Take Charge with Confidence and Self-Reliance

Tag: The Drop

  • Signs of Spring

    by

    Dan Burke

    Omar, Charles and Kameron move picnic tables while Julie and Duncan figure out placement

    Omar, Charles and Kameron move picnic tables while Julie and Duncan figure out placement

    Sometimes spring arrives in Colorado in waves that feel like that bad bus driver, the one who alternately steps on the gas and then lets off, again and again, rocking you forward and back into half-nausea. That’s how it’s been this year – 80 degree days followed by an icy blast of wind and snow and then it starts again. But underfoot (and a couple of times under the snow), the grass is greening and the smell of the damp, warming soil is like a reassuring promise, while overhead in the budding trees robins and sparrows and towhees announce their return.… Read the rest “Signs of Spring”

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  • The First Week of Summer Means Lots of Firsts

    by

    Dan Burke

    Amber using a shovel in the garden for the 1st time with Annette and Barb

    Amber turns dirt over in the garden with Annette and Master Gardener Barb

    No matter what the calendar says, it’s the first week of summer. The temps are in the 90s, the garden is being planted and summer staff are shadowing their ITP staff counterparts. Friday 25 teenagers (summer students) begin arriving and on Monday the elementary Confidence Camp kids start too.

    So here’s another first or two. Above, Amber uses a spade for the first time out in the garden. When asked if she’d dug with a shovel before she promptly answered, “I’m about to.” And then she proceeded to do it. In the process she and classmate Annette planted this years pumpkin and zucchini hills.… Read the rest “The First Week of Summer Means Lots of Firsts”

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  • A little about CCB at #NFBCO17 – @nfbco

    by

    Dan Burke

    Ryan at the podium with Julie and Scott to the right at NFBCO17

    Blanca at the Podium at NFBCO17
    Tabea at the podium at NFBCO17
    Ryan at the podium with Julie and Scott to the right at NFBCO17

    Everyone – staff and students – were in Fort Collins last weekend for the 63rd Convention of National Federation of the Blind of Colorado. For some, it was their first convention, while others were very involved in a number of activities and divisions.

    Above these three recent alums were at the podium at different moments. Left to right: Blanca was part of the CCB presentation talking about her training and her new job; Tabel was one of the scholarship winners, but here is
    shown as part of the “My Blindness, My Self” panel; and Ryan also talked about his new job, and how he was quickly moved to a new position that challenged him even more.… Read the rest “A little about CCB at #NFBCO17 – @nfbco”

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  • Steve Announces 2 for 1 on Drops: Julie & Ashley Successes!

    by

    Dan Burke

    Julie M. Signing in after returning from her Independent Drop

    Who can resist a 2-for-1 deal? Steve called it out at morning announcements – Ashley for her support drop (meaning she spent the morning with Steve), and Julie M. on her solo drop! What a great deal – and they both made it back successfully, and with more confidence in their independent travel skills!

    Limit one coupon per Travel Instructor, please.

    Ashley just back from her Support Drop
    Julie M. Signing in after returning from her Independent Drop

     

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  • “I cant’ believe I did it!” Congrats to Serena on Completing her Drop Today!

    by

    Dan Burke

    Serena signing in at the Brailler in the lobby, grinning at the camera

    Serena signing in at the Brailler in the lobby, grinning at the camera

    Confidence

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  • Confidence Is the Cornerstone of Independence: Suzi’s Drop

    by

    Dan Burke

    Suzi with a huge grin signing in at the Brailler after getting back from her Independent Drop

    Suzi with a huge grin signing in at the Brailler after getting back from her Independent Drop

    “Is Suzie here this morning?” asked Daniel yesterday at morning announcements.

    “No!” protested Suzie

    This is how it goes sometimes near the end of a student’s program – things can get bunched up a bit. Suzie will graduate on May 10. On Tuesday this week, she completed her Monster Route – traveling to four places she’d never been before in four Metro-area cities. That’s a big, big day, and her protests were certainly as much about the fact that she was still a little tired as it was about the fact that it was raining yesterday morning.

    Why was Daniel, Suzie’s Travel Instructor asking whether she was there?… Read the rest “Confidence Is the Cornerstone of Independence: Suzi’s Drop”

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  • Congratulate Courtney, she completed her drop this morning!

    by

    Dan Burke

    A young woman standing at the counter, her fingers on the keys of a Braille typewriter

    She had great weather, and more than a little New Jersey attitude when Steve told us at announcements she was going on her drop this morning. She still had that attitude when she got back after only an hour.

    “I think I spent more time waiting for the light rail than anything …,” she commented.

    The drop is the final travel requirement – a big test. Students are “dropped” off somewhere in the Metro area and they must find their way back to the Center asking no more than one question. Of course, our travel instructors know when they are ready, know when they have the experience with RTD and various kinds of street crossings and, especially important on the drop, understand and make use of cardinal directions.… Read the rest “Congratulate Courtney, she completed her drop this morning!”

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  • Last week was a big one for drops

    by

    Dan Burke

    Ryan signing in after returning from his Independent Drop

    Ryan signs in on the Brailler with a sense of accomplishment after completing his Independent Drop
    Trevor traveling with his cane and sleepshades

    Last week was busy with drops and support drops.

    The “Drop”, or independent drop is one of the two final requirements of our cane travel instruction. Ryan and Trevor both completed theirs last week, having been dropped somewhere in the Denver Metro area and permitted one question on their trip back to the Center.

    The “support drop” is more or less a dress rehearsal for the independent drop. Everything is the same except that the student’s travel instructor goes along. The instructor, by the way, doesn’t know where they are either and also wears sleepshades. Both Julie and Suzie completed support drops last week.… Read the rest “Last week was a big one for drops”

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