Way to Go! Johanna Bogensberger, Franklin Square
Johanna Bogensberger of Barry Tech Center in Westbury. Credit: Photo by
Johanna Bogensberger is using her love of art to help fellow special-needs children.
A student with autism at Nassau BOCES' Joseph M. Barry Career and Technical Educational Center in Westbury and the Alternative Learning Program in Hicksville, she has designed a T-shirt that she is selling to raise money for awareness and prevention of bullying in special-education settings.
She came up with the idea after being bullied at a public school several years ago.
"When I began middle school, it was probably the hardest time I ever faced," said Bogensberger, 17. "One night, my mom and I sat down and thought what we could do to help others that are bullied."
The first T-shirt design is a black-and-white sketch of two women that Bogensberger said "just came to her" and is sold in her mother's store, Baskets Bellisimo in Franklin Square. So far, Bogensberger raised $200 that was used to fund a lecture by a special-education lawyer to a support group for parents of bullied children that meets at the store.
"There are bullying programs in every school, but not really one for special-needs kids," said her mother, Josephine. "If we can stop one child from going through it, then Johanna's efforts are worth it."
What local police departments do to combat the problem Suffolk created a street takeover task force in 2024 that has broken up more than 100 incidents in the county.
What local police departments do to combat the problem Suffolk created a street takeover task force in 2024 that has broken up more than 100 incidents in the county.
