Blind Coloradan Blog
October 13, 2023
Writer, aggregator: Kevan Worley
Contributors: Dan Burke & Erin Daley. With assistance from Lisa Bonderson.
National Federation of the Blind of Colorado, President, Jessica Beecham
From the aggregator: Here we are in mid-October in the middle of autumn my favorite season. As summer faded into fall we had another highly successful NFBCO 6 Dot Dash 5k and family festival. On September 30 many of us met for dinner and wine tasting at our traditional Spero Winery experience.
Then we moved into Blindness Achievement Equality Month. The centerpiece of which is White Cane Awareness Day. Many chapters were able to get county commissions and city councils to remind citizens of the importance of the long white can through proclamations. Kudos to the Aurora Chapter and the Colorado Springs Chapter. The Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind always holds a celebration for their students, faculty, and families at Acacia Park in downtown Colorado Springs.
For the last several years the last weekend of October has featured our NFBCO state convention. Your aggregator has seen the agenda for the convention coming together. At this writing, I see a post on Colorado Talk from convention coordinator Lisa Bonderson that our room block is entirely sold out. If you still need a room? No promises. But, please contact Lisa and she will try to help. lbonderson@cocenter.org By the time we post this blog I imagine the full convention agenda will be on the website for all the world to see. https://nfbco.org/affiliate-convention The theme of our 2023 convention is science. On Thursday morning October 26th, we will welcome approximately 70 students of all ages. They will be experiencing a number of science sessions. The fact is with qualified professional teachers, blind role models, accessible tools, imagination, and a belief in the capacity of people who are blind, students can do science. This science fair has been made possible in part by the South Metro Chamber of Commerce. We thank them. Our engagement with the South Metro Chamber of Commerce as part of their Shark Tank event was due to the work of Nate Hecker, Cody Bair, and Andrea Fowler. Thanks to the Wild West and Mile High Chapters for that collaboration.
There is much more to say about the upcoming state convention and we will say it in the blog below. Note: Many of our annual special interest divisions will hold their annual business meetings over Zoom prior to our in-person convention. Many of those meetings will be featured in this blog. So, be sure to attend the division meeting of your choice such as parents, guide dogs, sports and rec. Check the website to see if there are division meetings not highlighted in the Blind Coloradan. I am fond of quoting the late Dr. Kenneth Jernigan. He would say “This will be a wopdollinger of a convention.” Note: Wednesday, October 11th marks the 25th anniversary of the death of our great civil rights leader Dr. Kenneth Jernigan. Have you ever read Blindness, Handicap, or Characteristic? Have you ever read The Nature of Independence? These two wonderful presentations are part of the philosophical canon of the National Federation of the Blind. Some of the most impactful reading I have ever done has been the writings of Dr. Kenneth Jernigan. I recommend it to you. I also recommend A Walk in the Fall and attendance at your upcoming NFBCO state convention.
A Walk in the Fall
By Dan Burke
From the aggregator: Many people may not know that before moving back to Colorado to provide leadership at The Colorado Center for the Blind Dan Burke served as president of NFB Montana. He also served for a time on our National Board of Directors. There are those who think that blindness is a tragedy that keeps us on our couches and led around by others. This is simply not the case. Here is a vignette from Dan about the joy he gets from his autumn walks.
It’s 75 degrees on this early October afternoon as I turn east onto the Highline Canal Trail with our brindle herding mix, Cleo. the tip of my white cane and my feet leave the hard surface and move onto the soft, fine gravel of the path. It’s a little warm for this time of year, but as I leave the Sunday traffic sounds of one of the busiest of the Metro area’s thoroughfares behind, the sounds along the now almost-always empty canal confirm the season. Midday in this heat, there are no bird sounds. But the crickets are active in the warmth, taking advantage of the last days before winter - the nights have gotten too chilly for them to creak their racket out all night now. I even hear one last, determined cicada.
