Bread, Rice, or Tostada: Cultural Inclusion at The Transition Table

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Like food choices, many factors impact how blind or low-vision youth and their families view transition.  We invite you to explore how transition goals are highly individualized, need to be developed to meet the needs of individuals within their family and social frameworks, and should have unique objectives and different tools for every blind and low-vision person as they navigate transition from high school to adult life. 

Some make sandwiches using bread for lunch, while others enjoy tostadas with ceviche. I, however, usually enjoy a rice dish with meat and vegetables. Lunch choices are very personal! They’re often the result of how someone was raised, their cultural values and background, and any dietary circumstances and needs. We all know there is not one “right” diet for everyone, and we realize that judging an individual’s lunch choice will generally not be appreciated.   

Why This Matters 

One of the core conversations in school and transition planning revolves around independence and the importance of mastering independent living skills. The blind, low vision, and broader disability community has traditionally emphasized mastering independent living skills. Students are told they must learn how to safely cook, efficiently travel, and manage and clean their homes to succeed. 

The default transition goal of living independently from nuclear or extended family is intended to equip our youth to achieve the ultimate “American dream” of moving away from home and gaining additional freedoms. But this transition outcome, based on the Western value of individualism, may differ from the expectations of the student and their family (Cage, 2019; Zhang, 2005; Zhang & Rosen, 2018).  

Cultural Values 

The cultural values of students and families must be considered to facilitate successful transition outcomes. 

According to data from the 2014-2018 American Community Survey, an estimated 22.0% to 44.5% of the population speak a language other than English in the home. As the United States continues to increase in diversity, it is important for educators, families, and students to realize that each of us has a unique perspective.  

Independence According to Cultural Values 

So, what does independence mean?  

It turns out there isn’t one way to define it. 

To many in the Latinx community, it means establishing one’s individuality while remaining interconnected to the family unit. To many in Asian communities, it means being able to contribute to one’s family. These communities tend to value collectivism and community; self-reliance is achieved to promote family advancement (Conroy, 2006; Zhang & Rosen, 2018).  

While in school, I was never asked how I envisioned my “independence” after high school. To develop appropriate transition goals, students and their families should ask themselves, “What does independence mean to me?”  

A Look Ahead 

We want to provide an important glimpse into the journeys of three blind or low-vision individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences.  

Our stories illustrate how we redefined what transition planning meant to each of us. It is valid for students and families to have their views of independence, and such views should be respected and included at the transition table.   

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Expectations 

As I mentioned, something that came up consistently as I got older and started figuring out how to navigate and plan for my post-high school future was everyone’s expectations. 

The expectation of my parents, stemming, I believe, from love and worry and what we knew as normal, was my remaining with or near my family despite being over eighteen. Conversely, the expectation of so many of my teachers, blindness instructors, and mentors was to take the plunge to attend the schools and follow through with the plans I was interested in.  

As I went to friends with this dilemma, I found how difficult it was for so many of them to relate. Similarly, the lack of professionals available to help my parents understand everything happening made things that much more challenging.  This was one of the first moments I noticed a difference in culture and ideas from my peers. You see, I thought I had to choose one or the other, stay with my family for collective happiness, or venture out for personal benefit.  

In some ways, it had always felt like I either had to be entirely one thing or another: fully blind when around other disabled students or acting sighted and not acknowledging blindness around peers at school, completely immersed in English and American pop culture when with friends, but able to talk in perfect Spanish around relatives. It took me some time and a lot of talking to realize there was a way to do both, be both.  

After graduating high school, I attended a living skills center in the Bay Area, the first of many compromises. I could live where I had always wanted to explore and improve my independence without feeling like I was pushing my family away. The finite timeline of spending one year at the living skills center was a period of adjusting for my parents, and I had a chance to see how our family dynamic could mold in this new way.  

The day I decided to stay in the Bay Area permanently, I called my mom over breakfast. I was making coffee in a French press I’d just bought while she was heating milk on the stove for hers, and I broke the news to her with an ask that they come to visit that summer and promises to call all the time. I was so nervous about how it would go and was still wrestling with wanting to be with them but wanting to be on my own. Ultimately it all went over well, and over the years, I’ve started finding a balance between my individualistic and collectivistic values.  

By no means have the big conversations over coffee stopped, but I approach them with much less trepidation. I noticed it the day I came out to my mom over matching caramel lattes, knowing I wanted to help her understand this part of my identity while realizing I needed to meet her where she was. I noticed it again last summer after our family went through a series of medical emergencies, and I grappled with feeling I should move back home to help but also knowing I wanted to return to my own home, continuing to build on the independence and life I had started to create for myself.  

