Blind Coloradan Blog
June 2024
Writer, aggregator: Kevan Worley
Contributors: Dan Burke & Erin Daley. With assistance from Lisa Bonderson.
National Federation of the Blind of Colorado, President, Jessica Beecham
As we approach the hot Colorado Summer. It is time to write about our affiliate's successes over the first half of 2024. Of course, we, the blind of Colorado, and the nation still face challenges. Case in point, near the end of May NFBCO president Jessica Beecham was attempting to get an Uber ride from our very own Colorado Center for the Blind. She was with her guide dog Prada. You can guess what happened. The driver refused to take her. As readers of this blog know. This is a regular occurrence keeping our friends and colleagues from predictable rides to work, worship, family activities, doctor appointments, and play. This time the denial escalated. Police were called. The police refused to intervene and follow the law. Jessica implored the Littleton police to look up the law. They refused. Jessica has contacted Littleton officials to bring this matter to their attention. We will be following this story and bring you any updates. But the fact is, our challenges with rideshare companies persist. We will continue to seek remedies when denials occur and we will continue to beseech state and federal officials, members of the general assembly, the public, and rideshare companies to end blatant discrimination against blind customers. And now on with your Blind Coloradan for June. It is jam-packed with celebration, effort, and the quest for equality of opportunity.
Governor Signs Accessible Prescription Drug Labels Bill
By: Curtis Chong
From the aggregator: 2024 will be remembered as one of our most active and successful legislative sessions. At our 2023 state convention, we passed resolutions calling upon the general assembly to pass bills making prescription labels accessible by blind consumers at every pharmacy. And, to expand outreach, training, and support for NFB NEWSLINE. Immediately following the convention our legislative committee, co-chaired by Dan Burke and Curtis Chong, began their outreach to key members of the general assembly. From that moment through our highly successful day at the capital, through numerous hearings, our members and allies worked tirelessly. As you will see in the note from Curtis Chong below, we have much to be proud of.
On Monday, June 3, 2024, Governor Jared Polis signed HB24-1115, the Accessible Prescription Drug Labels bill, into law. The signing ceremony, which included three other bills of interest to the broader disability community, was held at the Governor's Residence Carriage House.
HB24-1115 will not take effect until July 1, 2025. In the meantime, Colorado's State Board of Pharmacy will need to develop administrative rules and regulations dealing with how accessible prescription labels will be provided and how so-called "needy" pharmacies can apply for and receive a small grant to help cover the cost of any equipment they might need to implement the provisions of HB24-1115. The National Federation of the Blind of Colorado expects to be actively involved in the creation of these rules. Unlike a lot of bills that were passed on party lines during this session, HB24-1115 was supported by both Republicans and Democrats. Our thanks go out to Representative Mary Young and Senator Steve Fenberg for sponsoring this landmark piece of legislation. My personal thanks go out to everyone who called or wrote emails supporting this bill. The organized blind of Colorado should be proud of what has been accomplished here.
Expanding NFB-NEWSLINE to every print-disabled citizen of Colorado
From the aggregator: For this piece of legislation, we had to wait until late in the final day of the session to know whether or not this important bill would pass. Thanks to reps David Ortiz and Stephanie Vigil, and Senator Jesse Danielson the stabilization and expansion of timely and accessible information to blind and low-vision citizens of all ages made it. Some of us were at the capital waiting, wondering, and testifying on the final Saturday of the session. We were assured by our sponsors that unless time ran out. We were in! At the 11th hour, our programs were allocated the $130,000 necessary to continue NFB-NEWSLINE and related efforts. Big congratulations to all who helped make this happen and now we will get to the business of bringing NFB-NEWSLINE and other resources to Coloradans across the centennial state.