Julie and I live in the south suburbs, surrounded by houses much like ours in all directions, hemmed in by busy primary and secondary roadways. There is little wild space, though plenty of good parks. This has been an adjustment for me in the ten years since I moved from Missoula, Montana, where a short walk to the back of the campus where I worked put me at the base of Mt. Sentinel and a bracing hike halfway up the mountain to the concrete “M” for Montana. There the entire valley opened before me to the west and the Bitterroot Range on the far side. And that was just a quick walk during the lunch break. For something a little more dedicated, a five-minute drive with a friend to the trailhead leading into the Rattlesnake Wilderness Area was a great evening or Sunday morning’s light adventure. So, the Highline Canal Trail has served as my outlet all these years. I can get away from pavement and concrete and walk as long as I can on the gravel path. It’s one of the real gifts of good urban planning. The dog gets to extend to the end of her leash and sniff till her snout aches. At other times of the year, I hear all kinds of birds - Northern Flickers trill and hammer in the spring, the now all-too-rare Mourning Dove nests somewhere along here each year. If you are out early enough on a spring morning, you can catch the call of a meadowlark across Millikin Park, at the edge of one of the small horse pastures or, more likely, in the fields holding cell towers. It’s a tiny bit wild, just what I crave – a place where the metallic tapping of my NFB cane on hard surfaces gives way to a soft, almost sandy bounce. No, it’s not steep or rough with roots and rocks, and the sound of the suburbs is always present, but it is a break to tap softly, trailing the vegetation on the right to be sure bicyclists going either direction have ample room to pass us. This afternoon, I encountered only three or four, and no other pedestrians. Too warm maybe, or too close to the start of the Broncos game.
The canal also conjures my childhood days in Loveland, where our home was at the northern limit of the town back in the ‘60s. As kids, my brothers and friends and I spent all the time we could get at the “ditch,” which was a canal like this one, lined by huge cottonwoods, its summer-running water bound for irrigated fields to the east. We built forts there, most memorably between two lightning-struck cottonwoods that went down and crossed over one another, and sometimes we’d find a glorious rope swing in one of the standing trees and spent untold hours trying to outdo one another in gymnastic feats out over the water.
As you might guess, walking here is one of the important ways my mind settles itself.
This is what I’m thinking about: Summer birds are largely gone now. Two weeks ago as Julie and I walked down the quiet of South Bemis Street on our way to the Colorado Center for the Blind in the mornings, passing between Sterne Park and Memorial Park (better known as Rose Park (we heard all kinds of redwing blackbirds in the trees. We heard them for several days on the walk, and on the north side of the Center out by the garden. Blackbirds are noisy in the spring when they first return and are getting busy with nesting but are largely silent the rest of the summer. That week, though, they were flocking up to start their migration south for the winter. The next week, they were gone.
Two days ago on my lunch break, while working from home, I took Cleo for a short walk around the neighborhood. It was the first day of fall and it didn’t get above 60 degrees. Chickadees, blue jays, magpies, and crows stay all winter, and they are calling from the trees. But it was the smell that grabbed my attention - the cool scent of cool earth and grass. It’s a smell you don’t get all summer long, sharper, yet fresh and cool.
Today though, the air is hot and dry. The fall smell of cool earth will return, but not this afternoon. I walk the threequarters a mile to South Clarkson Street, the dog wearing out her nose along the fruitful fringes of the trail, stopping in her tracks when she catches the scent of something truly interesting, and then we turn again onto the sidewalk where the metallic tap of my cane tip returns, and weave our way home through suburban streets.
