Colorado Center for the Blind

Brandon never imagined he would be painting a wall as part of his blindness training program.

“I’ve done so many things for the first time,” he often says of his first five months at the Center. These include camping out at the Great sand Dunes and climbing to the top of the dunes with a small but intrepid group of fellow students. That same night, he made his first s’mores over the fire. He’s been sailing and was on the Colorado Center for the Blind’s Western welcome Week Parade float in August.

“I loved the cheering from the sidelines,” he recalls with a chuckle.

Another of Brandon’s firsts has been serving on the Student Association Board for the past two months. He describes himself as having been a shy kid with a speech impediment who did his best to keep to himself, so serving on the student board is a big first.

I like to do my part,’ he says. “Whatever I can do to help others out”

Challenge is the key to developing confidence for our students, and we challenge them because we believe that blind people can do anything! We challenge students both in and out of the core classes of Technology, Braille, Cane Travel and Home Management. For example, students also take a Home Maintenance class. They learn how to do simple wiring and plumbing tasks, change a faucet, hang pictures, and much more – including the counterintuitive idea of blind people painting a wall!

“I’m painting a wall for the first time,” Brandon says in a short video, “and I think I’m doing a pretty good job …” Then he laughs and corrects himself. “ No, I know I’m doing a good job!”

Challenge builds confidence – it’s working for Brandon!

Colorado Gives Day is December 9, but you can give early to support our programs and students like Brandon!