Legislation celebration, open house, raffle drawing, and scholarship winners
From
the aggregator: Over the last 2 months we have been working to sell 300 raffle
tickets for the Great Colorado Springs Getaway Weekend. The drawing was to be
held at 6:30 pm Wednesday, June 12. Tickets were $50 for a luxury tourist trip
to Colorado Springs. Ticket sales were capped at 300. The value of the package
was well over $3,500. Jessica Beecham, President National Federation of the
Blind of Colorado, said, “We have never tried this kind of fundraiser before. I
am pleased and delighted with the outcome. And we will be thinking about other
approaches to fundraising raffles.” She also congratulated the winners, Curtis
and Peggy Chong of Aurora. Although no ticket buyer wants to lose, the
sentiment at the event over congratulatory emails and social media suggested
that no one deserved it more than Curtis and Peggy. They have been leaders in
our movement for over 5 decades. They channel their energy, knowledge, and commitment to numerous projects important to our work.
A number of legislators, candidates, and leaders from Littleton attended the event. We celebrated their commitment to our cause. State representative Mary Young of Greeley was present. She was key to the passage of our accessible prescription label bill. We also paid tribute to state representative Daniel Ortiz for his 2 terms of service. He has decided not to seek re-election. He will be missed. But we suspect he will continue his advocacy long after he has left the legislature. Dan Burke gave visitors tours of our center. People enjoyed a reading from author Jo Elizabeth Pinto.
Big congratulations to the National Federation of
the Blind of Colorado 2024 scholarship finalists. We are excited to share that
our three finalists this year include Elizabeth Sprecker, Andrew Vega, and Dishon
Spears. Elizabeth is attending CU Boulder, Andrew attends Metropolitan
State University of Denver, and Sean attends Southern New Hampshire University.
Thank you to everyone who supported our Olympic city raffle because these funds
raised go to support our amazing scholarship finalist! We are so happy that
Curtis and Peggy Chong will be enjoying this fantastic Colorado Springs
getaway. Of course, there was the famous NFB camaraderie, food,
and beverage. As they say, “a good time was had by all.
NFBCO Roadshow Coming to a Town Near You
From the aggregator: We are pleased to announce a series of resource and networking events for blind and low-vision Coloradans of all ages to be held across the state. These events are organized to reach Coloradans outside of the Denver metro area. We held our first event in downtown Colorado Springs on Tuesday, June 18. NFBCO board member Nate Hecker will develop, promote, and facilitate at least a dozen of these outreach seminars before the end of 2024. From Greeley to Grand Junction, Pueblo to Durango we will be asking the blind of Colorado to share their stories. We will be providing knowledge and resources they can use to live the lives they want, and we will bring them the empowering philosophy of the National Federation of the Blind. To learn how you can help contact Nate Hecker at hecker.haihais@gmail.com. We will see you on the road!
We Are Community!
Members know. We the federation have a strong and supportive community working to create security, equality, and opportunity. Our Denver chapter has taken our community to touch the lives of other communities of people doing good work. Each quarter the chapter chooses a charity to support. During this quarter they urged members to bring donations of urgently needed supplies for an animal shelter. The project has been a huge success. Your aggregator, for one, encourages our other chapters to choose a charity and make a difference in the world beyond the extraordinary work we do for so many. An ever-expanding inspiration is who we are. Congratulations Denver Chapter.
The Dash is Coming! The Dash is Coming!
Register to walk, run, or roll. On Saturday morning August 24, it's our 8th annual NFBCO 6 Dot Dash. It’s the big one folks. Typically our largest fundraiser of the year. We need your involvement to make this one the biggest and best. As previous participants know. It's not just a dash. It’s a true family festival of games, exhibits, the blind beer tasting, food trucks, entertainment, kid's fun run, and more. More details coming soon. Please register and plan to be with us Saturday morning August 24. The race will begin at 9 am. But the fun will continue throughout the morning into the early afternoon. We are very proud to have sponsors, The Englewood Lions Club, Anchor Center for Blind Children, Comcast, and JB & K Services. We plan to add other sponsors. If you would like to help us gain sponsors for the event, please call me 303-929-2369. See you at the dash in Littleton at the Colorado Center for the Blind. https://runsignup.com/Race/CO/Littleton/6DotDash
Do you like Bluegrass? Newgrass? Jamgrass? If you do or if you would like to find out if you do? NFBCO has the concert for you.
