Hawah Belleh has always loved helping people. It’s something that was a huge part of her life well before she moved to the United States from Liberia, West Africa. Belleh, who now lives in Alexandria, Virginia, has devoted her life to making sure those with special needs always have an advocate.
Her inspiration comes from her sister, who was diagnosed on the autism spectrum.
“Back home, we didn’t know anything about autism, so we didn’t know what was going on with her. When we came to the United States, that’s when we found out she’s autistic,” Belleh said.
Now, she’s been in the caregiving field for 15 years. She currently works in therapeutic recreation for the city of Alexandria and as a private contractor helping families with special needs children. Belleh focuses on her pediatric clients’ individual needs and works with the parents to determine what will help them manage their own needs, such as picking children up from school.
She has learned that it’s important for caregivers to put in the effort to understand everything special needs individuals could be experiencing, because that understanding can make a world of difference.
Belleh said that even small things can make a huge difference in her clients’ lives. She recalled an instance that particularly touched her heart involving a 7-year-old boy.
“I have this participant in my group who would cry and cry,” she said. “He’s nonverbal, and I kept trying to understand what was going on, because my sister used to do the same thing. I would separate him from the group, and I would get down on my knees and ask him questions about what could possibly be wrong. Finally, one day he pointed at his belly, (meaning) that his tummy hurt. That just made everything make sense that his tummy hurt and we didn’t even realize it.”
Working with special needs children brings joy and difficulty, Belleh said.
“(The work) comes with its challenges, but I am a very patient person and I’m persistent and very passionate about what I do," she said. "So, for all of the kids, I fully support them to help them strive and reach independence. They want to be independent and we try to help them do as much as they can on their own. I love all the challenges. I’ve had people tell me, even people I know, that I go above and beyond, and I say, ‘Yes, that’s my job.’”
In fact, in her nomination for Belleh, Deanne McNulty praised Belleh for her dedication.
“Hawah gave our daughter the time and space to trust her and built a relationship that has blossomed,” McNulty said. “We can trust Hawah in every way. She has built routines that allow our daughter to grow and become a part of our community. People know both of them and go out of their way to greet them and reinforce the progress our daughter is making.”
Belleh’s jovial demeanor adds to her optimistic spirit, something her coworkers and Belleh herself say is contagious.
“I’m a very happy person,” she said, smiling. “When I come to work, everybody knows Hawah is in the building. I’m always happy. I’m always smiling, because I woke up this morning and I’m alive. So I’m so grateful. I always have that gratefulness in me. I love everyone unconditionally.”
