Copyright © 2002 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Cindi Botts, during her job shadowing experience at the Cherokee Nation.

TAHLEQUAH, OK - Cindi Botts, 22, is a member of the Cherokee tribe, a wife, a mother, a student, and a master of sign language. She is deaf, but that doesn’t stop her from continuing her education and shooting for a prosperous career.

Botts started the Business and Technology program at the Indian Capital Technology Center in August 2001 and has quickly soared to the top of her class. She should graduate from the program in May 2002.

"She is a joy to have in class, she does not separate herself from the other students and we don’t treat her any differently", said Kathie Morris, instructor at Indian Capital Technology Center. "She fits right in and communicates well with the other students."

Botts has an interpreter, Cheryl McFarland of Tahlequah, who goes with her most of the time. McFarland communicates the teacher’s instructions through sign language. Botts has even given two Power Point Presentations in front of the class.

"The students really enjoy her presentations, she makes good eye contact and delivers them well", Morris said.

McFarland has been on hand to translate the sign language presentations into spoken words for the class to understand. As of this time, no other students in the class or instructors know sign language.

As part of the Business and Technology curriculum, students must serve as a job shadow in an area business for a day. Botts chose the Cherokee Nation Realty office as the location where she would serve as a job shadow and learn about the working in a business atmosphere.

"I'm typing letters about real estate", said Botts, who would barely stop typing long enough to do the interview. Botts enthusiastically says she hopes to find a career with the Cherokee Nation after completing the Business and Technology course.

"I would like to work here at the Cherokee Nation", Botts said through her interpreter. "I like typing and sending letters, filing, and keeping things in order."

According to Morris, Botts’ career goals are for a position in data entry where she can sit in a quiet area and not have to communicate a lot with other people.

Botts was not born deaf. When she was two years old, she developed meningitis, which lead to the loss of hearing and speech capabilities. This proved to be only a minor set back for Botts who graduated from Tahlequah High School in 1999. She and her husband Tim live in Tahlequah with their daughter, Alyssa Marie.