Hi, my name is Kevin Chao and I am a senior at Bear Creek High School. I felt that I have gone through one transition so far--someone sighted to someone who is blind. I am now getting ready for the big leap for graduation, because after that, it will be the big transition from high school to the Living Skills Center and then to college and work-life in general. The lesson that I have learned from going through one transition and preparing for the next level of transition is that without the self-determination, skills, equipment, and knowing what you want, it will be hard, if not nearly impossible.
To give you a little background of my transition experience, I would like to talk about the beginning of my high school years. I started my life through the middle of my freshmen year as a sighted person and within a matter of four months I went from someone who had functional sight to someone who was functionally blind. During these four months I was unsure as to what exactly was going on. Later, I was diagnosed with Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy and was quickly referred to a nearby high school that had services for blind students. I was shown various tools and equipment that blind people use to be successful in high school and life. Since, I had experience and interest in technology, I was just shown the basics and I ran with it from there. I knew that I had to continue on with my life no matter what's in my path.
At the moment, some of the tools that I am using include: a laptop with JAWS, BrailleNote mPower (with GPS, Nemeth Tutorial, and Concise Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus), Tiger Embosser, Perkins Braille writer, and a cane. These are all tools that I use on a daily basis to complete tasks throughout a school day and for my travel. I think that not only is it important to know the tools and to be knowledgeable and comfortable with them, but it is also important to be literate. Since, I transitioned to being blind I have been learning the literary Braille code, Nemeth code for mathematics and science notations, computer Braille, as well as Spanish Braille.
I think that the most important experience that I have had in high school has been writing my own transition plan. The reason this is so important to me is because after going through one period of transition from having sight to not having sight and a bit leery as to what lies in the future, writing my own transition plan allows me to be in control of my life again. I feel empowered by being in control of the services planned for me. And, during the IEP meeting I was the one in charge. There isn't a room full of people talking about me without me having a fair contribution.
Another key element that helps me to this point in life is networking. Some of the areas in which I networked include taking part in the National Federation of the Blind Convention (state and national), going to Employment Seminar, Youth Summit 2007, California Teachers and Educators of the Visually Handicapped, Youth Retreat Program, and a handful of other seminars, workshops, conventions, and events. Organizations that touched my life in some way or form include Society for the Blind, Vista Centers for the Blind, LightHouse for the Blind, and California Department of Rehabilitation - Blind Field Services for transition services to help me get ahead. Not only did I have the great opportunity to do a lot of traveling and go to all of these great places and events, but hearing others speak and tell their stories inspired me.
So, I have gone through one period of transition, life with sight to life without sight. I am going to quote Mike May from his to be released book "Crashing Through"--"Life with vision is great and life without vision is great, too."
So, transition is hard for all, but without the self-determination, skills, equipment, and being in control of your own life it will be nearly impossible. I am looking forward to the second major transition in my life. It will require that I gather all the above mentioned to make the next big leap. Life is a continuous cycle that is full of transitions and with many more coming on down the road.
Kevin Chao
May, 2007
Hi, my name is Kevin Chao and I am a senior at Bear Creek High School. I felt that I have gone through one transition so far--someone sighted to someone who is blind. I am now getting ready for the big leap for graduation, because after that, it will be the big transition from high school to the Living Skills Center and then to college and work-life in general. The lesson that I have learned from going through one transition and preparing for the next level of transition is that without the self-determination, skills, equipment, and knowing what you want, it will be hard, if not nearly impossible.