Below you will find an article that was published in the May 2020 edition of the Spectacle, a publication of State Services for the Blind of Minnesota.
We wish to thank SSB for this article.
Fast Forward: Potential and Possibilities
by Kotumu Kamara
I am originally from Liberia. I completed high school in Guinea before immigrating to the United States in 2003. I have spent over five years working At Blind Incorporated as an English Language learning instructor and I have had the chance to work with various levels of ELL students and diverse backgrounds. I teach everything from reading and writing in Braille, to grammar, vocabulary, listening/speaking, basic technology skills as well as talking to my students about how American culture differs from their own cultures. Because sighted English language learners sometimes learn vocabulary by looking at pictures, I use Braille instruction and other teaching tools to help my students correlate English terms with objects and to convey abstract concepts. My favorite parts of being an ELL instructor is to see how my students grow in speaking English and to have the opportunity to work with students from diverse cultural backgrounds making my job a learning experience as well.
When I am not working, I enjoy reading, cooking, listening to music, organizing my apartment, shopping, and spending time with family and friends. Likewise, I often attend cultural gatherings with my family in my community and mosques like naming baby ceremonies, cookouts, weddings etc. In doing so, I always take my two girls along as it’s my hope for them to understand my culture, be comfortable, and be able to identify themselves with my community as well.
Before coming to the United States, I never knew how to cook, never use the white cane, nor knew anything about assistive technology. Upon my arrival in the United States, I first attended Blind Incorporated, after that, I enrolled at the Lehman Adult Education Center and earned my GED. I came back to Blind Incorporated to work after graduating with a Bachelor of Art in International Studies and a Minor in social justice, and obtaining a Master of Education in Human Resource Development at the University of Minnesota.
During my junior year in college, I was fortunate to participate in the McNair research scholar program. I had the chance to work under the supervision of a faculty mentor while I conducted research on the effects of home foreclosure on immigrants in the city of Minneapolis. Participating in this program, was a rewarding experience and eye opening for me.
Also, because of my passion for working with immigrants and other minority groups, between my Bachelor and master’s studies, I worked with Minnesota Freedom Network as a DREAM COACH VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR to promote The Dream Act. In this role, I reached out to various high schools in the Minneapolis area to promote the needs for undocumented immigrants to have access to education while we discussed issues surrounding higher education. The work I did with Minnesota Freedom Network inspired me to earn a certificate in Equity and Diversity, and in Adult Education from the University of Minnesota respectively.
Over time, I have learned, and I continue to learn that training works! I learned that it is sometimes okay to make my own informed decisions and have my own opinions pertaining to my independence even if those decisions and opinions differ from those of my family. In every journey of my life in the United States, from my college experience, to my job and in my everyday life, I use the tools and techniques I acquired from training. In addition to the use of assistive technology, home management, travel, and other alternative blindness techniques, trust me, I couldn’t do my job without Braille. Braille is one of the important tools that I can’t stop talking about. It is one of the keys to literacy and employment for all blind or low vision persons not just the totally blind. Without using the skills I gained from travel, home management, I couldn’t get around independently, prepare meals, or hold down a job. I’ve learned a great deal about self-advocacy and resources for the blind during seminar classes while I was in training. Again, not only was I able to use Those skills in college to advocate for myself, hire readers, have access to accessible course materials, but those skills continue to help me to complete tasks in my day-to -day life.
When parenting came in, I already had many tools and techniques to choose from. Likewise, I could draw on the expertise of other blind parents who have gone before me from my support networks. So, I knew I could be just as effective as any sighted parent or even better.
Whether you are blind, low vision, or deaf blind, you can do anything you set your mind to once you have the right tools, attitude, skills, resources, and are surrounded with positive role models. I mean those who believe in you; those who will help you to gain access to resources and opportunities; not pity. As you find your way into adulthood, do not let anything hold you back. In particular, make sure you complete the same assignments as your sighted peers. By having many tools and techniques to choose from when accomplishing a task, you can do it! You can be just as effective as your sighted peers.