Thea Harp-Moore, studio art senior, returned to school after a 30-year hiatus in order to pursue her aspiration of working with handicapped children.
Harp-Moore, 53, said she developed the desire to assist children with handicaps after her daughter suffered a seizure as a child and faced some developmental issues as a result. She took her daughter to a daycare for children that have problems in general areas. Harp-Moore said the daycare helped her daughter tremendously, and it got her interested in doing similar kind of work.
“I decided this was the path for me and it is something I have seemed to work well in, and I have seemed to be able to connect with them,” Harp-Moore said. “Someone helped me with my daughter at one time, so it makes you feel good to know you can give back to someone else in some way.”
Harp-Moore said she finds working with children with disabilities extremely gratifying.
“It is fulfilling to know that I can bring something to them and they bring something to me, as well,” Harp-Moore said.
Harp-Moore said it is rewarding when she sees handicapped individuals make improvements, and to know that she was able to assist them in their progress.
“It’s kind of like with your own children,” she said. “You like to see the strides they make, the miles they surpass. When you become a caretaker for children like that, it is the same way — you want them to make those strides, and it fulfills you to know that you helped them do that.”
Although Harp-Moore is working toward a bachelor’s degree in studio art, she hopes to go to University of Louisville and attain a master’s degree in psychological counseling with a concentration in art therapy.
Harp-Moore said her dream job is to work with children with autism or Asperger’s syndrome.
“They have trouble communicating and interacting with people,” Harp-Moore said. “Through art therapy, I hope to teach them they can communicate in other ways.”
Harp-Moore said she has always felt well-suited to working with children who have disabilities.
“It was always something that just felt right and drew my interest,” Harp-Moore said. “It has always been a recurring pattern in my life, so it just felt like it was the right thing to do.”
Harp-Moore said her love for children has allowed her to make a strong connection with them.
“I have always had a love for children,” she said. “I guess I get that from my parents because they always loved children.”
Dee Pilkerton, 40, is the volunteer coordinator of Harbor House, an adult daycare center for individuals with disabilities, where Harp-Moore volunteers. Pilkerton said Harp-Moore is the epitome of what she looks for in a volunteer.
“Thea is the most energetic, sweet, understanding volunteer,” Pilkerton said. “I couldn’t say enough about her. She is just genuinely fantastic.”
Pilkerton said she feels Harp-Moore’s personality will lend itself well to the field she aspires to enter.
“She is so at ease with our participants, and she is comfortable — that goes miles,” Pilkerton said. “She is absolutely in the perfect field for her.”
Robin Lawrence, fine arts senior, developed a friendship with Harp-Moore after having several classes with her and said Harp-Moore has a giving nature.
Lawrence said she feels Harp-Moore will be excellent at helping children with handicaps.
“She will do great because her heart is so big, she just cares about everybody,” Lawrence said. “She is everyone’s mom. If you have a problem, she is very supportive.”
Regarding the parents of children with disabilities, Harp-Moore said she encourages them to not give up on their children.
“There is always things that kids can achieve, and that’s why we don’t give up on kids,” Harp-Moore said.
Harp-Moore said by coming back to school so many years after graduating high school, she hopes to instill in younger students the notion that nothing is unattainable.
“I hope they see that if someone my age can come back to school, then anyone can at any time,” Harp-Moore said.
By ANNIE MALKA
Staff
amalka@umail.iu.edu