Making the Most of Autumn a Blind Parents Prospective
By Maureen Nietfeld
selling a variety of things, an old schoolhouse complete with
demonstrations of quilting and spooling thread, donkey rides, a hay bale maze, face painting, and so much more! My friend also let me know that they had
arranged a guide to assist us through the event. Logan is 5 and though we have
traversed many of these crazy events, we have never experienced them with a
guide. We had the most amazing day!!! Our guide was open and receptive to all
of our needs, showed us around the event following a map so we could quickly
get to everything we wanted to visit, and all of the kids with us had a great
time!! I love that being a part of the blind parents division, we can share
with each other all of the ways that we can parent with independence and
confidence and that our families get to enjoy everything that our community has
to offer.
Remembering Tom Anderson
By Julie Deden
In a year already burdened with loss, we lost our beloved Tom Anderson on August 29 to COVID. Tom was only 71 and had recently ended treatment for his second bout with cancer.
Dan and I went to Overland Park, Kansas for Tom’s Celebration of Life on Sept.30. It was wonderful to see Linda and give her a hug and to see many of our NFB of Kansas family, including several CCB graduates. It was an informal afternoon of some of Tom’s favorite hymns led by Linda, and lots of great stories about Tom.
Tom moved to Colorado from Kansas in December of 1987 to work as the first Braille instructor and residential manager at the Colorado Center for the Blind. Tom and his wife Linda had been members of the National Federation of the Blind for more than a decade by then. In fact, they met at a Federation meeting in the 1970s. tom moved from his native Minnesota to Kansas after they married, where they made their home until coming to Colorado. So, it was a big move and a major commitment for both of them to become part of this new NFB training center.
In January of 1988, the center opened its doors to five energetic students. Tom and Linda lived in the same apartment building as the students, and he was the one who got the students going first thing in the morning. If they were not up and ready to go, he knocked at their doors and even played reveille on his trumpet! For many years, Tom led staff and students in calisthenics each day. He was initially very nervous about all the challenging recreational activities, such as rock climbing. But he told us all that he knew this was part of the job and he better take this challenge on! Tom became a “rock climber extraordinaire.” He ended up loving climbing and shot up every rock with speed and agility.
In his 27 years of work with us in Colorado, Tom touched hundreds of lives. Tom had a zest for everything that he did in his life. He never did anything halfway but jumped into things with both feet and a strong commitment. Tom was devoted to his wife Linda, his church, the National Federation of the Blind, and his job at the Colorado Center for the Blind.
His laugh was unforgettable, exuding warmth and authenticity. Tom’s students had fun in Braille class. I often heard laughter as I walked down the hall towards his room. Anya was Tom’s student in 2012. She was one of our international students that year, and so was still learning English and building her vocabulary. She would ask Tom what a word meant and he would say, “We have a dictionary over in the corner, you can look up the word.” When Anya protested that everybody looked things up on the Internet, he answered, “This is Braille class!”
That is the sign of a great teacher. Tom had a knack for teaching several students at once. He always knew just right where they were in their book. He used encouragement and competition to get his students to learn!
Tom’s memory was phenomenal. He remembered every student and when they were at the center. He knew just what year various banquet speeches were given and remembered all of the stories he heard from us over the many years.
Tom frequently ran our philosophy classes on blindness. He talked about his upbringing and his time at the Minnesota School for the Blind and the prevalent low expectations for him and his fellow blind students. Tom exemplified our NFB philosophy and was well-grounded in the history of the National Federation of the Blind. He knew just what speeches and articles to share with our leaders when discussing various topics.
Tom built special bonds with his students. He accepted everyone and never judged anyone. He and Linda enjoyed having students over and Linda was often thought of as the CCB mom.
We often talk about our NFB and our center family. This caring and closeness is what truly works in our training! As I mentioned, Tom had a strong faith and was always a leader in his church. He was honored to perform the marriage ceremonies for several staff members and former students.
Tom had a great talent in music. His voice was beautiful. Music was a centerpiece for Tom and Linda in their worship. Linda played the piano and they loved singing together for their church and other occasions. So since Tom had this talent, he was always in charge of coordinating Christmas caroling. One year we had little talent in the singing department. After returning back from a singing trip at a nursing home, Tom told me that we dispelled the stereotype that blind people are musical! He lamented that they probably would not want to have us back.