If I have any advice on transition and all that it entails, it would be that nothing is just black or white, decaf or double-espresso. There isn’t one right way to do things or one path, and having people who can help bridge those gaps can help immensely. 

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Rice: A Side of Leafy Vegetables

By Ann Wai-Yee Kwong 

A leafy green vegetable

Yu Choy Sum is a leafy green Chinese vegetable that my family and I regularly eat for dinner. It is a familiar and comforting food item. Yet, I had not previously paid much attention to how it ended up cooked on the family dinner table, as my mother typically handled all of the grocery shopping and food preparation in my home while I was growing up.  

Throughout my childhood, education was a cornerstone in our family; during dinner, my parents, without fail, would ask my brother and me about school and our grades. Although they had never gone to college, they strongly believed in the importance of academics for future success.  

I compare my transition to my relationship with Yu Choy Sum, the staple component of dinner, to the value of education, and, to some degree, the end goal of graduating from college. That goal is very familiar to me; however, like eating Yu Choy Sum, I had little understanding of how to get there. How would I afford college? Who could I speak with, and what should I consider when choosing a school?    

Values and Goals  

Phase one of my transition journey began with clearly identifying and committing to my values and goals.  

In 2000, my family and I emigrated from Hong Kong in search of better opportunities, as there was limited access to education for blind or low-vision individuals. Respecting elders and being part of the family unit are important concepts within the Chinese community. Therefore, appreciating my parents’ sacrifice and emphasis on going to college planted the seed for education early on.  

As I entered my senior year of high school, our dinner conversations often revolved around affording college and about which schools to apply to. The family pressure to succeed academically, although originating from positive intentions, conflicted with messages from school professionals, making me question my values early on. I would often be discouraged from transitioning directly to college after high school; statements such as “You will not graduate; look at the statistics” would be frequently discussed as the professionals believed that first acquiring independent living and blindness skills is a crucial component of transition.  

I did not fully comprehend at the time. Still, this misalignment of values in transition planning conflicted with the narrow definition of success that is espoused by the model minority myth, which is the stereotype that an Asian American is expected to excel in school performance, attend a prestigious university, be passive, and attain career success in science or math fields.  

Both of my identities, (1) a Chinese American daughter and (2) a blind high school student in the United States, was engaged in a battle where I struggled to find balance among these differing expectations. Ultimately, this tension made the first part of my transition more complex, where my decision to value and attend college directly after high school meant that I had less support initially from professionals, which disrupted our trust.  

Research 

The second phase was learning to do my research and consult with my community and mentors. Just like I had to learn strategies to pick the most fresh and tender produce for my meals, I had to narrow my list of colleges by doing in-depth research.  

I spoke with other blind and low-vision folks and called all the disability services offices at universities of interest to evaluate the pros and cons; I learned that transportation systems around the college were also a characteristic to consider because I would not only study but also have to live, work, travel, and socialize around the campus.  

Being blind, I felt it was insufficient to investigate solely through conversations. I yearned to visit the campuses to properly understand the campus environment. I considered visiting my top two choices, UC Los Angeles and UC Berkeley, to help me decide through informed choice.  

When I shared this over a memorable dinner with my parents, my mother said, “Why don’t you go to UCLA? It is close to home. We can help with laundry and bring you soup if you get sick. Besides, Berkeley is so far; how can we visit?” I responded, gesturing to the plate of Yu Choy Sum on the table, “I believe selecting between my top choices is similar to learning how to pick fresh ingredients that nourish your health. I want to explore Berkeley, visit the campus, and determine, based on informed research and experience, whether it is suitable for me. Soon, I may have my own family and have to go to the grocery store and select fresh Yu Choy Sum myself, just like what you did for us. I can’t simply expect it to be cooked and on the table for me; I would like to learn the skills to contribute back to the family unit. Unlike bad produce, if I committed to a school that was not suitable for me, that will be several years of time that will affect my future.” My comparison stuck with my parents, and, despite their fears of having to drive six-plus hours to Northern California, my family took a road trip to the Bay Area, ultimately resulting in my decision to go to Berkeley.  

To this day, I credit the family staple, Yu Choy Sum, as the bridge that supported the communication between my family and me to help us all realize the process of selecting a suitable college and to identify the different tools necessary to get there.  

