American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
Future Reflections Special Issue on Ethnic and Cultural Diversity BUILDING MOVEMENTS, COMMUNITIES, AND FAMILIES
Adopted, Adapted, and Advancing
by Ahbee Orton
From the Editor: Ahbee Orton is enrolled at Blue Mountain College in Mississippi, where she is pursuing a degree in business administration with a concentration in management. In her spare time she likes to sing and play the piano.
"Wow! It's hard to believe, but I am enjoying this beautiful weather and a feeling of calm as I sip my Starbucks green tea in New York City!" These thoughts ran through my mind while I explored the Big Apple last September on my graduation assignment from the Louisiana Center for the Blind (LCB). From a spot outside the Empire State Building, I took in the bright sunlight, the crowds, and the multiple languages. I was at peace, happily surprised to realize that I could travel alone and have fun.
It is amazing what can happen within only nine months, the length of time I attended the LCB. This trip was the culmination of all my hard work, sweat, and tears in training to become an independent adult. Let me go back to my roots so that you may better understand who I am and why I came to training. I want you to understand the context of my experience in New York City using my newfound skills and confidence and to know something about my future endeavors.
My Early Years
I had a traumatic beginning. I lived with my birth family for my first two years, until I was abandoned at the Triangle Market in Meizhou, China. I was found by the police, who put my picture in the paper in the hope of locating my family. When no trace of my birth parents was found, I was placed in an orphanage where I lived for two more years. I was adopted at the age of four by a loving Christian family.
My parents say that they saw my picture and instantly knew I was the perfect child for them. They were aware of my poor vision, but they did not discover the extent of my blindness until we began to interact. They noticed that I would color with my eyes closed, and I would stick my foot out when I walked. I was timid, and I would cry to be carried everywhere. Yet I could be adventurous, running down a hotel hallway once I was acclimated to my surroundings.
My parents carried me a lot at first, but once they gave me a toy stroller, I pushed it ahead of me and went all over the place on my own. Later a cane gave me even more freedom.
Growing Up and Finding My Way
Once we reached the United States, many visits with eye specialists resulted in a diagnosis of Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). I also have nystagmus, or uncontrollable movements of the eyes. Although I am blind, my parents encouraged my independence. They wanted me to learn as much as anyone else my age.
I lived in Texas for seven years with my parents and my two younger sisters, their biological children. I enjoyed a fairly positive childhood. I entered pre-kindergarten from just before Thanksgiving of 2004 until the summer. Then I attended kindergarten for two years. After my first year of kindergarten, my classroom teacher said I had learned everything I needed for that year. However, my teacher of blind students knew it would be good for me to attend kindergarten one more year in order to increase my Braille and English language skills.
After kindergarten I entered first grade reading at grade level, and my mom saw a tremendous improvement in my speech. I went on to participate in a class for gifted and talented children for several years. Through the class I gained great knowledge of many subjects, and I researched and gave presentations on several topics. I got pulled out of class with several other kids for a couple of hours each week to learn and study together. I also participated in and won the Braille Challenge and the Braille Readers Are Leaders competitions multiple years. I even won trips to the National Federation of the Blind national conventions several years in a row after I won prizes in the Braille Readers Are Leaders competition. These competitions truly strengthened my Braille knowledge and skill level. In addition, I worked diligently competing in spelling bees in third and fourth grades, and I managed to place second in the district spelling bee in fourth grade against an eighth grader.
My family moved to China when I was eleven. My parents volunteered as English teachers at a newly formed college in rural Guizhou province. When we returned to the United States we moved to Florence, Alabama, where I finished grade school. I continued to compete in spelling bees in seventh and eighth grades, and I also joined the school band. I played the flute in the band, and I played it in concert band during my high school years. I played the piano keyboard during marching seasons in high school, too.
Along with these activities, I took several pre-AP and AP (Advanced Placement) courses. Taking these courses made those years very tough, since we had to fight and advocate for my equal access to materials and services.
Despite our advocacy for services, I still ended up with an O&M instructor who was not allowed to take me away from the school grounds for lessons. I also received inadequate instruction with the screen reader JAWS. Devoted to my studies, I did not get out much. I fell into the habit of taking people's arms whenever I went anywhere. As a result I decided to pursue training in blindness skills before I started college. I did some research and chose to attend training in the adult program at the Louisiana Center for the Blind.
Big Apple and Big Dreams
I was fortunate to have parents who advocated for me and a community of blind people in the National Federation of the Blind who cheered me on. Yet I was in need of skills and confidence to help me achieve my dreams. I had some skills, but I did not realize they were mediocre until I met the instructors at the LCB. The instructors floored me with their vast knowledge, abilities, and confidence. I knew then and there that I had a lot of learning to do, and I needed to be there for sure!
