neighbors
A�WONDER�UL �RO�ESSOR� AT SETON HALL UNI�ERSIT� IN�LUEN�ED HER �AREER �HOI�E�
Fredericks , who grew up in Clifton , pursued a masters degree at Seton Hall . She became a graduate assistant to �r . �illiam Formaad , who she says inspired her to become aspeech�language pathologist . “ �r . Formaad advocated for learning through play ,” she says . He showed me how to combine my interest in special education , which was my original college major , with a more specific skill set that would be difficult to practice in a larger classroom setting . And he taught me how to do this within a play structured environment .” His approach re�ects one ofher favorite �uotes : “ They may forget what you said , but they will never forget how you made them feel .”
SHE AND HER HUSBAND WERE �OSTER �ARENTS�OR �ORE THAN �� �EARS�
In 1988 , Fredericks and her husband started providing a home for children under state care . Because administrators at the �epartment of Child Protection and Permanency knew she was a “ special educator ,” she says , the children who were placed with them tended to need the most speciali�ed care . Amother of three , Fredericks says that her youngest daughter joined her family through her and her husband ’ s association with �CP�P .
SHE HAS HELD �AN� AD�INISTRATI�E ROLES IN ORGANI�ATIONS THAT HEL� �HILDREN �ALL WHILE �AINTAINING A �RI�ATE�RA�TI�E�
For several years , Fredericks was the president of what was then known as the Passaic County Foster Parents Association , and worked with other foster families to provide services for children in the system throughout Passaic County . She is also a founding board member of Passaic County Court Appointed Advocates �CASA� , as well as the Circle of Care for Families and Children of Passaic County Care Management Organi�ation . She continues to serve as a board member of Passaic County Circle of Care .
“ My biggest joy continues to be working with those students who others might consider the most challenging ,” she says . “ I love to be able to demonstrate to others how much even the most different-learning children are able to accomplish given the encouragement , support , tools and training they re�uire .”
SHE WANTED THE BOARDS TO BE �USTO�I�ABLE , SOTHE� �OULD WOR� IN DI��ERENT SETTINGS�
“ I chose core words because , once they ’ re learned , they ’ re used over the course of a lifetime , regardless of age , activity , and environment ,” says Fredericks . Examples of these are “ go ,” “ open ,” “ yes ” and “ no .” She refers to these as “ forever ” words . But she also designed the communication panels to be versatile so they could work in bilingual neighborhoods . For example , “ A playground board in Paterson has been developed for the Lou Costello Playground that is in both Spanish and English ,” she says .
SHE HAD HEL� �REATING THE �ORE WORD �O��UNI�ATION STATION�
Fredericks ’ daughter Lauren is a graphic designer who continues to assist her mom in turning her visions into reality .
SHE HAS �RE�ARED INSTRU�TIONS SO DISTRI�TS THROUGHOUT THE STATE �AN DE�ELO� �ORE WORD �LA�GROUND BOARDS�
After the �ayne playground boards got a lot of positive attention , the New �ersey Speech-Language- Hearing Association asked Fredericks to create a “ blueprint ” for custom communication playground boards . She presented it last year at two conventions and made it available for public use at njsha . org�for-the-public�library .
HER �LANS EARNED �UDOS �RO� AN INTERNATIONAL AUDIEN�E IN ORLANDO�
Fredericks presented her “ blueprint ” at the 2022 Assistive Technology Industry Association gathering in �anuary , where it received a lot of interest . “ The presentation was very well-received , with many indications that individuals from many different states are now inspired and have the tools to create custom playground boards within their own communities ,” she says . ■
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SPRING 2022 WAYNE MAGAZINE