St. Matthew's House prep cook on a mission to help others with disabilities in Fort Myers

At the St. Matthew's House Women's Shelter in Fort Myers, Fre'daysha Ladson is prepping for lunch. Her work as a prep cook isn't just about her dream to be a chef; it's about overcoming any seed of doubt in her mind. "I feel like I can make an impact on people's lives that have a disability," Fre'daysha said. After struggling with anxiety and a learning disability of her own, Fre'daysha dreams of giving opportunities to others with disabilities one day. People in her corner, like "Ms. Choice" DuCree, have seen her growth. "She has come a long way from the beginning to now," Ms. Choice said. In April, Fre'daysha won the How I Reach Employment Hall of Fame Award from the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities. "Moving forward from that, you can always conquer and achieve your dreams and goals," Fre'daysha said. She hopes her journey encourages others living with disabilities to dream just as boldly. "Don't let that stop you from getting what you want. Always achieve from it. Conquer it. Determined, brave, unique, and beautiful. Just go for it," Fre'daysha said. Those who love her hope she keeps striving one recipe at a time. "I hope that she reaches out and doesn't give up," Ms. Choice said. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.