In 51 years, Nancy Johnson had never known her birth mother. In the fall of 1987, Johnson began her quest to find the woman who gave her up for adoption when she was 3 months old.
"I was driven, yes, obsessed. Everything else fell to the bedside," Johnson said. Johnson had been put up for adoption in Kansas City, Mo. After years of trying to find the woman, including several months of researching in various libraries throughout the Midwest, Johnson located documents that would reveal the answer.
"I went to the juvenile courts, public libraries and colleges until I found the papers with my mother's name," Johnson said.
On Jan. 14, 1988, Johnson contacted relatives from her birth mother's family.
Now, Johnson and other members of the Adoption Knowledge Affiliates conduct monthly meetings that assist and educate those interested in locating family members disconnected by adoption. The search program offers pointers, online sources and emotional support for those in the process of reuniting with family members.
"Sometimes the experience may have a good or bad outcome, but I know that everyone I've ever asked says that they would do it again, no matter the outcome," Johnson said.
The search assistance program is one of many offered by the group that encourages and educates everyone in the adoption community, also known as the "triad," which includes birth parents, adoptees and adoptive parents.
"It is a great opportunity for people to hear the other's perspective and to learn from each other," said Fiona McInally, a member-at-large and an adoptive parent of two.
Created nearly 13 years ago, AKA is a non-profit organization that educates the community about adoption issues. Every third Thursday of the month, the organization hosts a general meeting in which guest speakers are invited to speak on issues that range from Internet adoption to cultural awareness in adoption. AKA also provides educational workshops, an emotional support group and a quarterly newsletter.
Joellen Peters has volunteered and attended AKA meetings for 12 years. Peters is an active member who has used many of AKA's resources, such as the search assistance program and the lending library, which provides books that deal with adoption.
"I was able to work with AKA when searching for my birth parents. They offered helpful steps and support," she said.
According to Peters, the biggest piece of help that AKA offered was the opportunity to meet others with similar experiences.
"I was able to see other birth mothers and learn what it may have felt like for my own mother," Peters said.
Janie Cravens, the owner of a private adoption agency for more than 25 years, is an avid supporter of the AKA.
"AKA offers a unique and wonderful service for the people of Austin," said Cravens, a regular guest speaker at AKA general meetings.
At the meetings, Cravens addresses issues that range from cultural gaps to, "So you're thinking of adopting?" which provides the pros and cons of different types of adoption.
The American Adoption Congress and the Texas Coalition for Adoption Resources and Education recognize AKA as a valuable resource for information about the adoption process and link to AKA from their Web sites.
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