Way to Go! Johanna Bogensberger, Franklin Square

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."