From the aggregator: we are thrilled to present the pride of Wichita Kansas; Haymakers will star in a benefit concert for the NFBCO on Thursday evening July 25th. The concert will be held at the EPIC Campus 190 E Littleton Blvd, Littleton CO. This band is the real deal! These are world-class pickers. Their harmonies are exhilarating. Dustin Arbuckle is a harmonica virtuoso. He tours the world with various music projects. And singer/songwriter, and guitarist Tom Page is known to many of us. Mr. Page serves as the president of the National Federation of the Blind of Kansas. These 2 front men are backed by amazing Mandolin and stand-up bass playing. Doors open at 6. Haymakers take the stage at 7. Join us in our goal to sell 200 tickets. Tickets are $25. See you there!
The second annual Open Mic night was a huge success.
Drinks, food, friendship, and fun!
By Brett Boyer
What an amazing time to spend on a windy Saturday night, April 6th. The evening began with some delicious top-notch food cooked by some of our culinary-minded chapter members, we were served a tasty baked potato bar (with all the fixins) donated by Texas Roadhouse in Sheridan. Along with those tasty biscuits, Texas Roadhouse also sent a couple of folks to serve it up! These kind folks stayed to watch some of the show themselves!
We ate, we drank, and we enjoyed each other's company while the performers prepared. Then the main event began.
Mere words cannot describe the amount of fun and entertainment we experienced. Two students from the Colorado Center for the Blind kicked off the show with the National Anthem followed by some hot break dancing. One of our favorite CCB staff Jennifer Spears gave an amazing performance of "A Million Dreams” by Pink! The inspirational songs did not end as Sylvia treated us to The Colors of the Wind from Pocahontas. And a newcomer to our chapter and newly accepted Metro State student Andrew blew us all away with his rendition of "Out There" from "The Hunchback of Notre Dame".
After a snack break, the audience enjoyed Tiff's treats and Chocolate candy bars, as well as other libations, and the second act began. This act started with Brett and Tony, a staff member and student of CCB with a rousing rendition of the Abbot and Costello classic "Who’s on First" Then, some of our guitar players took the stage. Fitz, Dan, and Bryan had some excellent performances. We were also treated to some great karaoke singing and an acapella Irish ballad by Jade.
At the closing of the night, we were treated to our lovely MC Stephanie, her mom, dad, and husband performing the song "Close to You" complete with trumpet solo, backing vocals, keys, and bass. A family affair that could melt your heart!
Well, if I didn't paint enough of a picture for you, then you should have been there yourself. As one of the folks who started this last year, I feel personally grateful to all of the audience members, performers, servers, bartenders, guide dogs, bouncers, and anyone else even remotely involved in pulling off this amazing fundraiser and entertainment event. Here's to next year's open mic event. Start practicing now!!!
Wild West Chapter Holds Big Bake-Off for Opportunity at Brewability
Estes Park family weekend, hosted by the Colorado Center for the Blind
From the aggregator: Supporting families with blind children is at the core of what we do in the National Federation of the Blind. We have been known to have very strong groups and divisions of parents and teachers of blind students. As we work to engage these families, the Colorado Center for the Blind, the chief program of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado, is making it happen. We received the following from Chaz Davis, Director of Youth Services at our center in Littleton.
We are thrilled to share a heartwarming recap of the YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park family weekend, hosted by the Colorado Center for the Blind, that took place from May 10th to May 12th. Ten families arrived on a beautiful Friday evening, welcomed by the rustic 17-bedroom cabin boasting stunning panoramic views of the Twin Peaks.
Throughout the weekend, our blind staff members and community volunteers led blind children, their sighted siblings, and parents in a series of engaging and dynamic activities. From archery sessions to an enlightening archaeological hike through former Native American sites, guided by a knowledgeable museum curator, everyone embraced the spirit of exploration and learning together.
The event provided a unique opportunity for families to bond and grow closer. Children reveled in the joy of making s'mores and building fires, while sighted parents eagerly embraced non-visual experiential learning, gaining valuable skills in cooking, meal preparation, cleaning, and orientation and mobility. Our dedicated staff members from the Colorado Center for the Blind were on hand to offer guidance and support, helping parents prepare a delicious lunch and a mouthwatering baked ziti meal for all attendees.
One of the most touching moments came from a 16-year-old student who bravely shared his realization with the group. He said that throughout the weekend, surrounded by others confidently using their canes, he no longer felt ashamed to use his own. This powerful statement resonated with everyone. His words emphasized the sense of empowerment and acceptance that was felt throughout the event.
Parents, in particular, expressed their gratitude for finding a true sense of community in a world that often feels isolating for families with blind children. For a few families, this retreat marked their first experience with the Colorado Center for the Blind, leaving them eager to participate in future events and activities.
Dinner for Sixty: Building Skills and Confidence at the Colorado Center for the Blind
By Maureen Nietfeld
From the aggregator: We are thrilled to post an article that first ran in the Future Reflections Magazine. Future Reflection is the quarterly magazine of the National Federation of the Blind, Parents of Blind Children Division. We start with the editor’s note.
From the Editor: Maureen Nietfeld describes herself as a person with multiple disabilities. She is Director of Student Services at the Colorado Center for the Blind, a position she has held since April of 2020. She serves as second vice president of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado and president of the NFB of Colorado's Denver Chapter. She and her husband David have a five-year-old son, Logan. Maureen is active in Colorado's Blind Parents Division, and she says being a mom is her absolute favorite thing.
After I went blind from a rare genetic disease called Von Hippel Lindau syndrome, I had zero confidence, no blindness skills, and abysmally low expectations for myself. In 2009, hoping to get my life back on track, I decided to attend the Colorado Center for the Blind (CCB) to learn how to live as a blind person. I was very nervous about taking this major step, but the Center transformed my life.
Most of the instructors at the CCB were blind, and they served as wise and patient role models. My blind instructors instilled in me the knowledge that blindness techniques were practical, safe, and effective. I got excited about the idea of working in the blindness field myself.
In 2010 I was offered a job at the Colorado Center for the Blind as a home management instructor, a position I held for close to nine years. It was incredibly rewarding to watch people's progress, to see the growth in each person during their time at the Center. I felt honored to work with so many people from all over the world and to be a part of their journey as they gained their independence.
One of my most treasured experiences was working with a student I will call Anna. When Anna arrived at the Center, she already had fabulous skills in Braille and access technology. However, she had very limited experience with cane travel and home management. Anna had no experience at all with cleaning or cooking. In fact, she had never even used a microwave.
We dove right into training, starting with the very basics such as pouring drinks. We prepared hot drinks such as cocoa, and we used the microwave to heat up frozen meals. We made sandwiches, and we used the toaster to heat waffles and bagels.
At the Colorado Center for the Blind, we use the Structured Discovery method of teaching. All along, as we worked on these tasks, we explored our environment and worked on problem-solving. We focused on cleaning techniques as we went along. We always discussed how we would transfer these skills to other environments and other tasks.
As I worked with Anna, I noticed immediately that she was a sponge. It was clear that these skills weren't already part of her life because she simply wasn't given the opportunity to try them out. Anna quickly moved on to preparing more complex meals. She went grocery shopping independently, and she made it very evident that she was quickly gaining the ability to live on her own.
At the CCB one of the requirements is that students prepare a “mini meal” for fifteen guests. Students need to plan every aspect of this project. The mini meal is usually completed around the midpoint of a student's program, which means they have been at the Center for about five months. Anna prepared a wonderful, blackened chicken over fettuccine with a homemade Alfredo sauce, garlic bread, and dessert. In just five months, she went from never using a microwave to cooking a complex meal for fifteen people! The meal went off flawlessly, and she needed almost no assistance from me.
I really learned so much from working with Anna! The most important thing I learned from her was that blind kids need the opportunity, the space, and the freedom to get in there and cook and clean and learn just as sighted kids do. Anna made the decision to receive training at the CCB because, as a student in college, she was really struggling because she didn't have the skills to live independently.
That’s all he wrote! Forward, always forward! I look forward to seeing many of you at our national convention in Orlando starting on July 3. Our Colorado Caucus will be held at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, July 5 in Salon 12. Hope to see you there!
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