By Chloe Wayt, PRC-Saltillo blogger
The next day after I had finished working the booth, we went down to the bus stop twenty minutes early again. I prepared something to say if the bus driver didn't let me on again on my NOVA Chat. “Delete that.” Ordered Mom. I quickly deleted it. “I'm sorry.” I told her.
“It's okay. They can only have Mama brown bear once and then the get Mama black bear. So, I'll do the fighting if they don't let you on again.” She explained. My mom is a volunteer advocate for the ARC of Mesa County. The ARC is an organization that fights for the rights of people with disabilities. So she gets very ticked off when she sees discrimination against people with disabilities. Especially if the discrimination is against her own daughter. “Thank you so much.”
I told her as I hugged her. “Your welcome, sweetie.” She responded to my sweet reaction.
A little while later the bus came. And guess what! They actually let the ramp down to let me on this time! “Thank you so much.” I told the bus driver. Mom explained to the bus driver that the last bus driver didn't let the ramp down to let me on. “The driver wouldn't let the ramp down to let her on.” Mom explained. “What did he look like?” She questioned. “He was Asian.” Mom replied. “I’ll see who he is.” She told us.
The bus ride was about an hour long. Some people had to sit on the floor since the bus driver had to put up sets for me. “I'm sorry.” I told them. “It's fine.” They told me. “I don't mind sitting on the ground for an hour.” One girl casually told me.
A short hour later we were at the Mall of America. I was elated! Me and Krista, my friend I meet at the conference who was an ambassador for Prentke Romich Company, Saltillo's sister company walked through the huge gates of the mall with pride. Mom followed far behind us. When she caught up to us she told us to pose for a picture. We posed excitedly in front of the big colorful star sculpture. After Mom was done taking the picture we continued with our adventure.
We went to the aquarium, Sea Life first. I used to be scared and get nauseous in aquariums. But, I am grown out of my aquaphobia. I was mesmerized by the beautiful fish. I even had a shark swim over me! I got to feed shrimps to sting rays. I enjoyed watching them swim over each other to get the frozen shrimps.
I also got to go to the American Girl Doll Store. I brought a American Doll that I have been wanting since she came out last year. Her name is Luciana Vega. She is of Chilean descent. She is a space nerd girl like me. She has a purple streak in her hair. This will be my third American Girl Doll. I also have Kit and Sage. I also brought the Rover. I am saving up for the Space Habitat Dollhouse.
I was getting a little hungry. So, I went to Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. I ordered Popcorn Shrimp from the kids’ menu. It was delicious! This was my second time to eat at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. I ate at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company when I went to Pleasure Pier in Galveston, Texas. “Going to the aquarium and eating the animals I just saw.” I remarked. Mom laughed out loud.
I went to the Lego Store. I have a good friend back home who wants to be a Lego Designer when he graduates from college. He also really likes Star Wars. So, I brought him a little Star Wars Lego kit. I wanted to buy him a giant Star Wars spaceship kit, but it was too expensive. So, I just brought him the little Star Wars lego kit.
It was getting really late. It was also time for the SuperShuttle accessible van to return. People started to arrive at the bus stop. The bus driver let the ramp down to let me on. After I got on, the other people got on. People had to sit on the floor since the bus driver had to put up sets for me, again. After that we rode in the van for an hour again back to Mystic Lake.
When I got back to Mystic Lake an hour later, I immediately crashed on the bed after getting ready for bed. It had been a long day and I needed some rest before flying back to Colorado the next day.
The following morning I woke up and got ready for the day. Our flight was in the afternoon so I didn't have to wake up ridiculously early like I normally do when I fly. That was really nice! After I got ready for the day I went back down to the exhibit hall of Closing the Gap to say goodbye to Krista and Lydia. They were sad to see me leave but we were all tired.
At the end of the day I discovered that my voice was important that it deserves to be heard if I speak from my heart and speak up with truth for myself and others. That moment meant that I was strong. I learned that not all people our kind and I need to let my light shine through in the darkest of circumstances. This experience reinforced my beliefs about civil rights by me being civilly discriminated myself. This experience gives me purpose by knowing that I can be the change and knowing that there's more to me than the outward shell.
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Communicators In Action - Closing the Gap, Saltillo, ambassador, chloe, communication, aac