[Home-on-the-range] FW: February-March CCB newsletter

Mon Apr 1 12:50:15 UTC 2013

Good morning Everyone,

I thought this newsletter from the Colorado center was especially good. Here it is for your enjoyment.

Susie

From: Carol Sprague [mailto:csprague at cocenter.org]
Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2013 4:50 PM
To: csprague at cocenter.org
Subject: February-March CCB newsletter

COLORADO CENTER FOR THE BLIND
2233 W. Shepperd Ave.
Littleton, CO  80120
303-778-1130   800-401-4632
ccb at coCenter.org<mailto:ccb at coCenter.org>    www. coCenter.org

February/March 2013 Newsletter

Take charge with confidence and self-reliance

Message from the Director

In March of 2012 our students moved into McGeorge Mountain Terrace.  We purchased the apartment complex in January and were thrilled to relocate to our new home!  This is OUR home!  On May 11th of last year we celebrated, christening our apartments with their new name "McGeorge Mountain Terrace" named after Diane McGeorge, the founder of the Center and chair of our board of directors, and her husband Ray who worked tirelessly with her to build the Center.

Today, March of 2013, students take pride in their apartments.  They have performed many home maintenance tasks, put together furniture and take care of the grounds.  Students use the grill all the time and enjoy socializing in the yard.  A quick trip across the street to go grocery shopping or work out at the gym is easy.  Students have coffee together at My Favorite Muffin on Saturdays.  Our students are everywhere using their canes proudly and realizing that they can be free!

We are so pleased to have the opportunity to offer more residential training to our seniors and plan to expand Seniors in Charge each year.

In the fall, we are starting a very exciting program called Success in College.  This program will provide support and training to blind students while they are enrolled in at least one college course and taking classes at the Center. We are able to offer this program because we can house the students at our apartments.

Imagine how much more we can do!  With each of us working together we will continue to build and to teach our positive philosophy.

Program Notes
Youth Programs
Brent Batron, our Director of Youth Programs, is doing a tremendous job in the area of outreach.  We had the pleasure to interview 26 applicants to work in our summer programs. We have over 30 student applications for our programs this summer.

Brent has been working closely with personnel at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind because we are committed to matching students up with positive blind role models and also want to make sure that these blind students have the opportunity to flourish.

Several upcoming events include a science fair, transition seminar, MasterDrive and a Braille carnival.  See the calendar for details.

Independence Training Program
In February we again had the pleasure of hosting 12 students from Rice University.  They came to work with us, built furniture, painted and organized at our apartments.  We worked with them so that they learned all about blindness.  Each Rice student was matched up with one of our students in order to learn how we as blind people travel, cook, clean, read Braille, etc.  The Rice students expressed their thanks and new found ideas about blindness.  One participant indicated that she would not hesitate to hire a blind person as long as they were qualified. Each time we each educate someone about blindness they, in turn, educate others.

We congratulated the students who recently completed our program.  Norma plans to work as a receptionist is now living by herself in the Denver area and completing an internship prior to obtaining employment.  Mike is back in Pennsylvania planning to attend school to work in the area of technology.  Yolanda is back at her home in Colorado Springs planning to be an activist right along with us.  Ahmad will stay in Denver and go to college soon.

Senior Programs
Our seniors are always busy, doing all kinds of things.  They like a great deal of variety. Marie, age 94, participated in an iPad class at the Center.  She was so inspired that she decided to buy her own.  Now, we are teaching her how to use this.  She is always excited to learn.

Our seniors put together a resource day.  They were able to pick up some equipment that was donated to us and learned about some new programs.

Often, when someone loses vision it is easy to feel that life will not be enjoyable. Our seniors come together at the Center, learn from each other and meet dynamic blind role models.  They began to realize that each day can be what they make it to be and that blindness is definitely not a tragedy.

Senior groups are available weekly.  For more information, please call Duncan Larsen at 303-778-1130 extension 226.

Staff in the Spotlight
Wayne Marshal has worked at the Center for over five years.  Wayne is blind as a result of RP.  He is passionate about his job and conveys his positive philosophy of blindness to everyone around him.  Wayne wears several hats at the Center.  He takes each job seriously and is always learning more.  Wayne teaches cane travel to our ITP students and to seniors.  He recently obtained his National Certification in Orientation and Mobility.  Last spring he attended a seminar at the Helen Keller National Center to gain expertise about working with deaf/blind individuals.  Wayne provides counseling on blindness and case management to students.  He teaches our seniors technology skills.  Wayne also enjoys facilitating classes on blindness with our seniors.

Wayne has two children who are now grown.  He is active in his fraternity, Lions club and church. Wayne is committed to working with single dads as well.  He is looking forward to starting a chapter of the National Federation of the Blind in Aurora soon.

Thank you Wayne for your dedication, commitment and love!

Upcoming Events:
April 12 - Spring Science Seminar for youth, families and teachers.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn first-hand how to access the sciences.  We will have demonstrations in physics, chemistry, earth science and technology.  We will also have Amelia Dickerson, a blind chemistry student at CU in Boulder, talking about her experiences as a successful science student.   Register by April 8th.

April 26 - College Seminar for students in middle school, high school and college.  We will have presentations, discussions and college students who will share ideas on what has worked and what has not worked for them in college.  Learn about resources and self-advocacy, online and distance learning, taking notes, campus life and navigating college campuses.  We will have representatives from several colleges here as well.  Register by April 23rd.

May 2 - MasterDrive for high school students.  Learn about driving and handling a car in the classroom.  Then take the car around the obstacle course in the parking lot.  Once you have mastered the skills of driving, you will get to recover from a skid on the specially designed asphalt surface.  Register by April 28.

June 18 - Braille Carnival
Join us and have fun with Braille.  We will have lots of different types of games, adventures, and races all using Braille.  We will also have Louis Braille himself here for this fun-filled day as we celebrate the man who made literacy possible for the blind.

Space is limited so please RSVP for these events by contacting Brent Batron at 303- 778-1130 x 222 or bbatron at cocenter.org<mailto:bbatron at cocenter.org>

To refer someone who is interested in training, please call Robert Dyson at 303-778-1130 extension 249.

If you have items for the newsletter, please send them to ccb at coCenter.org<mailto:ccb at cocenter.org>.

Carol Sprague
Administrative Coordinator
Colorado Center for the Blind
2233 W. Shepperd Ave.
Littleton, CO  80120
303-778-1130  ext. 211
303-778-1598 fax
www.cocenter.org<http://www.cocenter.org>

Take charge with confidence and self-reliance!

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