Laisha’s Story

In 2009, Laisha had a health crisis. She was diagnosed with Lupus, but fortunately, she says at the moment, it is not affecting her. It was in 2016 when another crisis occurred — Laisha noticed she was having issues with her vision. She could not see people from a distance, and it was thought that she needed prescription glasses. However, her vision worsened, and the glasses did not help. Laisha says, “I saw multiple vision experts and rheumatologists to get answers, and they were unsure what was happening. I had several laser procedures, and they ended up making my vision worse.” 

In 2017, Laisha’s mother moved the family from the Dominican Republic to New York for a new opinion on her eye condition. After connecting with retinal specialists at Columbia Presbyterian, Laisha was diagnosed with Uveitis and considered legally blind. Uveitis is an inflammation in the eye’s middle layer, called the uvea, which includes the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. The uvea supplies blood to the retina. If not treated quickly, it can lead to complications and vision loss. Laisha began receiving steroid infusions and then had four eye surgeries following the diagnosis. She says, “I have no vision in my left eye, and I have slight vision in my right eye, which is what I work with.”

Educational Path

Laisha attended the High School for Media and Communications. She says, “It was great. The school provided me with access to the Educational Vision Services (EVS) program that gave me my first mobility and technology training. I learned to use the white cane, and I had someone walking around the campus with me as a guide. I also got to learn Braille. The training at the school was life-changing.” She went on to major in the performing arts at Bronx Community College and successfully graduated in June 2023. 

Connecting to Lighthouse Guild

In early 2018, Laisha’s vision teacher, mobility instructor, and career path instructor from the EVS program informed her about the New York State Commission for the Blind, which connected her to Lighthouse Guild.

At Lighthouse Guild, Laisha worked with a mobility instructor who gave her advanced training on using the white cane. She learned how to navigate sidewalks, cross streets, and handle everything in between.

“I am grateful because they also provided me with a social worker to help me,” Laisha says. “They guided me to the appropriate contacts at Lighthouse Guild to help me be independent.” 

She shares, “One of the most important things to me was the cooking lessons. Those classes were extremely helpful and beneficial. Not only were they fun for me, but they were also meaningful because I used the cooking training that I received daily. 

Young Adult Tele-Support Program

In 2020, Laisha joined the Young Adult Tele Support Program. Outreach and Referral Coordinator Lisa Miller informed her about the program. Laisha says, “When she told me, I recall saying to her, ‘Do you mean to tell me that there is a group for people like me?'” 

Laisha shares, “It has been a wonderful experience. In school, I never felt like I was able to fit into anything. There wasn’t anyone else like me. Being legally blind, I did not make a lot of friends in high school, and since I was using a white cane, most people were afraid to approach me. Having a group of people, I can talk to about things that happened to me during the day or experiences that happened to me is extremely helpful… It feels good to talk to others who can relate.” 

Laisha shares that Coordinator of Youth Programs Jaydan Mitchell is “an incredible human being, and we need more of him in the world.” She continues, “I am so thankful for everything he has done to help me. Jaydan always has the right words and guidance to help all of us in the meetings with whatever we are going through. Everything he says in the tele-support group meetings is powerful and helpful.”

“I feel like every time I tried to find a place to fit in, whether in high school or college, it didn’t work because I was the odd one, and no one could relate to what I was experiencing,” Laisha says.  “And now, it is such a nice feeling to have that space and freedom where I can talk about things that I cannot talk about to other people.”

Technology Path

Laisha works as a Social Media Coordinator. She also participates in Lighthouse Guild’s Tech Pals, a program that matches young adults (aged 18-24) who are blind or visually impaired to serve as technology mentors to older adults aged 55+ who are also dealing with vision loss. The mentors teach the older adults how to use accessibility features and apps on their mobile phones and tablets. She feels very happy to have the opportunity in Tech Pals to work on her technology skills and give back to the community of people who are visually impaired. Laisha says, “It’s a wonderful experience and the older adults who participate in the program are inspiring. Helping them feel confident by learning skills such as how to use a mobile phone makes my day.” 

Laisha shares that on the first day of the program, a mentee wanted to learn to use a mobile phone to call and text their family. They felt that they relied too much on their family, especially their daughter, and wanted to be able to use their phone on their own. During the session, the mentee learned and then successfully called and texted their family members. Laisha says. “We were all so excited for them that we clapped and cheered. It was an awesome moment.”

Laisha feels the program is successful due to the people who lead it — Director of Rehabilitation Judy Katzen and Program Manager Eddie Perez. She says, “Eddie is a team player and leads by example. He provides constructive feedback on my technology skills along with guidance on how best to communicate and engage with the Mentees in a way that is not only respectful but also enables them to be more receptive to learning.” She is thankful for Eddie and Judy. She shares that they make the team of mentors feel very comfortable when they reach out for guidance or to simply discuss a situation.

“The other Mentors also make my job easier,” Laisha says. “We all help and support each other. It is a great opportunity to work with other people who are visually impaired, as I normally do not.” She continues, “They understand the nuances of being visually impaired or blind in a work setting. It is refreshing.”

Good Advice

When asked what she would advise someone who is newly diagnosed with vision impairment, Laisha says, “I would tell them what I would have wanted to hear when I was 17 and discovered I was having vision loss, which is be nice to yourself. Try not to be so harsh on yourself because, at the end of this road, everything will fall into place. Right now, I cannot assure you that everything is going to be fine because it’s probably not, but somehow, and in some way, you are going to accept who you are because you are not your visual impairment; you are you.

Laisha says, “If someone who is visually impaired gets the chance to go to Lighthouse Guild, know that you are going to be helped, and you will feel secure by the services they provide to you. They are doing everything possible to help you succeed in life.”

Future Path

Laisha’s life goal is to continue spreading awareness about resources to the community of people who are visually impaired. She says, “I plan to help others become more aware so they can access the necessary services they require. I know there was a time when I started losing my vision that it would have been helpful to me if I had more information.” 

Laisha performs with Epic Players, a neuro-inclusive theatre company that opens the stage to all types of artists and seeks to shine a light on neuro-diverse talent. She says “It is an opportunity to share who I am as a woman who is disabled as well as perform.” It is also another avenue by which she can reach her important life goal.