“Just think about what we all can do next!”
Julie Deden, Executive Director of the Colorado Center for the Blind (CCB), received the Jacobus tenBroek Award from the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) on July 13 at its annual convention in New Orleans. The tenBroek Award is the highest honor the NFB givs to a member.
"Under her leadership, the center has grown and expanded its reach," said Pam Allen, First Vice President of the NFB in presenting the award at the culminating banquet. "Lives are transformed every day. Students walk in unsure of what is possible and walk out knowing they can change the world.
“What truly distinguishes Julie is her heart,” Allen continued. “She truly believes in people, she helps students transform fears to hope, and encourages staff through her patient example, and motivates everyone she meets to find the best in themselves. Through trial and triumph, Julie perseveres. Her leadership is not about the spotlight, it is about the people."
“I am deeply honored to have received the Jacobus tenBroek award from the National Federation of the Blind,” said Deden in a subsequent Face Book post. “It meant the world to me that Pam Allen, my center sister who directs the Louisiana Center for the blind, presented me with this award! Pam inspires me. We work closely together and have a deep understanding about what is needed to operate our NFB training centers.”
The Jacobus tenBroek Award is recognition for a lifetime of achievement and contribution to the blind of the nation. Jacobus tenBroek was a distinguished scholar who did groundbreaking work on civil rights law. He was also a founder of the National Federation of the Blind and served as its first president. The NFB describes the tenBroek Award this way: "Those who are recognized with this award serve, not for years, but for decades; not in one state, but in ways that benefit the blind of the entire nation."
Deden has served as Executive Director of the Colorado Center for the Blind for the past 26 years. CCB is an NFB-affiliated blindness training center first established in 1988 to provide training in blindness skills that differed from traditional blindness training. Founded, managed and taught by primarily blind people, the approach was, and still is, grounded in the belief in the capacity of blind people, rather than the deficit-based low expectations for blind people that characterized traditional blindness training and which still persists today. While Director, nearly 2000 blind students have passed through the training programs at CCB, coming from nearly every state in the Union. Both the adult training and youth programs have continued to grow. Under Julie's leadership the center established a program for seniors losing their vision more than 20 years ago. Our Older Blind Services now empower 200 to 300 older blind people each year to maintain their independence.
Julie’s work as CCB Director reflects her lifelong commitment to the NFB and its work to advance equality and opportunity for blind Americans.
"I joined the National Federation of the blind in 1978,” Julie said, “and was drawn in by the caring love and full acceptance of our members. Fighting for our equal rights as blind people is exhilarating. Directing the Colorado Center for the Blind and seeing the growth in our students and staff is my greatest passion. I think about the NFB as a gift, and I get to continually unwrap this gift.
"Diane and her late husband Ray McGeorge started me off with their full belief in me. Diane has been my mentor, teaching me about the NFB and showing me how to direct the center with her no-nonsense and loving approach.”
Along with leading CCB since 1999, Julie has served in numerous leadership roles in the NFB - President of the Colorado student division, Denver Chapter President, long-time Colorado affiliate secretary, and its 1st Vice President for many years. She has worked on numerous NFB education and rehabilitation initiatives, met with members of Congress, given testimony to state legislative committees, assisted in affiliate development in other states, traveled to numerous protests against subminimum wages for workers with disabilities and inaccessible digital textbooks, and traveled to Poland with the NFB in the 1990s to provide training to blind Poles at their request.
“Your love, support and friendships are invaluable!” Julie concluded in her Face Book Post. “Just think about what we all can do next!”