Frdous’ Story

At the age of five, Frdous was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa. Now 42 years old, she also manages a rare genetic congenital disability that includes a unique movement disorder, which has yet to be named due to its extreme rarity. She is believed to be one of only three people in the U.S. with this neurological condition. As a result, Frdous experiences significant impairments in her sight, speech, and physical movement, as well as a slight hearing impairment.

During her adolescent years, the disease prevented her from attending school in person, robbing her of the opportunity to receive a high school diploma. Frdous was enrolled in a regular school, but by the end of her eighth-grade year, she faced significant challenges with seeing the blackboard and reading her assignment books. These difficulties became so overwhelming that she felt her only option was to drop out of school. This decision was especially tough for her, as she once dreamed of attending college and pursuing a career.

Frdous shares that she was raised in a Sephardic Jewish Syrian culture, and said, “Although things are changing now, when I was growing up, it was not uncommon for women to receive less education than men. Instead, women were expected to be married, and marriages were usually arranged. When I was seventeen, I was married to a man who my parents chose for me. Therefore, I was expected to be a housewife who cared for my husband and my home. Sadly, my marriage was not a happy one and it led to years of isolation and dissatisfaction. It was not till my divorce sixteen years later that I could begin focusing on my education goals and start making a life for myself.”

An Opportunity to Achieve a Dream

Her dream of getting an education came back to life once she met Lead Assistive Technology Instructor Chancey Fleet at the Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library. After sharing that she wanted to get her GED, Fleet connected her with a counselor at the New York State Commission for the Blind, who then connected her with Lighthouse Guild. 

An Introduction to Lighthouse Guild

In 2018, Frdous’s counselor reached out to the Academic Program at Lighthouse Guild, marking the beginning of her journey to prepare for the GED exam. She was initially assigned to study math with instructor Myra Schiff, who retired shortly after Frdous began the training program. During this time, she was also learning Braille from instructor Audrey Schading. Frdous had a wonderful experience working with both of them, stating, “I enjoyed my training with Myra, and my training with Audrey is positive and exciting. I looked forward to attending my classes with her each week.”

Frdous feels a special connection with her current Lighthouse Guild 

Academic Instructors, Gabriella Oldham and Theresa Chinheya. She says, “They are very patient with me, and they understand that I have a speech impairment. They work with me so it doesn’t stop me from achieving my goal.” To assist with her speech impairment, Frdous is on a waiting list to receive an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device. In the meantime, she communicates with her instructors by using a keyboard to text her responses on her mobile phone. Frdous added, “I always look forward to seeing Gabriella and Theresa because they are helpful to me and they are always fun to be around.”

The High School Equivalency (HSE) examination training program has been extremely helpful to Frdous in taking her first step in achieving her goal and it helped her to pass her first official GED exam in Reasoning through Language Arts (RLA) with a high score. When she was nearly ready to take the RLA exam, she had multiple practice sessions with Vision Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) Instructor Monica Torres, who also served as her GED exam reader, working under Gabriella Oldham’s guidance. Excited about passing her test with a high score, Frdous said, “When I passed the test, I couldn’t believe it, and it made me feel very happy and proud of myself. It motivates me to continue with my studies so I can pass the other three exams.” 

Currently, Frdous is undergoing training in Math, Social Studies, and Science. She has developed a huge interest in United States history, so it makes sense that Social Studies is now her favorite subject. 

Orientation & Mobility Training Makes a Difference.

Having a vision impairment has significantly impacted Frdous’ daily life. She finds it challenging to use the stove for cooking due to the fear of getting burned. When she drops small items on the floor, like a pill, she struggles to locate them and often needs her mother’s assistance. This has also instilled a fear in her when walking alone on the street, as she only feels comfortable when accompanied by a sighted family member. However, she is making great progress in this area. She stated, “After undertaking Orientation & Mobility training at Lighthouse Guild, I have learned how to use the cane properly and how to travel safely. Now, I’m feeling more comfortable going outdoors alone.”

Keyboard training has also been helpful to Frdous, who said, “It has helped me to increase my typing speed and I always look forward to seeing the Keyboarding instructor Dennis Farro because he’s very nice and helpful to me.”

About Lighthouse Guild

Regarding Lighthouse Guild, Frdous said, “Lighthouse Guild staff are very kind and helpful, and they’re helping many blind people in a lot of different areas. I’m learning a lot from all my instructors and my experience with them is very positive.” 

Frdous said, “Lighthouse Guild is helping other people who are blind or have a vision impairment by assisting them in getting their high school diploma and learning different technologies like keyboarding, computers, and smartphones. 

Frdous acknowledges that Lighthouse Guild’s Academic Program Senior Academic Instructor, Jacqueline Suh has been a helpful ambassador for her and said, “Jacqueline read the GED reading and writing practice test to me, she conducted meetings with me and my commission counselor whenever my authorization expired and assisted me with getting reauthorized.”

Jacqueline Suh worked closely with Judith Katzen, Director of Rehabilitation, to secure the necessary accommodations for Frdous, due to the complexity of requirements for her multiple disabilities, including meeting twice with the GED Accommodations team to clarify and obtain approval for her special accommodations. As a condition for their approval, Frdous had to pass a GED Ready (official GED practice) test in one of the subject areas. Suh administered the practice test in RLA, which Frdous passed, paving the way for her to subsequently take and pass the official GED RLA exam. Suh stated, “Frdous has what it takes to reach her goal of getting her high school equivalency diploma. Passing the language arts, one of the more difficult tests, with a high score has given her a confidence boost that will surely help her go the distance.”

The Future is Looking Bright for Frdous

Currently, Frdous is not sure what she wants to study in college, but she’s thinking she may want to attend Brooklyn College and study computer science. After college, her goal is to work in an office setting that doesn’t require speaking. Frdous enjoys reading, listening to modern and classical music, taking long walks, surfing the internet to learn about new things, and spending valuable time with her boyfriend. 

Frdous recommends the Academic Training Program, stating, “It’s the first step for any blind person who plans to achieve their goal of obtaining a GED.”