Independence Training Program

The Colorado Center for the Blind Youth Programs have been busy in 2016. Brent and others continue to make twice-monthly visits to the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind as part of our ongoing mentoring partnership with CSDB. In January, We worked with 22 students combined in both the Bridges to Life Program and in middle school. The focus for the month was about fitness and we had the kids moving while learning how the foods they eat affect them. Students Activities included jumping jacks, sit-ups, push-ups and running in the gym.

Julie Hunter and ITP student Kierra proctored the Varsity group for the 2016 Braille Challenge.

Editor’s Note: Shirley graduated in August of 2014, and made this video before she left. While she was here, she obviously made a trip or two to Savory Spice on W. Main in Littleton.

It was “paleo man’s” turn on December 3. That refers to his diet and his grad meal, for the record.

“Was that a great meal?” exclaimed Kimberley, who presented Jerad with his Freedom Bell.

“I want to thank you for kicking my behind every day of my program,” Jerad told his instructors.

For their part, his teachers neither confirmed nor denied how necessary that was, praising him instead for his skills and accomplishments.

It was all true. Though he came from Tennessee just out of high school, Jerad could always be counted on to lend an assist to any of his fellow students who needed it. And he worked hard to achieve his confidence and self-reliance, always remaining thoughtful and understanding.

Next for “paleo man”? College man!

Salem worked for two years to be able to come for training at the Center. She loves Braille, and more than once praised her Mom for insisting that her daughter be taught Braille when she became blind in middle school. After high school and a stint in college however, Salem began to realize that she needed some other things as well if she were going to be able to live the life she wanted for herself.

So it was her bustling determination that propelled her through her program and over and around and through the many challenges she faced in her time in Colorado. And then she gave even more, often volunteering to work with our Youth Programs, such as mentoring blind youth at the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind and for other events at the Center.

Curtis was the perfect gentleman as always during the love session at his graduation. He simply said “Thank you” with a grin, and continued to soak up all the praise and affection heaped on him by his fellow students and instructors.

The praise is easy to understand. He cooked a great meal – feeding the masses is one of his special skills. More than that, he is always ready to pitch in and help his fellow students or with any activity around the Center.

Curtis started the program in 2013, but had to leave because of a family emergency back in Missouri. His determination to complete his training and to earn his Freedom Bell remained firm, and he made it back last spring. Now that bell, representing confidence and self-reliance, is his!

It was definitely a day to celebrate when Ahimsa graduated on November 12, 2015, and she was more than ready! She came away from her training with a positive sense of herself as a blind person and the satisfaction of knowing that she pushed herself through many barriers to reach this day. Her extraordinary laugh throughout gave testimony to that!

Already an accomplished baker, she was always comfortable in the kitchen. As she prepared her graduation meal for 60, she hummed and sang along with her favorite show tunes, knowing that she was now also an accomplished traveler as a blind person, able to read Braille and effectively use assistive technology.

All these things will serve her well as she returns to New Mexico and goes on to her next training in college!

The holiday season is always a busy time as well as a family time, and it’s no different with our Colorado Center for the Blind family.

Travel Instructor Steve Patten always volunteers to take a hand helping with Christmas cookies. He and student Natalya look sharp in matching red aprons.

While many were preoccupied with Cyber Monday, we brought in our tree and decorated it in the meeting room. Cookies were baking in all three ovens in the kitchen. Even Travel Instructor Steve Patten donned a red apron to help out. Meanwhile, out at the front desk, Robert solemnly presided over the drawing of names for the Secret Santa exchange as he does each year.

We at the Colorado Center for the Blind appreciate your support! As a result of Colorado gives day we raised over $20,000. These funds will make it possible for us to serve more kids this summer in our Confidence camp and will also provide us with funds so that we can meet more seniors who are losing their vision and show them that they can still enjoy their lives and be independent.

Our message got out to the Denver Metro area as we also appeared on 9News the morning of December 8 in seven segments with the National Sports Center for the Disabled, showcasing our students and staff running the NSCD Moves obstacle course, as well as working in the shop and talking about seniors.

There are so many ways that we receive support from all of you from financial assistance to telling others about the center so that they can find the training, confidence and community that they need to move forward in their lives.

The “Shared Visions” exhibit at Arapahoe Community College’s Colorado Gallery of the Arts on November 19 and 20 was a big success, featuring numerous multi-media and very tactile paintings by students in Nathan Abels’ painting classes, as well as pottery pieces from joint activities between Center students in Ann Cunningham’s art classes here and those in classes taught by Katie Caron, Ceramics Coordinator at ACC.

In addition, the cooperative activities and exhibit were featured on the Breaking Blind YouTube channel in two videos. See what Maureen has to say and what she experiences:

It’s only a month away – Colorado Gives Day 2015, and a great opportunity to support our programs and philosophy at the Colorado Center for the Blind!

You know that we don’t just teach blindness skills, as important as they are, but aim for that belief in those blindness skills that lead to confidence and self-reliance.

Whether it’s our Seniors, Youth or Independence Training Programs, those extras like Challenge Recreation, Art, our special emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), or attending the largest annual gathering of the blind in the world – the National Federation of the Blind Convention – your donation can make the difference!