Special Needs Advocacy Inc. Kathleen Lehman Memorial Scholarship

The first time I truly began to understand the importance of serving individuals with special needs was during my freshman year of college, when I volunteered at an afterschool program for children with special needs called Frog Aides. Each volunteer was paired with a specific student, and we spent the evening participating in games, activities, and simple conversations. What stood out to me most was that building a relationship did not begin with having the perfect words or approach. It began with patience, communication, and listening. For many of the students on the autism spectrum, connection came through taking the time to understand how they expressed themselves and what made them feel comfortable, safe, and heard. I quickly fell in love with the program and returned every year throughout college. The more time I spent with these students, the more I realized that they were not asking for anything extraordinary. They wanted attention, kindness, inclusion, and the chance to be understood. Through facilitating activities and spending time with them one on one, I saw how meaningful it can be when someone is fully present and willing to meet a child where they are. That experience shaped the way I think about care and service. It taught me that supporting children with special needs is not about applying one universal method. It is about building trust and recognizing each child as an individual with their own needs, personality, and way of communicating. This foundation led me to continue serving children in another setting through my volunteer work at Manning Children’s Hospital in New Orleans, where I worked in the playroom and teen room facilitating games and activities for patients. While volunteering there, I became increasingly aware of how many pediatric patients also had developmental, behavioral, or communication-related needs. That experience opened my eyes to an important gap in care. I noticed that some of the approaches commonly used to help pediatric patients manage anxiety, understand medical procedures, or cope with hospitalization were not always as effective for children with special needs. In many cases, these children needed a more individualized approach rather than a standard step by step method. Seeing this deepened my interest in pursuing a career focused on children’s mental health, especially in hospital settings. I want to help create environments where children with special needs are not treated as though one strategy should work for everyone. Instead, I hope to advocate for care that is flexible, compassionate, and responsive to each patient as a whole person. My goal is to work in a role where I can help children feel emotionally safe, better understood, and more supported during some of the most overwhelming moments of their lives. As I continue my education in psychology and prepare for a career serving children and families, I hope to make a positive social impact by improving the way care is delivered to patients with special needs. I want to contribute to a system that values individualized communication, emotional support, and dignity as much as medical treatment itself. My experiences have shown me that meaningful change often begins in small moments, by listening closely, adapting with intention, and making sure every child feels seen. In my career, I hope to build on those moments and create spaces where children with special needs receive the understanding and support they deserve.