After volunteering with the Light&Salt Association, a nonprofit organization that specializes in supporting individuals with special needs, I discovered the students' passionate responses to art. I was introduced to a new side of their creativity, joy, and self-expression. Inspired by this experience, I designed and initiated an art therapy program for individuals with special needs under my nonprofit, Seedling Sun Foundation.  

   

Through a collaborative partnership with the Art to Hearts Association (ATHA), we successfully launched the program, creating a welcoming space where children with special needs could explore art as a tool for expression, confidence, and understanding. The initiative quickly became a source of inspiration for our entire team.  

   

We designed a variety of activities, from creating Christmas greeting cards for parents and teachers to using geometric forms to build colorful illustrations in “Shapes Town,” a children's book. With the help of volunteers, they were even able to write the story for this book. We also introduced digital art using Procreate on iPads, which proved to be a breakthrough. Experimenting with Procreate's unique variety of tools and features proved to be more exciting for the children than traditional crafts or pen and paper. Using this new medium, they saw their ideas come alive instantly, boosting both creativity and enthusiasm.  

   

Proud of their new creations, students showed off their work to volunteers and parents whenever possible. We even found them constantly asking when the next art activity would be. After sessions, volunteers were also approached by parents, who thanked them for their hard work and praised the program’s impact. Additionally, or us, it turned out as we had hoped. Art, under proper care and guidance, is the perfect tool in sparking joy, creativity, confidence, and belonging in any child.