As Milo was finishing up his Independence Training Program at the Colorado Center for the Blind, his mother and step-father arrived from California on June 17 with the armatures of three sculptures in the back of their pickup, and his grandmother flew in later that day. Over the next four days they toiled under the trees of the legacy Garden in 80-plus degree heat and were interrupted by a rain storm.

Milo’s grandmother, artist Deborah Manetta, 83, led the way, while students and staff joined family members to help complete the installation.

We’re on our way to Orlando for the 2024 National Federation of the Blind Convention, July 3-8, and we can’t wait! So, at Friday morning’s 8:00 AM announcements, we decided to send this message out to everyone. See you in Orlando at #NFB24!

On May 16, CCB staff and members of the Board of Directors kicked off this year’s Board Retreat with dinner at the Center. At the dinner, Board Chair Gary Wunder presented a plaque to Executive Director Julie Deden on behalf of the Board recognizing Julie’s 25 years in that role.

This summer, the Colorado Center for the Blind will again offer its No Limits to Learning program for blind teens. In addition to the 4-week program we offered in 2023, we will also offer a 7-week program that will include attending the National Federation of the Blind convention in Orlando.

We believe blind people can do anything. Every day, we encourage and challenge each student—and they come to understand their potential as they build the skills and confidence to live the life they want. Because when you believe in yourself and experience a thriving community of positive blind people, nothing can hold you back from pursuing your dreams.

And that is what our summer programs offer – a positive community of thriving blind people that teach effective nonvisual skills and foster confidence in blind teens.

Summer for Success

7-week program:

Dates: June 21 through August 9, 2024

The best is good enough for me. — Bill Daniels.

Off we went on the evening of January 10 to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science for the annual grants reception put on by the Daniels Fund. The Colorado Center for the Blind received a generous grant from the Colorado philanthropy – our fourth such grant in the past six years. The grant supports our Older Blind Programs which, like all of our programs, are all about independence and living the lives we want as blind people. Aging and disability are among the list of priorities that Bill Daniels identified when he created the fund.

(Editor’s Note:  Executive Director Julie Deden sent The letter below to the 117 donors to the Colorado Center for the Blind on Colorado Gives Day. That number doesn’t count the twenty or so students, staff, and especially seniors who contributed cash totaling $284. Nor would it include all of our supporters who give in ways that are not monetary. These of course include our volunteers, board members, and many other members in our Littleton community and National Federation of the Blind community whose support we cannot overvalue! So, as 2023 winds to its end and we prepare to hit the ground running in 2024, we want to share this letter with all of you and express our gratitude. And of course, our best to you in the New Year!)

When Fitz came to the center as a student, he really didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life, simply because he had no idea what he could do.

As an Independence Training Program (ITP) student, Fitz has been finding his own identity as a blind person. With what he thought of as a lot of residual vision, Fitz nonetheless was one, like many of us, caught in between the myth that blindness means absolute “blackness” and the hard reality of being stuck because we can’t actually see enough, and we don’t have the skills that many totally blind people use effortlessly every day. It takes a toll on self-confidence and undermines our ability to live the life we each want for ourselves.

The Colorado Center for the Blind is presenting a dynamic career and college seminar on September 28. We’re sure to have something for everyone, whether you are looking for information about jobs and careers, planning for education and opportunities, or seeking inspiration from the journeys of successful blind people.

But the deadline to register is only days away, so please reserve your spot (and a lunch) right away. It’s all free!

Register online HERE by Sept. 25!

Date:

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Time:

10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Register by:

Monday, September 25, 2023, 11:59 p.m.

Location: