Striving to remove barriers that prevent us from building Vibrant, Diverse, Inclusive, Accessible Communities!
Jeremy Smith opens with a clear turning point: on January 8, 2025, he walks into the Colorado Center for the Blind at 2233 West Shepperd Avenue. He names the cost of leaving Kentucky and traces early fear to years when retinitis pigmentosa wasn’t plainly explained—then sets a plain goal: rebuild the self he’s believed in.
Instruction reads as craft with real stakes. Training lives in ordinary places—streets, stations, kitchens, conversations—so repeated practice and firm expectations steady his reactions. The deeper change is trust in himself; the tools of travel, tactile reading, and modern tech support daily participation instead of performing for it.
He speaks directly to anyone weighing the Independence Training Program: the honest answer is “maybe.” Are you prepared to seize a rare chance? Life doesn’t offer many moments to be part of something that feels magical, and there are no second chances at something as special as CCB. Love and belonging exist here, freely offered—yet earned through daily work. Very little is handed to you, and not everyone will become a close friend.
People arrive from many places and “a million varied situations,” across age, income, schooling, work history, and identities. Blindness is the great equalizer. To each person who accepts this mission—to join a community, do hard work, and keep showing up—he offers utmost respect. The program’s nine-month arc is demanding, and the bell at graduation carries a responsibility: every confident trip through the world widens the path for the next traveler.
Read the Full Article: Graduating from the Colorado Center for the Blind Means More Than Skills
By: Jeremy Smith
