April 2024
The year is coming to a close and Bridges to Life students have settled into their work placements, continuing to learn new work skills to bring with them once they leave the program. Our students work all over the city at companies including Advance Auto Parts, YMCA, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Envision Xpress on Fort Carson, The Arc Thrift Store, and others. These opportunities allow our students to get a sense of what it is like to live and work outside of CSDB as well as provides them the opportunity to make important contacts and network for future opportunities.
Rocky Mountain Soap Factory
Employer Appreciation Breakfast
May 2023
Thank you to the community businesses and agencies who support CSDB students!
Mary's Mountain Cookies
April 2023
Celebrating Community Partners at Work: Mary's Mountain Cookies
Thank you for supporting CSDB students as they learn employment skills!
Mary's Mountain Cookies Colorado Springs
Care and Share Food Bank
March 2023
CSDB students, who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing, volunteer at Care and Share Food Bank of Southern Colorado @careandsharefb
Envision Xpress
January 2023
Community Partners at Work! Envision Xpress is a terrific partner for CSDB, working with two of our current BtL students, and employing an alumnus. We are so fortunate to collaborate with Envision Xpress at Fort Carson, CO!
Envision Xpress
December 2022
Several CSDB BTL students recently started work at the Envision Xpress Fort Carson location, helping to stock items, greet visitors, and ensure the store is clean and well organized. Store manager, James Griffin, excels at keeping the store running smoothly while providing in-person training and instruction to our students. Along with creating employment opportunities for the blind and visually impaired(BVI), Envision prioritizes providing special accommodations and assistive tech to ensure BVI employees have the tools to get the job done right. From JAWS enhanced POS systems to shelves and aisles labeled with braille, Envision Xpress is an ideal setting for our BTL students to build work skills and learn about the world of retail.
Envision Xpress is a mid-sized office and military supply store, located on the northern side of the Fort Carson military base, in Colorado Springs. Operated almost entirely by veterans and ex-military, the store caters to soldiers looking to gear up and find important supplies for upcoming deployments. Along with a basic range of office and home supplies, the store offers everything from explosives placards and ceremonial swords to hybrid tent cots and filament for 3D printers. With location all over the US, Envision’s mission is to provide quality products while supporting and providing employment to low-vision and blind individuals. The company operates in the AbilityOne network; a program created by congress in 1938, “enabling agencies serving people who were blind to sell products to the federal government.” Their goal is to, “tap America's underutilized workforce of individuals who are blind or have significant disabilities to deliver high quality, mission-essential products and services to Federal agencies in quality employment opportunities.” One of Envision’s primary product lines is Skilcraft, an AbilityOne affiliate that encompasses a line of over 3,000 items including janitorial equipment, office supplies, medical supplies, tools, and uniforms, mostly manufactured by blind and visually impaired employees.
Written by Mitch Decker, CSDB Job Coach
Which Wich Superior Sandwiches
November 2022
Community Partners at Work! Which Wich knocks it out of the park providing an employee experience for one of our students, Carl.
Pikes Peak Library District
November 2022
CSDB celebrates Community Partnerships!
Pikes Peak Library District recently offered CSDB student, Daisy, a work experience in the IT department. Daisy's supervisor is fluent in American Sign Language, opening many doors for this student. Huge thanks to Pikes Peak Library District!