I made my greatest strides in travel class. When I neared the end of my training, my travel instructor, Marco, asked me where I wanted to go. I had been pondering this requirement for a long time, and I set my mind to conquering the streets of New York City. For many years I'd had the idea that one day I'd like to set foot in New York City and experience the bustling crowds and tourist attractions. When I was about to enter fifth grade, I planned to go on the trip to New York City and sing at Carnegie Hall with my honors choir. I did not get to fulfill this ambition back then because I left for China with my family.
I had been so excited and ready for that marvelous trip years ago. Who knew I would achieve this goal, all by myself!
I booked my round-trip Greyhound bus ticket and made my hotel and flight reservations independently. I took the Greyhound from Ruston, Louisiana, to Dallas, taking a cab to my hotel and gracefully declining any unnecessary assistance along the way. Then I got settled in my room and ordered some food to be delivered from a Chinese restaurant. It was my Gotcha Day, September 12, my family's celebration of my adoption. Why not celebrate in my own way with some delicious delivery and plenty of rest.
The following day, I chilled, ate breakfast at the buffet, did more research on my trip, got signed up for Lyft, reserved a shuttle time, and ate my leftover Chinese food. I headed to catch my flight and went through the airport without the help of an airport assistant. I did, however, continually tell people I got it and just needed directions to the gate, etc.
Once I located my gate, I went to a Mexican restaurant for supper. My vegetarian enchiladas came out quickly and tasted better than I had expected. Then I discovered someone had been very kind and paid for my food. I did not quite like this, because I did not want people to pay for me just because I am blind. But also I encourage others to be kind to everyone. Oh, well.
I made the flight, boarded without assistance, and found my seat. I reached New York very late, and I chose to take a cab to the hotel. I made it to my room in the hotel after midnight.
Saturday was a big day. I woke up, got breakfast, and asked for directions to the address Marco had given me, 350 Fifth Avenue, the Empire State Building. It was only a short walk from the hotel, and it was easy to find after some exploring. Then I went into the Starbucks located inside the building and got myself a green tea. I walked outside and asked a pedestrian to take a picture or two of me in front of this main entrance, to document this remarkable moment. I sipped my hot, medium-sized green tea while I enjoyed the warm temperature, the constant flow of foot traffic, and the multilingual conversations.
I ventured to the subway and took it to Chinatown, where I spent the bulk of my day. I ate a vegetable and noodle soup at a Thai restaurant in this area and walked around the place. I explored the streets by walking into the shops and asking for the things they sold. I found a candy shop and bought jelly candies, white rabbit candies, and some seaweed. I also bought a dragon replica from a shop before lunch and found a bakery where I purchased four moon cakes in the late afternoon.
While I strolled the streets and enjoyed the shops, I also spent some time in a gift shop. I bought five magnets for souvenirs, and one more was given to me. I briefly strolled around in Columbus Park, where I sat and listened to some street performers who were playing Chinese instruments and singing Chinese music. This park is a popular, scenic area where Chinese people hang out.
I took the subway back to a street that was walking distance from my hotel. Then I walked back to the hotel. As I returned I discovered a convenience store and bought a couple of items. I finally returned to my room. I was exhausted and glad to be alone, since on the crowded streets people were so eager to help me.
New York was definitely a good test of my ability to stay calm with the number of people who asked to help me. It was a great improvement from the beginning of training. I used to let others help me when I was not supposed to because I was fearful. On those New York streets I was at ease with myself, and I did not need assistance.
The following day I took the subway to Central Park and experienced a pedicab tour. The guide was kind enough to take my picture at many scenic places, such as the Walking Mall, the Bethesda Fountain, the Tunnel, and Bow Bridge. After the tour I headed to an indoor mall in Columbus Circle in search of Whole Foods and their delicious soup. After finding the store, I made a last-minute decision to go instead to a Vietnamese restaurant I found on the internet. Next, I chose to walk around the area, and I found several businesses. I discovered a street with live performers and sat to enjoy the music. A lady was singing with a small band accompanying her. Kids were playing, and senior citizens were watching the families have fun.
Then I took a train back to midtown and explored even more. This time I discovered a Forever 21 store. I was surprised at the sheer variety of products the store was selling. I walked a few blocks over and to my left and found a restaurant where I ordered vegetable soup. I ended my adventures with a banana, strawberry, and berry smoothie. Yum! The whole day was wondrous!
This trip definitely tested my patience, but it showed me that I had gained confidence and abilities through my training. I discovered that my travel skills worked well in unfamiliar areas, even alone in a big city. I found that I could advocate for myself. I felt liberated, relaxed, and at peace with myself. This trip taught me that I had grown tremendously over the past nine months of intensive training.
With the training I have received and the knowledge and confidence I have gained, I can do whatever I pursue. I have several goals for myself. I will attend college in January to major in education or business. I want to get married and raise a family of my own one day. I would like to travel to foreign lands and help others in need. I am working on an autobiography. I hope to live a fulfilled life with family, a good job, and lots of laughter.
In closing, I give thanks to all the staff at the Louisiana Center for the Blind. I am grateful to my instructors, my fellow students, and my family and friends who pushed me through the difficult and easy times and who believed in me on days when I did not believe in myself.
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