By: Jessica Amaro
The sister of a special-needs woman by the name of Christine. Christine is in her late 20s and has Williams Syndrome. Williams Syndrome is an intellectual disability that is extremely rare and which there is no cure. People with Williams Syndrome have characteristics which include: an outgoing social nature, an exuberant enthusiasm, a sense of the dramatic and over-friendliness among others. Jessica has always enjoyed spending time with her sister and strived to provide her sister with the best quality of life possible.
In 2009, years after graduating high school, Christine expressed an interest in attending prom again. Christine’s unwavering desire to go to prom again paired with Jessica’s passion for events and her love for her sister became the catalyst for a special-needs movement that would not only impact the life of her sister but also make a difference in the lives of young adults with disabilities throughout South Carolina and the Low Country.
It was a year later in 2010 that Jessica founded For The Exceptional in response to her sister dreaming of simply going to prom and has since then operated in alignment with a vision that has given our community much more. For The Exceptional is a Charleston-based non-profit organization on a mission to provide interactive social outlets to young adults with disabilities while providing their parents and the community with information, support and resources. Since 2010 Jessica has been responsible for bringing together hundreds of special-needs young adult and their families using A Very Special Prom as the tool of connection.
A Very Special Prom is a free opportunity for exceptional young adults to experience the excitement and social interaction of a formal prom, but created with their needs in mind. This prom serves students in the Charleston Metro Area and surrounding cities with prom participants between the ages of 14 to 30. Jessica believes that “their physical and mental disabilities may limit their attendance and active involvement in their local high-school prom or similar festivities but should not limit them from having the experience that they need and deserve.”
With the success of A Very Special Prom other venues have been spawned and others are on the drawing board. For example, Jessica hosts A Very Special Boutique, which provides special-needs males and females with free prom attire, accessories and shoes. Through the creation of an interactive shopping experience and teacher-assisted shopping, exceptional young adults are able to prepare for prom in a relaxed and inviting environment. Many community organizations, formal shops and local Goodwill Industries have donated to this cause and provided dresses, tuxedos or vouchers to her boutique.
In September 2014, Jessica began hosting Exceptional Saturdays which provides temporary relief for the caregivers of teens with intellectual disabilities, and is a fun-filled day of hands-on activities that is nothing short of spectacular!
Running a non-profit and creating partnerships is not always an easy task. However, Jessica has been dedicated to meeting the needs of participants as well exceeding their expectations. She also goes into the local high schools and offers them something that would benefit all students: Exceptional Communication training for non-special education students and one-on-one coaching for exceptional individuals.
In just a few years Jessica has been able to work with several schools, dozens of local businesses and countless state agencies to make all of these events possible. While building For the Exceptional, Jessica earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational management, a master’s degree in management and leadership and several certifications that include but are not limited to event planning, behavior modification and personal development.
Last year, at just 29 years old, Jessica was recognized by the Charleston Business Journal as one of Charleston’s best and brightest young professionals under 40. In addition to gaining support from local outlets and schools, she has been able to forge a great relationship with the Major of North Charleston, Keith Sumeny.
Jessica is a great sister, devoted wife, loving mother of two children, but most of all she is a woman who is making a difference!
For more information on Jessica, For The Exceptional or to contribute, donate or volunteer go to: www.ForTheExceptional.com or email: jessica@fortheexceptional.com or call: 843 603-Info or 843 460-7337