by Kotumu Kamara

(Editors' Note: Kotumu Kamara delivered the following testimony before the Minnesota House of Representatives' Judiciary Finance and Civil Law committee, in support of our parental rights bill. Kotumu is a member of our state board of directors and a mother of two. This is just one illustration of why Minnesota law must be strengthened to protect the rights of families).

Madam Chair, members of the committee: ...

I moved to this country in 2003, after which I learned how to live and work independently as a blind person. I earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Minnesota. I now teach English Language Learners who happen to be blind. I passionately support HF2458 because I don’t want other blind parents to go through the same experience that I had.

I came home from the hospital on a Sunday after my daughter was born. The next day, I received a call from a social worker saying that she wanted to come to my home to check on me and the baby. At the time, I thought it was strange, but I assumed this was typical for all parents in the United States. She came to my home for several days, watching me feed, change, and overall take care of my daughter. When the social worker came for the last time, she said that she thought that I was doing well.

Of course, I was doing well! I took classes, learned from my sister’s experiences as a mom, and did everything I could to prepare for my baby’s arrival. Oh, wait, she assumed a blind woman would struggle. When she left, I realized that—based on her commentary—this was not normal. Our best guess was that someone at the hospital feared that I was a danger to my baby … only because I am blind. I am now the mother of two healthy, happy, and intelligent girls.

I was (and still am) hurt and angered to realize that this woman had entered my home solely because of my blindness and the belief that I would have trouble caring for my daughter based on this one characteristic. I was lucky: I had the education and the blindness skills to care for my child, but I think about what if I hadn’t? Would I have received support or had my child removed from my home solely due to my blindness?

I’ve seen the positive impact that mentoring and hands-on demonstration can have to equip blind people with the skills and the confidence to be productive, contributing members of society … including being amazing parents.

This bill will protect the rights of blind parents, requires that courts prove that they have considered supportive parenting strategies including mentoring, and puts the burden of proof back on social service workers … not on an already stressed, new parent.

Sighted parents can receive support. Blind parents should be given the same chance to raise their children.

Thank you.