.

    If only the Beach Boys were right about “Endless Summer”! This summer is ending, but 24 students from Colorado and five other states as well as Mexico, there were some great moments. From Denver’s 16th Street Mall to rafting on Clear Creek, from cooking in the kitchen to rock climbing at Eldorado Canyon, from canoeing, work experience or campus visits, to the NFB Convention in Orlando … they gained the confidence of conquering it all, these are young people with a future!

    Today the last of our Summer students passed through DIA to catch their flights home. Wednesday was the big graduation Celebration, with a meal for over 100 cooked entirely by the students, awarding of certificates and a talent show.… Read the rest “Summer’s end 2016 …”

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  • Summer Jobs Wrapping Up

    by

    Dan Burke

    Hard to believe our summer programs are coming to an end. Today summer Earn & Learn students are finishing up their 40-hour internships across the Metro area. Not only do they gain valuable work experience – for some it’s their first paid job – but they travel independently to their job sites on foot and by public transportation.  Jobs include
    retail, reception, food service, checking web accessibility, radio production in Boulder, child care and all the chores at a riding stable, among others.  Thanks to all of our employers for supporting our students!  Hope you can all make to the draduation ceremony next Wednesday!… Read the rest “Summer Jobs Wrapping Up”

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  • Knight’s No-choice Cafe: Warren’s Philly Mini-meal

    by

    Dan Burke

    Warren standing with his cane outside the Center with the Mountains in the Background

    It was a true taste of Philly when Warren served his Mini-meal for fifteen last month.

    HIGHLIGHTING the menu were Amorosa Kaiser Rolls flown direct from the bakery in Philly and iced Wawa coffee. And there were other touches, despite the No-choice ‘menu … ut we’ll let Warren and his guests tell you all about it:

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  • Seniors & @WEFitWellness – You Gotta Move!

    by

    Dan Burke

    A young woman in line with three seniors exercising

    This week Jessica Beecham led a workouq for our Tuesday morning Seniors group.  It’s part of our partnership with WE Fit Wellness. To stay healthy, we gotta keep moving!

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  • Summer students take their shot with water rockets!

    by

    Dan Burke

    Jamie (bottom right) holding the rocket with a group of CCB youth launching water rockets

    Saturday, July 16 was our Summer Science Seminar. With 24 summer youth we divided into three groups and rotated between three science activities. Martin strapped on the Go Pro and followed all three groups through their water rocket activity with Jamie Principato, a blind physics student who just finished her Associate’s degree at Arapahoe Community College in May. Jamie will enter the University of Colorado-Boulder in August. Oh yeah, Jamie is also our Math Tutor.

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  • Summer Interns at @TheRightStepInc Braille the Saddle Bags

    by

    Dan Burke

    Christina, Keaton and Marie are working as interns for our long-time partners, The Right Step this summer. In fact, it’s Marie’s second year in our summer program and working at The Right Step. Their work includes cleaning stalls, cleaning old horse shoes to be reused, cleaning tack and taking care of the horses.

    This morning they cleaned tack and then helped put up new Braille labels in the tack room. That’s the subject of this short video.

    As an FYI, each horse has its own bag with its very own curry comb and brush, halter, lead rope and hoof pick.… Read the rest “Summer Interns at @TheRightStepInc Braille the Saddle Bags”

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  • So Much to Keep Up With, Too Fun to Miss Any!

    by

    Dan Burke

    Chris Parsons looks at some peaches starting to develop on one of our trees

    Showe with a beautiful Japanese eggplant from the gardenIt’s a rocking week at the Center! After being away at the NFB Convention for two of our Tuesday gardening days, the Tech classes checked things out this week. Japanese eggplant was ready and everyone got a little excited about the peach tree we planted a couple of years ago. It’s the first year it’s big enough to really bear fruit, and it is!

    We have a couple of new ITP students. Also, Will is a grad student at UNC and is doing part of his practicum in Orientation and Mobility with us for three weeks. And Alfred D’Agostino, Chair of the Chemistry Department at Notre Dame of Maryland is hear this week teaching our students the fundamentals of the Talking Lab Quest from Independence Science and its applications in Chemistry.… Read the rest “So Much to Keep Up With, Too Fun to Miss Any!”

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  • Hitting the Wave: Summer Students Go Rafting

    by

    Dan Burke

    The front of the raft lifts up high as swirling white water splashes all around

    We’re back! The 2016 Convention of the National Federation of the Blind, which all staff and students in our Independence Training Program and our summer students attended in Orlando from June 30 to July 5. Everyone flew back last Wednesday.

    Summer students and staff had just one day to do laundry, get groceries in their apartments and rest a bit. Then on Friday they went white water rafting on Clear Creek near Idaho Springs, about an hour west of Littleton. Here are a couple of photos from the trip …

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