Tom retired from his position at the center in the spring of 2015. But he did not retire in his life. Tom moved back to Kansas and continued to be a leader in the National Federation of the Blind. On a national level, he served as president of the NFB in Communities of Faith for many years. Back in Kansas, Tom immediately got to work with the NFB of Kansas. He was elected to the state board and took a major role in organizing BELL camps. He chaired the State Rehabilitation Counsel in Kansas. He was so excited when he worked to get regulations changed so that clients would be provided with a stipend and receive residential services when attending training centers like CCB. Tom was a leader, a mentor, and a friend. He was passionate and dedicated his life to making a difference for all of us. Tom, we will pledge to carry your memory on and to carry your spirit of love for life with us always!
From Facebook, here is a picture of our dear brother Tom with a comment from Tom’s brother Toni Donarski. Posted at the time of Toms's retirement from The Colorado Center for the Blind.
”This is my brother Miles Tom Anderson aka Tom retirement! I wish to remember this photo. He lived his life with gusto! He loved his work and all the people who he crossed paths with. whether it was a friend, family, students, and yes even strangers. He carried on the tradition in our family of "Never meeting a stranger."
Urgent! Urgent! Calling all door prizes and auction items!
This means we are calling on you! Obviously, the door prizes and auction will not heed the call all by themselves. One of the ways we have fun and raise money for the important work we do is our annual auction at state convention. We already have a few deluxe and delicious items that have been donated by divisions and chapters. But we only have a few. Donations of hotel stays, gift baskets, baked goods, arts & crafts, gift certificates for restaurants, and theatre experiences are welcome and appreciated. If you need more information contact me, kevan@nfbco.org phone 303-929-2369. We can provide you with an auction donation letter highlighting our tax exemption for you to use when reaching out to your favorite merchants.
We also need door prizes for convention. This past year our dear friend, our brother Johnny Deden passed away. He provided support and leadership for so much of our work. He took great joy in giving out door prizes at our convention. “Johhny, tell them what they’ve won”. Let's honor John and continue his legacy of joy and giving. Please reach out to ReNae Anderson mother27dragon@gmail.com. Gift certificates and gift cards are always welcomed door prizes. Of course, cash is always king. Please bring your door prizes to convention.
Annual blind parents division meeting to be held prior to state convention
Come join the Blind Parents division of Colorado on Tuesday, October 17th, 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. Mountain time. We are so excited to have Terri Rupp as our guest speaker for the evening!! Terri Rupp is the immediate past president of the Nevada affiliate, ultra-athlete, and super mom of 2 awesome kids. Her daughter is a blind child And her son is not. Terry is a wealth of parenting information and we are especially looking forward to her talking to us about the importance of nutrition and the balance of screen time. She will be with us for one hour and is looking forward to all of our questions. You are not going to want to miss this dynamic presentation.
After her presentation, we will brainstorm for our upcoming year as well as discuss the business of the division and hold elections. We welcome all parents, family members, allies, and everyone who wants to be a part of this active and fun division. https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7206208007
Greetings members and friends of The Colorado Association of Guide Dog Users. We will hold our annual meeting prior to the convention. Join us at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, October 22 over Zoom. We will be electing our leadership and discussing the year ahead. Remember our board member and Guiding Eyes trainer extraordinaire Melissa Smith will be facilitating a guide dog session on Saturday afternoon the 29th at the convention. You will want to attend both of these events. Join us on Sunday the 22nd over Zoom. And please spread the word. https://zoom.us/j/7206208007
We received the following important information from Melissa Allman. We are happy to pass it along.
