Blind Coloradoan Blog September 5
Writer, aggregator Kevan
Worley. Contributing editor Dan Burke.
Here is what you need to
know
Will people who are blind effectively be banned from the Denver 16th Street Mall? By Kevan Worley.
Have we overstated the question? Not if plans being
undertaken by the city of Denver, the Downtown Partnership, and RTD come to
pass. Of course, we won’t be arrested or escorted to LoDo, but the city might
as well just put up a sign “no blind welcome”.
Over the past year, NFBCO members have watched with increasing
alarm as a new plan for the 16th Street Mall has evolved.
Significant far-reaching changes are contemplated. The biggest one for us. It
seems that the entire surface all across the mall will be flat. There will be
no curbs or tactile markings of any kind to indicate the traffic lanes. My
travel feet, sensitive and experienced as they are, my long white cane, and/or
guide dog will have no way of knowing when we step into traffic all along the
mall. How welcoming is that? Not welcoming at all! The mall certainly
needs a makeover but not at the expense of excluding people who are blind and
our families. Federal, city, and private funds in the millions will be expended
to modernize one of Denver’s greatest assets. We in the National Federation of
the Blind of Colorado intend to play a role in determining the future of our
city and state. We will enlist the help of our families, allies, advocates, the
business community, the media, policy makers, and others as necessary to ensure
that our mall is as useable, welcoming, and safe for us as it will be for
anyone. From DowntownDenver.com comes the headline: 16th
Street Mall partners recommend Mall design that would expand sidewalks, improve
pedestrian safety. When reading this article, it is
hard to see how pedestrian safety is improved for anyone-including people who
are blind, others with disabilities, seniors, and children. For that matter,
anyone who is carrying a shopping bag, talking and laughing with friends, and
texting. “Bus?! Woah!” We will not be thrown under the bus for the convenience
of a few policy makers and misguided business leaders. Our money spends too.
And we will make sure that the downtown businesses know it.
Stay tuned….
Stay tuned….
Howdy y’all. Don’t forget about the Wild West Chapter meeting at high noon, Saturday September 7 at the Carmody Recreation Center, 2200 South Kipling St, Lakewood.
Wild West Chapter President Paul Sandoval says, “we have a
jam-packed agenda, and if you are hoping for funds to help you attend state
convention this Saturday’s meeting is your deadline to request."
Chloe's Party Nets $3000 for CCB. By Dan Burke.
Chloe and her dad Scott stopped by the Center on Monday.
You might remember that Chloe was having a big party at Denver's Washington Park
on Sunday, August 4. The idea - Chloe's idea - was to raise funds for the
Colorado Center for the Blind.
Chloe knows a little about CCB. She has been a student in
our Confidence/BELL Camp going back a number of years. Going into 6th grade
this year, she helped out as a Junior Counselor at the camp in June, which
works with 5 to 10-year-olds. So, she was helping out the younger kids with
Braille, lunch, traveling on adventures (there were a lot of trips to the
swimming pool), and more.
And then Chloe joined our Challenge and Adventure group,
which involved plenty of sports, fitness and adventure.
That's the backdrop for her stop by the Center on Monday.
Chloe’s party, which invited friends and family to come, get a grilled burger or
hot dog, was a big success. She presented $3,000 to Director Julie Deden!
Wow! What else can you say?
"Thank you so much," is what Julie said, with
an assurance that we'd be spending this money for more youth programs.
A huge ‘thanks’ goes out to John Deden and Michelle
Chacon for their large and magnificent matching contribution. We have wonderful
people in NFB, so if you’re not a member you should join the likes of John,
Michelle, and Chloe. Look out, 6th grade, Chloe is coming!
Fort Collins city blind meet up is coming!
Mark your calendar. If you are in the Poudre Valley? If you
are a CSU student or faculty, if you are just passing by-join the fun between 5
and 7 Tuesday evening September 24. Meet new and old friends. Enjoy a beverage
and a bite. The location will soon be announced. We are having the meet up, the
where is to be determined. If you, dear reader, have a cool place in mind let
us know.
Stay tuned...
Stay tuned...
Program in Grand Junction helps blind seniors take charge.
Over the years, our work on the Western Slope has earned
some wonderful media coverage. In the Blind Coloradoan blog of August 30, we
wrote of the Colorado Center for the Blind Seniors in Charge training in Grand
Junction the week of August 26. Our leaders provided perspective and hands-on
education to 9 blind seniors. Our folks also met with families of blind
children and leaders of our Grand Valley Chapter. Our work was featured
prominently on Grand Junction television stations. We have always enjoyed a
great relationship with the publisher and staff at the Grand Junction Sentinel.
