My name is Kara, I am 21 years old, I have been doing competitive cheerleading for 10 years and am about to graduate the social service worker program at durham college. I have 2 years experience working with special needs adults and children. Working with special needs individuals has become something I am truly passionate about. I get this experience from my college placement and my volunteer work for a special needs cheerleading team. The work I do with these individuals has taught me so much about life, love and more than I could ever learn in a textbook. My hands on experience with many different individuals is so valuable and I am eager to continue my work with them. The biggest lesson I have learned while working with individuals with special needs is how capable they are. When I told my professor I wanted to work with special needs they were quick to tell me it is difficult working with people who have a "disability". I told my professor to see the ability these people have, not the disability. Since then I have taken every difficult moment, saw the ability and saw the good in every situation. My goal is to build their confidence, practice life skills, be their friend and be someone then can lean on for support.