On September 22, The Seeing Eye presented a webinar about air travel with a guide dog. The webinar was recorded and is now available to the general public through The Seeing Eye website on our Rights. To access the webinar directly, go to: https://secure2.convio.net/seeing/media/airtravelwebinar092223.mp4?_ga=2.75193426.1193709505.1696881204-1987979641.1691695972
Also, a reminder that The Seeing Eye is conducting an online survey to learn more about the public access barriers guide dog users are facing as they go about their daily lives working their dogs and the impact those barriers are having on guide dog teams.
If you are currently working with a dog, or waiting for your next dog, and live in the U.S. or Canada (or travel there with your guide dog), please complete the survey regardless of where your dog was trained.
Also, if you are blind or low vision and have decided not to work with a dog, you have the opportunity to tell us why. The information you provide will help us improve our advocacy and education efforts.
Thank you for taking the time to share this information with us. The survey will close at midnight on November 30, 2023. Please go to the below link to access the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SeeingEye_Access
Thank you,
Melissa Allman
Senior Specialist, Advocacy and Government Relations The Seeing Eye
NFBCO Sports and Rec Division is on the move!
Join the Sports and Recreation Division of Colorado on Monday evening October 16th from 6 PM until 7:30 p.m. Mountain time. We are looking forward to hearing from our guest speaker Dalton Brand about nutrition and some tips about eating well on a budget. Our other special guest speaker for the evening is Brittany Savage. She will walk us down her journey of weight loss. This is an inspiring and motivating story that you won’t want to miss. We will also be sharing with you what Sports and Recreation has in store for you for the Thursday afternoon activity at this year’s state convention!! During the evening we are also looking forward to everyone sharing what they love to do for staying active so that we can share ideas with one another. Will be brainstorming our upcoming year, discussing business for the division, and having elections. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88959026727?pwd=aG1rZDd0MGI0Ly9oYzlJYVFDWjBldz09
But wait! There’s more! NFBCO state convention activities sponsored by our sports and rec division Thursday afternoon October 26 at 1 pm
CHALLENGING YOUR MIND BODY AND SPIRIT
Join us for a fun and active afternoon. Connect your mind and body through movement, a sound experience, mindfulness and meditation, and self-defense. We are excited about the afternoon’s activities, which include a 45-minute session of yoga and a sound experience with Julie Hill.
Enjoy a fully accessible yoga experience with a certified Yogi. She will also guide you through a special savasana that includes a sound experience. She will be playing singing bowls that represent each of the chakras.
Learn basic self-defense from a black belt in taekwondo. This interactive 45-minute session will teach you some techniques around basic self-defense. Learn how to get out of holds and gain strategies to feel safer and more confident in your daily environment.
Take part in a mindfulness and meditation session. This 45-minute experience will discuss some basic benefits of essential oils such as lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus. Learn mindfulness techniques to help gain strategies around feeling balanced and calm throughout your day. Then experience a guided meditation to maximize relaxation. Please bring a yoga mat or beach towel with you for these activities.
At 1:15 gather group to explain the activities and split up into three groups and they are as follows.
Group 1 Yoga from 1:30 until 2:15
Self-defense from 2:30 until 3:15
Mindfulness and meditation from 3:30 until 4:15
Group 2
Self-defense from 1:30 until 2:15
Mindfulness and meditation from 2:30 until 3:15
Yoga from 3:30 until 4:15
Group 3
Mindfulness and meditation from 1:30 until 2:15
Yoga from 2:30 until 3:15
Self-defense from 3:30 until 4:15
Teachers of each class include Julie Hill for yoga and the sound experience, Chaz Davis and Ryan Carsey for self-defense, and mindfulness and meditation will feature Holli Benkelman.
But wait! There is more! Later that day, the first big day of our dynamic convention.
Dining around Park Meadows
Let’s hit the town and check out the Park Meadows restaurants. On Thursday evening, October 26th, choose from one of the listed locations below and enjoy trying a new restaurant while having dinner with your fellow federationists. Here’s how it works!!
