Founded in 1988 by the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado, the Colorado Center for the Blind is today a world-renowned blindness-skills training center located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Littleton, about 13 miles south of Denver.
Grounded in the National Federation of the Blind’s positive philosophy of blindness, the Colorado Center for the Blind provides innovative teaching, progressive daily challenges and self-confidence that are the building blocks of independence, opportunity and success. Day after day, year after year, blind students leave the Colorado Center for the Blind’s training program in fused with the confidence and belief that they can live the lives they want.
Large group of CCB staff and students walk along the curve of the sidewalk toward the Art Gallery building
Amanda coming down the steps at the Light Rail Station
Laura in sleepshades tends chicken on the grill
Judy shows two pillows she made
Christina getting on the train
Cristian and Charis Hike along the Clear Creek Trail
Deya and Alma ready to dissect their Shark
Christina getting on the bus
Vika and Martin walk along a shaded sidewalk toward Littleton Downtown Station
Petr and Diane H. returning from travel in the rain
Beth at the coffee machine behind the counter at Dirt Coffee
Loice and Kirk outside enjoying huge snowflakes coming down
Holly, Cody and Lia paddle a green canoe at Bear Creek Lake
Senior Using an iPhone for Taking Notes
Kameron chopping Bell Peppers for part of his Grad Meal
Stephannie and Mark work together using a color identifier to match the correct wire colors to re-wire a light fixture in Home Maintenance Class
Amanda getting on the train
Summer students Mary and Cheyenne each mount a tandem bike with EyeCycle Volunteers while Christina waits her turn
Loice in her first snow catching snowflakes on her toung
A delighted Logan making the letter L in Braille with whiffle balls and an egg carton
staff and students on the front patio grilling and enjoying the day
Everybody was out front today on the grills, making the most of the first day of spring. Delfina, Lyne, Kyra and Libby checking on brats.
Natalia, Celia, and Steve walking along a snowy icy sidewalk
Young woman wearing sleepshades focuses on reading Braille
Shawn grinding a knife blade in Shop Class
Corey and David talk about traffic sounds before making a street crossing
a smiling woman with a cart full of groceries outside the store
Lyne did her mini-meal shopping at the Walmart Neighborhood Market in early 2017. She planned, shopped, prepared and served for 15 people.
Trevor talks to J.D. while he works with some wire and the Helping Hands Clips
Matt at CCB reading a Braille book
Matt Wallace
Abdi writes Braille using a full page slate
Lauren walking down the sidewalk and talking on the phone
Monique reading Braille at her desk in her office at work
Brittany throws Travis flat on his back on the mats
Stephannie writes using a full page slate
David K. walks through the snow on a winter morning
Ashley looks at a Great Horned Owl in Birding by Ear Class
Ty and Chloe ride the Light Rail
Outdoor Braille Class on the Picnic Table during Confidence Camp
Allie Blanca C.G Dan andMike walkingaround the pond at Sterne Park during Birding Class
Summer Youth working together learning to write code using Swift Playgrounds on the iPad
Amanda reading Braille in Jen’s class
A group of students about to board the Light Rail
Five people wearing snow shoes on a wintery forested path with snow covered branches.
Dan, Anthony and Showe with two guides on the snowshoe trail at Lake Eldora. Four inches of fresh, albeit wet, snow flell the night before.
Vika shreading chicken in a crock pot for her grad meal – Celia with a tray of cookies
Rudy Rock Climbing
Stephannie and Eliza take advantage of the warm weather and study Braille outside
Blind Senior in a red hat marches in the Parade with a group from the Colorado Center for the Blind
Eileen, 92, is flanked by Senior Services Director Duncan Larsen and Senior Outreach Specialist Chris Kinney during the Littleton Western Welcome Week Parade. In front of them is Ashley and behind them are Martin and Brad.
A dramatic profile view of Peter climbing up a rock face
Wayne works with Judy under sleepshades outside the front of the Center showing her how to hold the cane and get good feedback from the edge of the sidewalk and the grassy area
David D. Skiing down the slopes through falling snow
Warren Waiting on the Bus during his Independent Drop
Four rafts head toward white water
Summer staff and students white water rafting on Clear Creek on a hot July, 2017 day.
Amanda, Rocky and Christina at the Light Rail Station just as the train arrives
Amanda crossing a bridge near the Light Rail Station
Martin workis with an Orbit Braille Display and his phone
Rocky and Christina crossing the tracks
Loren in front of the Littleton Downtown Station Mural
Two women arranging their hands on a page of Braille
Paul headed out from the Center with his cane
J.D. in the big raft with Mason, Lesse and Lexy
Russel at his apartment pouring pasta from a box into a boiling pot
Julie and Lexi Reading Braille
A trim man with dish towel over his shoulder pours a thick white mixture from a bowl to a pan
Marcus’ meal featured ribs and cheesecake. Here he’s pouring the mixture for his dessert into a pan.
Rocky and Christina doing a street crossing
Jerad uses a click rule to measure for a cut out around an electrical light fixture at the top of a wall
Corey decides when it is clear to go and starts the street crossing
Seniors out for a hike along one of the Greenway trails
Smiling young man prepares to board the RTD bus
Thomas boards a bus during travel class last summer.
Chris Parsons instructs Trevor in Tech Class
Group hike at Bear Creek Lake Park
Suzi in Tech Lab learning to use the computer with a screen reader
Rebecca out on Travel near the Greenway entry on Prince Street
Lisa makes turns in her chair in the gym to find various destinations – Duncan instructing
Laurie uses a pencil grip on her cane and takes her first step down the stairs – Petr instructing
Chris P. reading Braille at her desk
Mikayla plugs a Refreshable Braille Display into the Computer
Holly Hiking along a raging Clear Creek
Trevor uses a Click Rule to measure out pieces for a model of a Light Rail Station he is building in Wood Shop
Kyra and Trevor walking to the pond for Birding by Ear Class
Masson learns how to put power in forward knee strikes while Rachael holds the pad. Maggie waits her turn to give it a try
Janet relaxing and reading Braille
Shaun, Davina, Loren, Mikayla and Dan cross at Church and Prince on the way to ACC
Paul harvested a Poblano pepper and some chives from the CCB garden to cook with some eggs
Loren listens to the news on his phone while waiting on a train
Carina reading Braille in the Senior Program with Sam and Sue for Spanish Language Group
Russel reading a Braille book
A small blind woman laughs as her hands rest on a Braille copy of the New York Times Weekly.
Though she retired 20 years ago, CCB founder Diane McGeorge volunteers with our Senior Program every week, teaching Braille and helping lead discussions in support groups.
Christina and Rocky about to get on the Light Rail
Trevor gets ready to make a cut on the Chop Saw
Lauren out on the sidewalk standing on the skateboard she made
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See photos of our programs in action!
Be a Part of Our Positive Philosophy about Blindness!
“I learned I don’t have to stay in my room anymore!” That was Alice’s story after attending our intensive five-day Seniors in Charge program. “(When I lost my vision) I was just going to stay in my room and never leave unless someone came to take me somewhere. Now I’m not going to stay in there anymore!” and in the years since Alice said that, she’s been true to those words. She is still living an active, independent life as a blind senior.
Alice
Senior Programs
“They will help provide me with the confidence and resources I need to successfully get through Middle School, High School, and hopefully College and Medical School,” she says. “I like to talk with people who get it.“
A group of CCB students sit on a bench and put on hockey gear
Three smartly-dressed women chat in a large, busy gym
Employment Specialist Monique Melton talks with Courtney and Libby at Making Connections 2017.
At the Tactile Art Show, Alysa and Penny each look at casts of different emotional expressions
Alexandra Hall gives the Keynote address at the Career and College Seminar
Evan waits as Katie and David come across the entrance to Littles Creek Greenway Trail
CCB folks Matthew, Skysha Abdi and Cameron walk along Bowles ave about to cross the bridge over the South Platte River
CCB students go out on the ice in their hockey gear
Martin demonstrates how to play Goal Ball at Western Welcome Week
A student in sleepshades prepares to make a throw iwht the goal ball
A young woman hits the zip ball
Julie at bat with the ball in mid air after the pitch
Julie takes a swing at the Beep Baseball at the NF Challenge Olympic Day 2017
Laura looks at tactile art made using various types of screws
CCB folks Lewie, Abdi, Matthew Cameron and Skysha walk along a colorful tree lined path leading toward Bowles Ave.
CCB students take turns exploring numerous tactile art pieces on the walls
Alexandra Hall gives the Keynote address at the Career and College Seminar
David looking at a box frame with tactile art
Workers with shoels, rakes and brooms in the snow and rain
More than 60 Comcast employees turned out on April’ 30s Concast Cares Day to take on a big landscaping project for the Center.
Group shot Making Connections Employment Seminar 2018
Tactile art at the Denver Art Museum
Hands explore a tactile image at the Denver Art Museum. A sign reads: OK to Touch
Ann explores tactile art with a group of blind students at the Denver Art Museum
Brett leads the 2 Minute Mystery Detective Game while Ramona, Evette, Lewie and Matthew try to figure it out
Blind Senior in a red hat marches in the Parade with a group from the Colorado Center for the Blind
Eileen, 92, is flanked by Senior Services Director Duncan Larsen and Senior Outreach Specialist Chris Kinney during the Littleton Western Welcome Week Parade. In front of them is Ashley and behind them are Martin and Brad.
Stefanie takes a swing at the Zip Ball on Game Day
Katy holds up her daughter Zoey who is wearing sleepshades so she can touch ta tactile art piece of the mountains
Ravi flashes a huge smile from inside her hockey helmet and mask
Charles controls the Zip Ball on Game day
Ernesto and Chris P. Play Blindness Skills Jeopardy using Braille on Game Day
His team the Ravenous Guinea Pigs (RGP) watches as Cameron runs his leg of the Egg Relay on Game Day
Richie, Chandler and a group of CCB students start up the escalator at Union Station
Two women pass a large ball with perforations back and forth in the gym
Two visitors test out the goal ball at our 2016 tour.
Julie Deden at the podium in a main session at the Career and College Seminar
A large gathering along the tables at the exhibit hall at the Career and College Seminar
A view down the table as Fast Saturday kids get hands on experience making simple circuits
Shelby passes out Braille cards to a large group of young people at Western Welcome Week Open House
We were excited to welcome Circuit Media leadership for a recent visit at the center. Rebecca, Lisa, Karen and Ellie sat down with Executive Director Julie Deden and members of the management team to discuss a possible partnership, including Circuit Media staff serving as volunteers and possible internships for students. (Rebecca, Karen and Ellie are shown in the photo above.) Circuit Media, a 20-year-old company headquartered in Denver, is a digital communications and design agency working in both the private and government sectors. Since its inception, it has also fostered socially-conscious service to the community. Indeed, Circuit Media has incorporated…
Watch our CCB2020 video, which we put together for our NFB of Colorado convention in October. This section focuses on our ITP students.
Our Independence Training Program (ITP) is designed for blind adults (18 years of age and older). Typically students complete the program in six to nine months while residing in nearby McGeorge Mountain Terrace apartments, which are owned by the Center. Participants not only build the skills that they need to be independent, but also focus on gaining confidence and belief in themselves as blind people
FAST stands for Fun Activities and Skills Training. This program will meet the second Saturday of each month throughout the school year. Some Saturdays we will simply focus on having fun as we develop skills. Other Saturdays we will participate in a variety of challenge recreation activities.
Watch this video to see our Summer Senior Program in Action!
The Colorado Center for the Blind works to change the experience of older blind and visually impaired persons from frustration to independence. With education and training seniors can and do obtain the skills and confidence necessary to stay in their own homes and continue be contributing members of their communities.
Scott and Christie walking with canes and sleepshades in front of the CCB building
Christie walking with her cane in front of the CCB street sign
Aaron mixing ingredients in the kitchen
Scott walking with his cane in front of the CCB street sign
Kenny chopping apples
Christie going down the stairs for the 1st time with a cane and wearing sleepshades
A woman in sleepshades slides a batch of cookies into the oven
Kenny (forground) Arron (background) peeling apples
Scott walking with a cane through the front lobby
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See photos of our programs in action!
Our Professional Training Seminars include information about causes of blindness, alternative techniques used successfully by blind people, an introduction to sleepshades and their use with a white cane or in preparing lunch, and we spend time talking about the myths of blindness as well.
