School for children with disabilities celebrates 40 years of education

DENVER (KDVR) — The Anchor Center for Blind Children turned 40 on Saturday.
Talking to people who have taught at the Anchor Center for Blind Children for a year, a few years, or just about all the time this campus has been around, I find that while resources and strategies may have changed, their educational Inspiration has always been there.
“This is like the best place on earth,” said Mariah Nixon, parent of an Anchor Center for Blind Children graduate.
Nixon’s daughter Miya graduated last year.
“She’s on the spectrum of optic neurodysplasia, optic hypoplasia, insomnia…bone deficiency, growth hormone deficiency, autism, epilepsy,” Nixon said.
Now that she’s graduated, Nixon has another list to define her kids.
“She learned how to say her name, learned to use a tablet, learned to make friends, learned to use a device,” Nixon said.
Many educators serve these children. Among them is Mindy Doyle, her McCall, who has served as her 34 physical therapists in the past 40 years that the school has existed.
“We were in what was called a cottage, so it was a tiny little building,” said Doyle McCall.
According to Doyle-McCall, the Anchor Center for Blind Children has come a long way since she started.
“My first class was just six kids,” Doyle-McCall said.
Currently, the Anchor Center for Blind Children has several classrooms and about 20 students.
“Vision was their only disability,” Doyle-McCall said.
More students are now being educated at the Anchor Center for Blind Children.
“For children with multiple disabilities in addition to their visual impairment, it’s a big change,” Doyle-McColl said.
The impact on families is immeasurable.
Nixon said it was clear to her family that the school taught Maia independence despite her disability.
“Girlfriend, as long as you’re walking and talking and playing and hanging out and doing all these things, you’ll be fine,” Nixon said. I think so.”