Cheyenne
Cheyenne was looking at an uncertain future. Blind since birth, she was close to graduating from high school, but lacked the confidence and training she needed to live independently. She was assisted by aids in the public school she attended but her access to the learning materials was marginal. Add to that a lack of training in the skills of blindness, and
Cheyenne was very dependent on help from others.
Her counselor with the Michigan Commission for the Blind suggested that
Cheyenne might be able to get some experience as a volunteer at Disability Advocates of Kent County. On her first visits,
Cheyenne had to be assisted in and out of the building, and helped with every task. As she worked with DAKC’s volunteer coordinator and other staff,
Cheyenne came to know the layout of the DAKC offices, and was able to perform tasks with less and less assistance. She was also a valuable asset to DAKC with her proficiency in Braille as she was able to create Braille for the signs throughout the building as well as business cards and other documents. The day came when
Cheyenne ’s aids from school no longer accompanied her to the DAKC office. She was able to travel independently by Go Bus and find her way in, out, and around the DAKC offices by herself.
“Coming to Disability Advocates helped me with my self confidence” said
Cheyenne . “I am now much more independent, and I’m able to travel to new places on my own”.
Cheyenne ’s story is an example of DAKC’s mission to help persons with disabilities to live full independent lives. She now has much bigger ambitions and goals for her future, and continues to volunteer for Disability Advocates.
