No Limits to Learning

4-week program

Dates: June 4-July 2, 2025

Apply by: Friday, April 18

This summer the Colorado Center for the Blind is excited to again offer its No Limits to Learning program for blind teens and young adults. To participate in this program, applicants must be 15 years of age or older.

The Colorado Center for the Blind is nestled in suburban Littleton, Colorado, with easy access to downtown Denver and the Rocky Mountains. We place a strong emphasis on safety and security and follow the Youth Protection Policy established by the National Federation of the Blind. All staff receive extensive training prior to the students’ arrival. Students live with a counselor and will be supervised. Read our full Youth Participant Protection Policy.

What is the process?

1. Students, their parents, TVI, or VR counselor complete the Summer Youth Application form.
2. Once we have the student’s application, all potential students are interviewed along with their parent by our Director of Youth Services to help determine if our programs will be a good fit for that applicant.
3. If all agree the program and the student are a good fit after talking with the Youth Director, families will be asked to provide additional information, such as the student’s medications, food or other allergies, etc.
4. Apply early as space is limited. We will accept applications through April 18.

Funding is typically available through Vocational Rehabilitation in each state under the Pre-ETS or transition programs. We will provide information about how to apply to VR in each state and to have VR fund the students’ summer program.

Here are the elements that have made our summer programs vibrant and life-changing for so many teens:

• Each student gains belief and confidence in themselves as blind individuals.
• Students receive instruction from positive blind role models.
• Students live with a counselor and a roommate in their own apartment to build their skills in all areas of cooking, cleaning, and responsibility sharing.
• All students are required to use a long white cane.
• All students, regardless of degree of blindness, develop nonvisual techniques by using learning shades in all classes.
• Students take the following core classes: Cane Travel, Braille, Technology, and Home Management.
• Students learn about the world of work through job-seeking skills class, job shadows, and work experiences.
• Students who will be attending college participate in a college readiness class.
• Students learn about methods that they can use to succeed in STEM fields through hands-on seminars.
• Students participate in challenge recreational activities including rock climbing, canoeing, self-defense, ice skating, rafting, and more.
• Discussion groups are held several times each week. Topics covered include taking charge of school and life as a blind person, dating, taking responsibility, educating the public, images of blindness, and more.
• A seminar held for family members provides them with support and encouragement to have high expectations for their blind teen.

What do Students gain?

• Life-long friendships with blind peers.
• Confidence in their abilities as blind people.
• Pride in being blind.
• Skills in all class areas.
• Connections with other blind people through the National Federation of the Blind in their state.
• Leadership skills.

“I never thought I’d be able to live successfully on my own, but this program challenged me and now I know that I can.”

If you have questions, please contact Chaz Davis, Director of Youth Services, at cdavis@cocenter.org or 303-778-1130, ext. 212.

Apply for No Limits to Learning 2025