Expansion 

As I continue to grow and transition in my current life, I have entered phase three, expanding my goals and adding new food staples to my dinner table.  

My experience at UC Berkeley set a solid foundation for me to venture out of my comfort zone and continue my career development. New dinner staples (such as pork chops and Brussels sprouts) have been added to my meal; this represents the new lived experiences I have added to my transition journey, which I bring home and share with my family regularly.  

After graduation from Berkeley, I interned in Washington DC, traveled to Minneapolis to present at national conferences, and now permanently reside in the Bay Area and work professionally as a Transition Program Manager at Lighthouse in San Francisco to empower the next generation of youth and their families with navigating their transition journeys at their respective dinner tables. 

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Tostada: Time for Dessert, Cake

By Jovany Barba  

Time for Dessert, Cake 

When I think of food and celebrations that depict a transition in time, such as Quinceañeras, weddings, and graduations, I picture the intricately layered cake that towers over the other displays, making its presence known.  

That, my friends, is how I depict transitions in life, not separate in and of themselves, but rather layers that build upon one another. And while life is full of transitions, I would like to expand on three significant transitions that have occurred in my lifetime: education, independence, and personal growth.  

Education 

You could say I had a pretty average childhood. I went to school, played with my friends, and got into trouble like most kids. I vividly recall one instance when I was riding my bike down the street and accidentally crashed into the neighbor’s car, breaking the taillight. I was scared to the bone at the moment. Nevertheless, reflecting on this, I believe that this is precisely what my parents wanted to happen. Not necessarily to anger the neighbor and incur a bill, but provide the freedom to make mistakes; to not be sheltered from the world.  

This set me up for success. As a first-generation American, a blind individual, and the family’s firstborn, there was a lot to navigate for my parents and me. My parents, immigrants to the United States, did not understand English. As a result, many decisions revolving around school came down to administrators and teachers.  

I am incredibly grateful that I could attend a public school outside my hometown. There I was able to learn braille and other blindness skills while having a classroom for students who are blind or low vision available on campus and attending mainstream classes.  

Continued Education 

In the Latinx community, the sentiment of machismo, providing for oneself and their family, and being an active member of society holds firm. As a result, even though I am blind, there was no exception, which is why education was a cornerstone of my parent’s philosophy. They would constantly pressure me to do well in school so that I may one day be able to provide for myself and my family. Thanks partly to their support, my teachers’ encouragement, and my peers’ motivation, I excelled in academics, first transitioning to community college and eventually to UCLA. The transitions to those respective schools were monumental moments for me, for I felt that I was making a difference in my family tree, and that I was achieving what people had believed to be possible. Most importantly, I gained greater belief in myself, in the knowledge that I could learn and earn degrees.  

In all honesty, choosing and thriving at my community college and UCLA were not easy endeavors. Yes, there were the typical obstacles, such as learning how to navigate a new campus, the nuances of college life, and leaving the comforts of TVIs behind. However, there was more to consider, given my cultural background and socio-economic status. For one thing, how on earth would I pay for college? My parents had always said, “Either we have a house, or you go to school. You’d better find a way to finance this without needing loans.” Thankfully I did, via financial aid and scholarships. Once on campus, it was up to me to figure out how the disability office works and how to seek resources. Nobody else in my family had done this before, nor did they know who to ask for assistance.  

Thank goodness I am self-determined and persistent in seeking out resources. 

As is life, another transition co-occurred as I continued my post-secondary education.  

Independence 

Through those formidable years, I felt a powerful change taking place inside me. I began attending workshops from Wayfinder Family Services, where, for the first time, I met peers my age outside of academia. Even more significantly, I was introduced to a network of blind professionals who inspired me, motivated and told me that I could have a successful career and live in my own home. I had found a network of happily employed individuals I could see myself in. 

I then incrementally worked my way up to participate in a three-week, seven-week, and eventually a year-long residential program. As much as my parents wanted me to be independent, I felt I would never achieve that if I did not leave the nest. As a result, I took it upon myself to take a gap year from college and attend The Hatlen Center for the Blind in northern California.  

As you can imagine, my parents were not pleased to hear this news. They feared that I would be hundreds of miles away and living on my own. “You don’t even know how to cook,” my mother would say. “You’ll burn the house down and starve to death.” “Well, that is why I am going,” I would tell her. As much as I had excelled in my academics, I felt I lacked independent living skills. It took some convincing, but I took the plunge and moved with their blessing.  

It was not easy by any means leaving the place I had called home for my entire life, but I felt deep down that this was a necessary step for my development. And you know what? Leaving everything and everyone I knew behind was one of the best decisions I could have ever made.  

It’s not easy for Latinx communities to let go of their children. I was never told to leave the house at 18, but I felt I needed to do so for the sake of my independence. I learned and grew in ways I could not have imagined throughout that year. I gained the skills and confidence to cook, grocery shop, travel, manage finances, and even sharpen knives! I knew from then on that with my academic background and newfound independent living skills, nothing was holding me back from achieving my goals!  

At the same time, my family was forced to let me go and see all that I was capable of. My parents would visit every so often, and I would cook for them, take them on outings, and demonstrate the capable person I am.  

Personal Growth 

Lastly, I would like to discuss another life-changing transitional moment. At this point, I had the academics, I had my newfound independence, but there was one more thing holding me back, my sexuality. Growing up, I did not have mentors, nor was there rhetoric about the LGBTQ community in the media. My parents certainly did not discuss LGBT issues; when they did, they were always negative. For years I buried my LGBT identity for fear of the unknown.  

At first, it was not too difficult; I was occupied with getting good grades, working in college, and learning independence skills. All of these things kept me from diving deep into myself. There came a point while living away from home I felt that if I were to be myself indeed, then I had to “transition” into my full identity. 

I put transition in quotation marks because I wouldn’t say I transitioned; I had always been who I am, but instead I transitioned into letting the world know. By no means do I mean to make this a coming-out story, but I felt that this is an important part of who I am as it intersects with other parts of my identity. My culture, religion, and blindness all influence my lived experience.  

To not leave you hanging, I am overjoyed to report that I am accepted and loved by my family and friends despite the cultural difficulties.  

Remember how I mentioned the ornate cake present during celebrations?  I feel it depicts who I am and how I define transitions in my life. The transitions that have taken place in my life are built upon each other. My parents, teachers, and peers provided a robust foundational layer that allowed me to excel in school. Leaving the comforts of home gave me the confidence to thrive independently and network with others. Finally, the top layer in which I came into my own and expressed my previous lived experiences support my true identity. Each of these layers provides the support on which I can stand. I can show the world who I am, where I come from, what I have accomplished, and where I am headed.  

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Main Points and Final Advice 

Now that you have heard three interpretations of transition, we want to leave you with food for thought. The diversity and intersectional identities captured in the previous stories bring to prominence the idea that each person is an individual with a unique background and personal history. A transition plan that works for one youth may not work for another. All who are involved should be open to different ideas and perspectives.  

• For Blind or low vision students who are in the midst of their transition: be encouraged to invite mentors as part of making informed choices. Seek out stories; the more folks you interact and speak with, the broader your knowledge. You may be able to incorporate their experiences into your transition journey. You do not need to do it on your own! 
• For educators and counselors: be mindful of the diversity each student brings. Understand that each youth may be at a different point of their transition journey and have differing interpretations of independence and disability.  
• For family members: recognize that your involvement and perspective are extremely valuable in the transition process. Just as blind or low-vision young adults must venture out of their comfort zone and learn to assume adult responsibilities, the entire family unit must adapt to these changes. Communication and support are critical to successfully transitioning and reimagining this important life stage.  

Whether you converse over a cup of coffee, a side of leafy Yu Choy Sum, or over cake, it is up to you!  

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References 

Cage, C. (2019). Culturally Responsive Transition Planning, Topical Paper. VCU Center on Transition Innovations. Retrieved February 1, 2021, from https://centerontransition.org/publications/download.cfm?id=90  

Conroy, P. W. (2006). Hmong Culture and Visual Impairment: Strategies for Culturally Sensitive Practices. Re:View, 38(2), 55–64. https://doi-org.proxy.library.ucsb.edu:9443/10.3200/REVU.38.2.55-64  

U.S. Census Bureau. (2019). U.S. Census Bureau Releases 2014-2018 ACS 5-Year Estimates. Retrieved February 5, 2021, from https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/news/updates/2019.html  

Zhang, D. (2005). Parent Practices in Facilitating  Self-Determination Skills: The Influences of Culture, Socioeconomic Status, and  Children’s Special Education Status. Research & Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 30(3), 154-162. 

Zhang, Y., & Rosen, S. (2018). Confucian philosophy and contemporary Chinese societal attitudes toward people with disabilities and inclusive education. Educational Philosophy & Theory, 50(12), 1113–1123. https://doi-org.proxy.library.ucsb.edu:9443/10.1080/00131857.2018.1434505