Older Blind Programs

Here’s a pic of some of our seniors at Chili’s last Saturday, after attending the audio-described performance of “Mama Mia” at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. The Seniors used it as a fund-raiser, raising over $200. They keep a small donation fund going to help out with the expenses of various Senior activities for those who may come up short – things like bowling or movies. The money raised will go into that pot.

For the audio-described performances, blind and theater-goers check out a small FM receiver and headphones over which they receive the live audio description of action on the stage. DCPA offers at least one performance with this accessibility service, as well as sign-language interpreters, for each production.

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 Park—This 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. This will be a lot of FUN!
May 13—FAST Program will be all about cane travel. 10 – 2 and lunch is included.
June 5 – 23—Confidence Camp
June 9 – August 4—Earn & Learn High School Program
June 9 – August 4—Summer for Success College Prep Program
June 12 – June 30—Initiation to Independence Middle School Program

Pioneers Beeping Egg Hunt

Saturday, April 8, 2017

Location
 The Elks Lodge
 Address
 3850 W 69th Pl
 Westminster, CO 80030
 Phone
 (303) 429-2227

The day didn’t go uncelebrated. The Seniors had a Valentine’s party (there are rumors of romance there). Even ITP got into the act with Valentine’s cookies to mark “National Singles Day”?

Classes started today for 2017, and on top of that it’s Tuesday – meaning that Seniors came in to the Center as well! After two weeks off folks were pretty happy to be back in spite of a bit of cold weather! Here is a collection of sights and sounds from the day, and here’s to taking charge with confidence in 2017!

We’re in our final week – final days, really – of the 2016 year at the Colorado Center for the Blind. It’s not exactly like winding down, but more like an all-cylinders-open surge for the finish line.

Alejandro went on a support drop yesterday, and is cooking a big meal tomorrow. Ryan served his mini-meal – fifteen people and French onion soup – while down in the gym another class punched, kicked and potato-tossed each other on their way to earning their orange belts in Karate from Karate Denver. We also delivered holiday cookies and other holiday treats to Littleton police, fire and planning personnel, as well as to the shopping assistants at the Neighborhood Wal-Mart.

Philosophy bakes no bread. Philosopher Bertrand Russell said that. But a wise man we know once pointed out that no bread is baked without philosophy. Tabea graduated from CCB in 2016 and has gone on to graduate school. She knows that our belief in our blind students is the yeast that leavens the bread of our students’ confidence and self-determination! Indeed, in our Senior and Youth Programs as well!

Please support us tomorrow, COGivesDay, December 6!

Like Martin and Vika, blind people from five to ninety-five are on the move every day at the Colorado Center for the Blind!

Please support us tomorrow on #COGivesDay December 6!

The kitchens at CCB are just a few steps away from the lobby where Robert mans the front desk and management offices are located. Because our students are constantly cooking up amazing things in the kitchens, the odors filling the lobby area are sometimes maddeningly wonderful. That was certainly the case a few weeks ago when Chris prepared and served his mini-meal for fifteen.

Got about 20 minutes to be wowed?

We’re just back from our 2016 National Federation of the Blind of Colorado Convention in Lone Tree from October 27 to 30. All staff and students attended and, since we’re an NFB training center (the NFB of Colorado started the Center in 1988), Executive Director Julie Deden always makes a report the the entire convention about all that’s happened in the last year. It’s always a highlight of an affiliate convention that is full of highlights.

This year Julie’s report included this video of 2016 highlights and retrospective of our graduates this year. But you’ll have to wait till the end for the really, really cool part …

Tactile art and art shows are in the works this fall, with collaboration and coordination from the Colorado Center for the Blind’s Ann Cunningham as the common medium.

First, Arapahoe Community College’s now-annual “Shared Visions” tactile art show will open with a reception on November 10 at the Colorado Gallery of the Arts from 5 to 8 p.m. The show, which will be open to the public until November 18, will feature tactile and sensory art from ACC Painting and Ceramics students, as well as works from CCB students and staff in several media. CCB’s Ann Cunningham teaches classes each week to Independence Training Students and to Older Blind Programs.