Darcy McLean Glides Through Denver

In this monthly series, we put the spotlight on our Gliders community to celebrate individuals who inspire us. This month, we’re highlighting Darcy McLean, one of our earliest Gliders in Denver, Colorado!

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Tell us a bit about your background and upbringing‍

I have lived in Colorado most of my life and still reside near where I grew up. I am one of three daughters, with three bonus siblings from other marriages — including one bonus sister who is also named Darcy! I love nature, and Colorado offers so many opportunities to be outside no matter the season. I have five small-breed dogs who are my faithful (and occasionally monstrous) companions. I helped set up a Yoga for Low Vision class at a local rec center and organized two 10-week 1 Touch Self Defense classes there as well. Being active in my community means a lot to me.

I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 10, and in my early 20s I acquired a vision impairment due to diabetic retinopathy. That changed the course of my life in an unexpected, but ultimately very rewarding way.

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What type of work do you do — both volunteer and otherwise?

I'm a Low Vision Skills Trainer and Peer Support Group Facilitator at CPWD (Center for People With Disabilities), where I work in the Beyond Vision Program. I've been there for nearly 12 years and love the people I get to work with every day — primarily older adults who have experienced vision loss, many of whom have dual sensory loss and now belong to the DeafBlind community. Our focus is helping people stay independent and live in the community of their choosing.

On the volunteer side, I serve on the DeafBlind Action Team (DBAT) and as a council member on the DeafBlind Advisory Council for the Colorado Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind. I feel very fortunate to work so closely with a community I belong to myself.

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What's one thing most people don't know about you?

In my early 20s, I lived with three friends in a house in Denver — and our house pet was a black potbellied pig named Elvis. Elvis slept with a hot water bottle and had a talent for helping himself to whatever he could reach in the pantry. We once woke up to potatoes on the floor, an empty bread bag, and an empty bag of pork rinds. Guests would do a double take when Elvis came through the dog door and wandered into the kitchen mid-conversation.

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What's the best thing you've crossed off your bucket list?

Earning my degree and graduating with honors — while losing my vision at the same time. That one means a lot.

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What's a family tradition that feels unique to your family?

All of the women in my family are gardeners. Every February and March, we start poring over seed catalogs together, swapping ideas about what we each want to plant that year. Those conversations carry us through the whole growing season, and by September they shift to canning — sharing new recipes, preserving what we've grown, and then gifting jars to friends, family, and neighbors. There's something deeply grounding about putting your hands in the dirt, and we all feel it.

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What's a risk you're glad you took?

A spontaneous Class 5 rapids rafting trip. I was genuinely apprehensive — but I talked myself into it, and had an absolute blast. I came out the other side soggy and completely energized.

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What are you most excited to do with Glide?

I'm excited to have the independence to walk in unfamiliar environments and explore new spaces with confidence. I've already been out on both paved and unpaved outdoor walking paths, and I know I'll be spending a lot more time outside rather than on my treadmill. I also love how Glide naturally sparks curiosity — strangers stop and want to know what it is, and it opens up genuine conversations wherever I go. I'm also looking forward to sharing what I've learned about Glide with the older adults I work with.

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Watch Darcy explore the outdoor trails in Denver near her home!