April 2016

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:

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.

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.

“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. “For your guests, this bell represents a great deal of hard work – hard work that is rewarded with new and greater independence as a blind person. And you have worked so hard and grown so much in order to earn this bell!”

It’s almost impossible to think about Shelby without thinking of music, too. Her love of music led to the creation of a small, but impressive student choir. Shelby was the director, and they performed during the holidays for our Senior Christmas Party and at the NFB of Denver chapter party. In fact, they gave a lovely harmonized rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” after the bell ceremony.

“I know if I can cook for 64,” mused Vika, “I will be able to cook for my family and friends.”

This was Vika’s turn to ring her Bell of Freedom on April 6. Her graduation meal included barbecued chicken, peach cobbler, and 30 lb of potato wedges.

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 told us. “I didn’t because I didn’t believe I was blind.”

Peter asked his two travel instructors, David and Mo, to present his bell since Julie was out of town. Mo taught Peter in his earlier months until she was needed to fill in as a Braille teacher.

“With me,” Mo commented, “you went from crawling to walking.”

Teasing aside, all agreed that Peter worked very hard and was willing to take on every challenge in travel or tech or home management.

Peter’s meal for 60 featured an elaborate Cobb salad. His sister-in-law, niece and her husband, who live in the Denver area, were his special guests.

“You’re leaving one thing,” Peter remarked of receiving his bell, “but you’re starting a whole new life (of independence).”

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.

“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.”

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.

We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

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: