It was all about pies. That’s how we promoted our November 16 FAST (Fun Activities and Skills Training) event. We called it “Conquering the Kitchen,” and parents, youth, and teachers came from the Denver and Colorado Springs areas. Blind youth worked in the large kitchen with volunteer teachers from our Independence Training Program (ITP), while their parents were in the small kitchen with Director Julie Deden learning the same nonvisual techniques.
Our goals for the event, as with all of our Youth Program activities, were new skills and the discovery of new possibilities for blind youth and their families. But we are also inviting youth and families into our community of positive attitudes and successful blind role models.
Students practiced peeling and slicing apples with safe, effective nonvisual techniques taught by their mentors. They mixed up the pumpkin and the spices and made a crumble for the fruit pies. Then they loaded up the pie crusts with their fillings, either pumpkin or fruit, and popped them into the oven—all under learning shades using nonvisual skills.
“I thought that I knew so much about doing things in the kitchen,” said one high school student, “but I learned so many things today that will be helpful at home.”
Meanwhile, parents learned these same techniques so they can reinforce them with their kids at home but also to realize that there are nonvisual ways for blind people to do these things.
After their pies were in the oven, parents also received a basic introduction to the effective use of the white cane. The white cane used by blind people is not simply an identifier but an effective travel tool, and parents discovered how blind people successfully use this tool every day.
“I thought I had to lead my son around everywhere we went,” said one parent. “But this experience using the cane and shades will help me encourage him to use his cane more consistently and independently.”
“I love introducing kids and their families to the Center,” said Lori Mattick, a Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) for District 49 near Colorado Springs and a parent of a blind (now adult) child. Lori brought five of her students and her colleague Natalie, a new TVI.
“We were living in North Dakota when my daughter was just starting school,” Lori recalled. “I remember reading about the Colorado Center for the Blind and wishing there was something like CCB near us. It’s such a tremendous resource for families!”
Lori’s daughter, by the way, is finishing up a master’s degree this year.
You are wondering what happened to the pies? We ate them, of course. And just to seal that sense of community we had vanilla ice cream and whipped cream to top them off!
New skills, shifting attitudes about what blind people can achieve, and a supportive community, no matter what your preference—apple, cherry, blueberry, or pumpkin—the results were delicious and the learning long lasting!
Your donation to the Colorado Center for the Blind for Colorado Gives Day, Dec. 10, helps make our youth events possible. Indeed, events like “Conquering the Kitchen” depend on donations. We believe that blind kids can grow up to accomplish anything. They can pursue their dreams. We are determined to teach them that they can dream—and dream big!
All donations between now and December 10 count toward our Colorado Gives Day total, and a percentage of the $1 Million Incentive Fund from First Bank.
Support our Youth Programs for Colorado Gives Day!
Chaz Davis, MSW
Director of Youth Services
