In the Media

Students at @cocenter4blind got a chance to experience science in all its disgusting glory.

By Ramsey Scott
November 18, 2014
Columbine Courier

“Yucks!” blended with yucks as the students probed the stomach contents of the dogfish sharks they were dissecting

“I found a claw,” said one student, as he waved miniature pincers in the air.

“I found a fish,” another student said as she held high a half-digested fish body.

A biology class cutting open a formaldehyde-soaked animal isn’t necessarily a unique event. Yet for most of the class at the Colorado Center for the Blind in Littleton on Nov. 14, it was their first chance to experience what most students take for granted.

“This is my first time doing anything like this. It’s really interesting and a little nasty,” said Nick Crowell, 17, a student at the Colorado Springs-based Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind who came to Littleton for the class. “It’s interesting because we get to see how similar humans are to some animals. And they’re letting us use sharp instruments, and we don’t really get to do that.”

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

On Monday, November 24 we had a tremendous opportunity to share our message and our purpose on Denver’s 9News during five very short, but absolutely live, segments of “Where in the Town” with morning news anchor Gregg Moss.

Gregg got what we at the Center are about. He and our five featured instructors made it clear that we teach not just skills, but confidence, with the goal being independence and self-sufficiency.

It’s one more thing that the Colorado Center for the Blind has to be thankful for this year, and we want to share the link. Maureen, Chip, Tom, Chris & Mo were awesome! So was Gregg on the chop saw!

9News Video: Helping the Blind Lead Independent Lives

Colorado artist Ann Cunningham has been teaching art to blind students at the Center since … well, it feels like she’s always been with us! That’s why we’re excited to spread the word. For the next two weekends, Ann will be demonstrating stone carving at the Denver Art Museum as part of their weekend artist demonstrations. We’re reposting some of the info explaining what that’s all about from DAM’s web site. If you want to find out what other artist demonstrations are coming up, follow the link.

Sculpture Studio and Weekend Artist Demonstrations

Every day the museum is open, visitors can explore the creative process behind assorted techniques and mediums in the Sculpture Studio.

Every weekend, visitors will have a chance to pull back the curtain and immerse themselves in the artistic process as local artists demonstrate a variety of sculpting techniques.

Weekend demonstrations will take place Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3 pm.

August 23 & 24, 30 & 31: Ann Cunningham — Stone Carving (outdoors on Martin Plaza)

In the chemistry lab at Metro State University in Denver recently, Quinita Thomas expertly traces her fingers around the top of a glass beaker. She gingerly touches the sleek sides of an electronic probe. Then she feels the hard edges a metal test-tube holder. The 17-year-old can hardly contain her excitement. 

Read the full article!

by Jennifer Smith. Posted Monday, June 24th in the Littleton Independent

Louis Braille made a surprise visit to the Colorado Center for the Blind on June 18 — extremely surprising, given that he’s been dead for 161 years.

“I’m having a great time,” said “Braille” — portrayed by center instructor Tom Anderson — while watching kids practice writing during the center’s Braille Carnival. “It’s great meeting the young children, and the adults and seniors, too.”

The event hosted 120 blind people of all ages to experience a variety of tactile and interactive learning stations. They gathered in the wood shop to learn the basics of braille using large “dots.” In the kitchen, they chose a card, then found the utensil or appliance printed on it. There were candy prizes for successfully completing a word scramble of technology terms in the computer lab. In the travel lab, they attempted a puzzle of the United States and learned intersection safety using Hot Wheels.

There were card games, art projects and pizza for lunch.