Choose the spot you would like to go to and contact the Federation leader with that group. Please RSVP and make sure you give your name and phone number. Note the dinner time that the group will be meeting because they are slightly different from one another. Group leaders need all RSVPs by Monday, October 23rd, no later than 1 p.m. Reservations will be made for the group, and everybody will meet there to enjoy a meal and socialize. Everyone is responsible for their own check and their own tip. We hope everyone will have a great night, with great friends, make new friends, have great conversations, and enjoy a night out. Please note that other than the hotel’s restaurant each location will need to be accessed by an Uber or Lyft. None of them are within walking distance. The group leader can coordinate a plan for people to meet up and share Ubers if they wish.
Earl’s Kitchen + Bar Restaurant
Leaders are Gary Van Dorn and Ryan Carsey
Reservation time 6:30 p.m.
Text Gary Van Dorn at (303) 863-1150 to RSVP.
Earl’s Park Meadows
https://www.earls.ca/locations/park-meadows/menu/
8335 Park Meadows Center Drive, Lone Tree, CO 80124
Cranelli's Italian Restaurant
Leaders are Julie Deden and Dan Burke
Reservation time is 6:30 p.m.
Text Dan Burke at (406) 546-8546 to RSVP.
https://cranellis.com/menu/cranellis
10047 Park Meadows Dr., Unit F, Lone Tree, CO 80124
Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant
Leaders are the Colorado Association of Blind Students
Reservation time is 7 p.m.
Text Ellie White at (720) 624-9979 to RSVP.
https://riograndemexican.com/menus/dine-in-menu-lone-tree/
9535 Park Meadows Drive, Lone Tree, CO 80124
Clock Tower Grill Restaurant
Leaders are Paul Sandoval and Nate Hecker
Reservation time is 6:40 5 p.m.
Text Nate Hecker at (605) 610-7959 to RSVP.
9360 Station Street, Suite 100, Lone Tree, CO 80124
Sonoma'z Wine Bar is the restaurant inside the hotel.
Group leaders are the Blind Parents Division of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado.
Reservation time is 5:30 p.m. Immediately after this dinner, the Blind Parents Division will host a pool party at the hotel pool. All are welcome.
Text Maureen Nietfeld at 215-353-7218 to RSVP.
Sonoma'z Wine Bar and Grill
No menu available aside from this information:
“Enhance your dining experience with the perfect complement to our Colorado-inspired dinner dishes—a glass of exquisite California wine. Whether you're savoring a comforting bowl of hearty soup, indulging in gourmet tacos bursting with flavors, or treating yourself to a succulent steak, the addition of a fine wine will elevate your meal to new heights. Our carefully curated wine selection offers a range of varietals and vintages that have been thoughtfully chosen to harmonize with our delectable culinary offerings. The marriage of California's renowned wines with our flavorful Colorado-inspired cuisine creates a memorable and delightful combination that will leave you grateful for choosing us as your dining destination.”
A Call for Resolutions
From the aggregator: Our Colorado Talk listserv readers have probably seen a note from Dan Burke. Dan and Curtis Chong chair our resolutions committee. Resolutions are considered by the committee on Thursday morning of the convention. If voted do pass by the committee the resolution is sent to the floor of the convention. The resolution can be debated and voted upon by the members of the organization present. If passed the resolution becomes policy and guides the work of the organization. If you think there is an item requiring this affiliate's effort please consider drafting a resolution. If you need help with the drafting or process please contact Dan Burke dburke@cocenter.org. Due by Friday, October 20. Many of the successes we have made on behalf of blind people have been a result of resolutions brought by our members. Voting rights, parents rights, pedestrian safety, increased accessibility on state websites, a dedicated unit for blindness under the division of vocational rehabilitation, and much much more!
That’s all she wrote for our Autumn blog. Actually, we have much more but we are out of space. So, please read our Thanksgiving blog. See you at convention!
Forward, always forward!
Love the blog. It will be my first Colorado Convension since I am new to the state. I am excited.
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