Take Charge with Confidence and Self-Reliance

Month: April 2017

  • Serena’s homemade applesauce for a snowy spring Saturday

    by

    Dan Burke

    a smiling young woman holds a quart jar of amber appplesauce

    a smiling young woman holds a quart jar of amber appplesauce

    Believe it or not, the forecasts were correct, snow came in Friday night and is still falling Saturday morning of the last weekend in April. So here’s a warm thought. Serena made applesauce from scratch on Thursday in Home Management – peeling, coring, chopping, cooking and putting the mixture through the food processor. She’s got her hands wrapped around the still-warm quart jar of the golden stuff in the photo above, and she’s probably enjoying some of it this morning!

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  • Just can’t stop makin’ those drops – Congrats C.G.!

    by

    Dan Burke

    C.G. signing in at the lobby Brailler with a smile

    C.G. signing in at the lobby Brailler with a smile

    We have a lot of students nearing the completion of their training programs at the Center, and that always means a steady stream of drops and support drops each week. On Wednesday, C.G. did her final and independent drop, getting back to the Center in no time, even though she naturally had no idea where shhe was when she was “dropped.” Mike did his support drop the same morning, and Friday Chaz went on his support drop too. Both were successful.

    Congrats all!

    Mike at the lobby Brailler, checking himself in after a support drop

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  • Seniors Attend Audio-described Production of “Mama Mia”

    by

    Dan Burke

    Seniors around a long table, laughing and talking with food

    Seniors around a long table, laughing and talking with food

    Here’s a pic of some of our seniors at Chili’s last Saturday, after attending the audio-described performance of “Mama Mia” at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. The Seniors used it as a fund-raiser, raising over $200. They keep a small donation fund going to help out with the expenses of various Senior activities for those who may come up short – things like bowling or movies. The money raised will go into that pot.

    For the audio-described performances, blind and theater-goers check out a small FM receiver and headphones over which they receive the live audio description of action on the stage.… Read the rest “Seniors Attend Audio-described Production of “Mama Mia””

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  • Graham’s Tech Project

    by

    Dan Burke

    Graham editing tracks on the computer for his tech project

    Graham's hands turn dials on the audio mixing board, mic, headphones and guitar visible

    It just so happens that Graham graduated today, but we’re posting a sample of his Tech Class project. He of course worked with screen readers and other tools in his Tech Class, but as a songwriter and musician with a fair bit of recording experience, he wanted to try his hand at recording and mixing a music track for his final Tech project. Tricky enough, but it takes some skill and patience with the computer and screen reader to make it work with audio editting software, and then only a few such applications are actually accessible for blind users. So, that’s what Graham did, selecting Amy Winehouse’s “Love Is a Losing Game,” recording vocals and guitar and multiple tracks for background vocals, then editting and ixing … Well, here’s asnippet, just to give you the flavor.… Read the rest “Graham’s Tech Project”

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  • Getting the Garden Ready for 2017

    by

    Dan Burke

    Zach on one knnee cutting the final branch - the finished pile is behind him

    Yes, it’s time to start getting the garden ready for the 2017 growing season! Tuesday morning some of our Colorado Master Gardeners from the Arapahoe County’Extension Office came by to start getting our Legacy Garden area ready for planting next month, clearing out and cutting down all manner of last year’s growth. Zach, our student from Montana, couldn’t pass up the chance to be outside on such a lovely morning. In the photos below, he takes the stalks of Russion Sage to task, making way for new growth this year. The Russion Sage has a great scent throughout the summer, and is just one plant of many that offer odors, from savory to sweet in our Legacy Garden.… Read the rest “Getting the Garden Ready for 2017”

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  • Congratulate Courtney, she completed her drop this morning!

    by

    Dan Burke

    A young woman standing at the counter, her fingers on the keys of a Braille typewriter

    She had great weather, and more than a little New Jersey attitude when Steve told us at announcements she was going on her drop this morning. She still had that attitude when she got back after only an hour.

    “I think I spent more time waiting for the light rail than anything …,” she commented.

    The drop is the final travel requirement – a big test. Students are “dropped” off somewhere in the Metro area and they must find their way back to the Center asking no more than one question. Of course, our travel instructors know when they are ready, know when they have the experience with RTD and various kinds of street crossings and, especially important on the drop, understand and make use of cardinal directions.… Read the rest “Congratulate Courtney, she completed her drop this morning!”

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  • Braille in the Great Outdoors

    by

    Dan Burke

    Five people around a picnic table, one reading Braille aloud to the others.

    The weather’s been great, so Jen took her Braille classes outside one day last week. They took turns reading aloud from a Braille book. Can’t think of a more relaxing way to learn the critical skills of literacy for the blind!

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  • Shout out to our visitors from Front Range Christian School!

    by

    Dan Burke

    Ceci in sleepshades answering questions from visitors

    We want to give a shout out to students and staff and parents from Front Range Christian School, who toured the Center on April 7. It’s become an annual event, with 26 students coming this year, and 8 adults. Robert talked and answered questions, along with the aid of Ceci and Suzie. Then the three each took a group around for a tour.

    Thanks for coming – again! See you next year!

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  • Swolly-ness is Holiness: Ryan’s Pull Up Station

    by

    Dan Burke

    Ryan at the Pull Up Station doing leg lift pull ups

    Everyone does a project in Wood Shop, and since Ryan is a fitness professional he built a pull-up station in our gym:

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  • A Menu with Flair: Ceci’s Mini Meal

    by

    Dan Burke

    Ceci working on her Mini Meal

    Tilapia and ratatouille were served to fifteen with flair for Ceci’s mini-meal, but that was no surprise!

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