Colorado Center for the Blind

Blowing off Steam After Competing in the Braille Challenge CSDBBulldogs

by
Dan Burke

January 25, 2018

After spending much of the day in their chairs, giving their best in various Braille skills as part of the 2018 Braille Challenge, participants in the Metro area competition found goal ball the perfect way to unwind.

It’s the third year we’ve hosted the event for Metro-area kids, which is organized in Colorado by the colorado school for the deaf and the blind. Students scores on reading, writing and more are collected regionally and given rankings, then compared to scores across the country. Eventually, the Braille Institute in Los Angeles will bring the most competitive students there for a final competition.… Read the rest “Blowing off Steam After Competing in the Braille Challenge CSDBBulldogs”
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Dreaming of warmer weather? Announcing dates for our 2018 Summer Youth Programs!

by
Dan Burke

January 18, 2018

Summer 2018

When it snows in Georgia, when it’s warmer in Atlanta, Idaho than it is in Atlanta, Georgia in January (I checked it, 32 versus 30 degrees) … Well, it’s time to talk about Summer 2018 and our residential youth programs! Below you will find the dates of our three residential programs, links to more detailed descriptions of each, the application form in PDF or MS Word, and contact info for our Summer Youth Coordinator, Martin Becerra-Miranda, so “think Warm!”

Announcing 2018 Summer Youth Program Dates

Summer for Success College Prep Program

Ages: completed junior year in high school with focus on college
Program dates: June 8 – August 3
8-week residential program

Earn and Learn High School Program

Ages: 14 years or older and completed freshman year of high school
Program dates: June8 – August 3
8-week residential program

Initiation to Independence Middle School Program

Ages: 11-14
Program dates: June 11 – June 29
3-week residential program

Download an Application or Get More Info

Download the Summer Youth Program Application as a PDF file

Download the Summer Youth Program Application as a Word Document

For more information please contact:
Martin Becerra-Miranda, Summer Youth Coordinator
mbecerra@cocenter.org
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Summer Was Fun, and Especially Our Saturday Science Day!

by
Dan Burke

September 25, 2017

Here are a few pics from our Science Saturday way back in July! Studens rotated between three stations – basic chemistry, a station dedicated to weather, and a robotics class using Lego Mindstorms.

With the first serious fall weather this week – misty rain, leaves turning and starting to litter the lawns and sidewalks – it’s kind of fun to think about how hot it was that day out front with the bucket and the hose!

The point of course is to show our students that blind people can do science and – Wow! – it’s even fun!

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Youth Programs Receive Anonymous $10,000 Donation

by
Dan Burke

September 6, 2017

Recently, we were elated to get notification that we had received an anonymous donation of $10,000 designated for our Youth Programs through our Colorado Gives portal. We often receive donations in this way and welcome every one of them. But such generous donations as this one are, not surprisingly, a little out of the norm. The anonymous donor left the following note, which meant a lot to our Youth Services staff as our summer youth programs were drawing to a close. We’ve edited the note slightly:

I am pleased to be able to make another large donation this year. (I know) one of your alumni and seeing the incredible impact you have made in her life makes me want to give as much as I can.
… Read the rest “Youth Programs Receive Anonymous $10,000 Donation”
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Summer Youth Explore the Garden

by
Dan Burke

July 19, 2017

Today we start up again after our annual trip to the National Fedeeration of the Blind Convention in Orlando, but the CCB summer students got back in the swing of things yesterday. Since it was our appointed gardening day with the Master Gardeners, summer students and staff got the privilege of bringing in the first zucchini of the season, as well as some other tasy surprises!
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They’re coming today, the #CCBSummer17 students! 2016tells what’s ins store:

by
Dan Burke

June 9, 2017

That’s right, Summer 2017 students are all arriving today by planes, … well automobiles at least. Their counselors have been here for nearly two weeks, getting classrooms and apartments ready, creating lesson plans and getting in touch with the students – even finding out what them might like for dinner tonight! It’s the start of eight dynamic weeksof challenge and growth because, as we always say, this isn’t a camp, it’s a PROGRAM!

Last summer, after eight weeks, after the final meal cooked by the summer students for family and the etire Center, after the talent show and passing out of certificates, and as the packing and apartment cleaning started, Summer 2016 students and staff took a few moments to reflect on what the summer meant to them.… Read the rest “They’re coming today, the #CCBSummer17 students! 2016tells what’s ins store:”
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Beeping Easter Eggs with @TelecomPioneers & Warm Weather Youth Plans

by
Dan Burke

April 7, 2017

Editor’s Note: An update from our Youth Services Director Brent Batron about what’s coming tomorrow and through the summer for blind youth.

Usually the second Saturday of each month is the FAST program at the Center, however this month we will be participate in the Pioneers Easter Egg Hunt! Information is below.

Other upcoming events include:

April 21-23

Winter Outdoor Adventures at Estes ParkThis is a great time for kids to spend time with friends that they do not get to see all the time as well as make new ones. There will also be lots of good blind adult role models as well as teachers of blind students.
… Read the rest “Beeping Easter Eggs with @TelecomPioneers & Warm Weather Youth Plans”
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Dates & Applications for 2017 Residential Summer Youth Programs Available

by
Dan Burke

January 30, 2017

Sure, it was an unlucky 13 degrees this morning and one-third of our ITP students are on the slopes today, so why not start thinking about Summer 2017?

Here are the dates of all three residential programs.

Summer for Success College Prep Program
Ages: completed junior year in high school with focus on college
Program dates: June 9 – August 4
8-week residential program

Earn and Learn High School Program
Ages: 14 years or older and completed freshman year of high school
Program dates: June 9 – August 4
8-week residential program

Initiation to Independence Middle School Program
Ages: 11-14
Program dates: June 12 – June 30
3 week residential program

At the Colorado Center for the Blind we offer three summer residential programs for students in middle school, high school and college prep.… Read the rest “Dates & Applications for 2017 Residential Summer Youth Programs Available”
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Pleased to host #BrailleChallenge and the #SRC all today!

by
Dan Burke

January 26, 2017

Yes, we’re pleased and excite to be the host site for the Braille Challenge for 2017! Fifteen Metro-area students ages 6 to 17 are here to demostrate their skils in reading, writing and more using Braille. It’s our third year to host the Metro Challenge, which is sponsored by the Braille Institute of America and coordinated in Colorado by the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind. Last week, students in Colorado Springs met the Braille Challenge as well.

This afternoon the State Rehabilitation Council met at the Center. The SRC is required of each state’s Vocational Rehabilitation program, and includes members from across the state representing many disabilities.… Read the rest “Pleased to host #BrailleChallenge and the #SRC all today!”
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Shark Dissection with @ArapahoeCC’s Terry Harrison Friday! #STEM

by
Dan Burke

November 12, 2016

It’s that time of the year. Just as we start to think about turkey and stuffing with cranberries, it’s time for blind kids in the area to get hands-on with shark innards!

As he has for more than a decade, Arapahoe Community College’s Biology Professor Terry Harrison will lead a shark dissection at CCB on Friday, November 18. Harrison has partnered with CCB to ensure that blind kids in Colorado get actual experience in this one aspect of the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Participants will handle the scalpels, determine sex, examine the lungs, liver and those sharp little dog shark teeth.… Read the rest “Shark Dissection with @ArapahoeCC’s Terry Harrison Friday! #STEM”
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