We thought you might enjoy reading the Sentinel article from August 30. Thanks
to the Sentinel for permission to publish.
Program helps blind seniors
take charge
By SENTINEL STAFF
The Colorado Center for the
Blind conducted a Seniors in Charge program for nine seniors this week at Grand
Junction's Center for Independence.
The intensive training covered
mobility with the white cane, nonvisual cooking techniques, accessible gadgets,
and Braille instruction.
This training is offered twice
each year to seniors losing vision across Colorado. The Grand Junction training
is funded through a grant from NextFifty Initiative, a Colorado-based private
foundation dedicated to funding innovative, mission-driven initiatives that
improve the lives of older adults and their caregivers.
"Our goal is to teach
seniors that losing vision doesn't have to be the end of their
independence," says Duncan Larsen, director of Senior Services at CCB.
"We teach skills, but we also teach a positive philosophy about
blindness."
The Seniors in Charge program
is offered by CCB twice a year at its Littleton facility, but because of the
NextFifty funding, the program was extended to Grand Junction. The Center for
Independence, at 740 Gunnison Ave., made its kitchen and auditorium available for
the training.
One of the Seniors in Charge
alumni from Grand Junction is Margaret Williams, 92, who currently serves as
President of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado's Grand Valley
Chapter.
Certificates will be awarded
to program participants.
As part of its online
e-edition, The Daily Sentinel has a function for visually impaired people to
listen to all the content that appears in the newspaper.
On the page adjacent to the
e-edition page, there is a menu at the top of the page that includes a
microphone icon. After clicking on the icon, a small popup function will
appear, which will allow people to engage the audio file.
Also part of that menu is the
A+ icon that allows readers to increase the size of the story text after
clicking on an e-edition story.
We continue our hope that arrangement will soon be made to
add this fine community newspaper to NFB Newsline®.
Note: As you will see near the bottom of this article, the Sentinel takes access for readers who are blind seriously!
Note: As you will see near the bottom of this article, the Sentinel takes access for readers who are blind seriously!
First Friday Downtown ‘Springs is an artistic happening at The Independent Center.
September 6, 2019 from 5 until 8 p.m. For more
information about this fully accessible event call 719-471-8181.
Don’t you want to read another newsletter?
Did you know that the Colorado Division of Vocational
Rehabilitation has a newsletter for stakeholders and partners? Consumers are
encouraged to learn about the work being done by DVR. For info, contact Jennifer Scilacci.
You’re Invited to the 2019 CSDB Homecoming!
Don’t forget Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind homecoming
weekend! We know that many of our readers attended or have had loved ones
attend the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind. Lord Byron wrote,
“On with the dance!
let joy be unconfined;
No sleep till morn, when Youth and Pleasure meet
To chase the glowing hours with flying feet.”
No sleep till morn, when Youth and Pleasure meet
To chase the glowing hours with flying feet.”
Enjoy the dance, the coronations, meeting of old friends,
make new ones, and catch a goalball game between the Bulldogs and those pesky
New Mexico Golden Bears. Goalball starts at 8:30 Saturday morning at the
school. You can hear the game live on the school’s YouTube channel.
Saturday September 7, 8:30 a.m.
Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind
33 N Institute St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind
33 N Institute St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Colorado Talking Book Library Newsletter Fall 2019 is now available.
The Colorado Talking Book Library's Fall 2019 edition of
CTBL News has been posted to our website. The html version of our newsletter is
available at the following link:
The next link is for the PDF print version:
We also offer an electronic file in UEB Braille you can download and read on a refreshable Braille display (coming soon).
And the final link is for the MP3 audio version. This link will automatically initiate playback of the MP3 newsletter.
You may also download the MP3 version of the newsletter from our website and play it on any MP3 device (iPod, smartphone, etc.).
If you have any questions, please let us know. Thanks!
Colorado Talking Book Library
303-727-9277
CTBL Fall newsletter will be on NFB Newline® soon.
Are you ready for the NFBCO State Convention in Fort Collins?
Get ready! The convention kicks off on Thursday, October 31 with
a Halloween Boot Scoot and Boogie Cowboy Ball. Don your western duds and be the
character from the old west you want to be.
Make plans to attend the entire convention. Friday, Saturday,
and Sunday morning- November 1, 2, and 3- will feature all of the debate,
discussion, presentations, activities, food, and fun for the entire family. Get
all of the details. Make plans. Reserve your room. Register for the
convention!!!
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