Written By: Aivana Bhatnagar, FCSN Voices Youth Reporter
Graphics By: Eva Luo, FCSN Voices Graphic Artist

In the summer before ninth grade, Saanvi Shah was searching for a meaningful way to give back to the community. She wanted more than just a volunteer opportunity; she was looking for something that would make a real difference. When Saanvi discovered the organization Friends of Children with Special Needs (FCSN), their mission resonated deeply within her and set her on a journey that would transform both her and the students she serves. 

Throughout her first year of volunteering at FCSN, Saanvi immersed herself in a variety of programs, including drama camps, online tutoring, and after-school programs. It was there that she began noticing the daily struggles faced by special needs students. During hands-on arts and crafts activities, like slime making or clay modeling, students had difficulty grasping spoons or shaping figures with their hands. At dance sessions, some students became overwhelmed with sensitivity to bright lights or loud music. Furthermore, as she became more involved with the special needs community, Saanvi realized that there was a significant gap in STEAM exposure and resources tailored to students with special needs. Noticing these issues, she became inspired to create a STEAM curriculum and teach special needs students about science through hands-on activities, while also improving their dexterity skills. In addition, she developed a sensory room, providing a safe and comforting space for students to unwind from sensory overload. 

Saanvi has now been a part of FCSN for three years, teaching at both the Fremont and San Jose facilities. Her science curriculum stands apart from typical classroom models as it is specifically designed for students with special needs. Understanding that each student learns differently, she adapts each of her STEAM sessions to benefit their unique abilities. She also ensures that each experiment is simple, engaging, and reproducible at home using household materials. In Saanvi’s class, learning feels like play; she never fails to be creative and go above and beyond for her students, whether it’s by teaching the parts of the body through games like “Simon Says” and “I Spy,” designing unique experiments with everyday items, or creating bright and vibrant slide shows to keep them engaged. With inventive methods and limitless patience, Saanvi captivates her students’ hearts and minds. She makes every lesson feel like an adventure. By creating this haven of exploration and learning, Saanvi has transformed the educational experience. 

Saanvi’s classes have made a lasting impact on her students, helping them grow not only in their academic knowledge but also in their confidence and communication skills. Many of them have strengthened their public speaking abilities and eventually come out of their shell, feeling more comfortable participating in class discussions.  One student’s experience especially stood out to Saanvi. She had a student named Vihaan who, at the beginning, was very quiet and hesitant to participate. He rarely answered questions, often needing gentle prompting. But over time, Saanvi watched him transform as she exclaims,   “…he started raising his hand to answer questions [without prompting]. He was always really excited to walk into class with a huge grin on his face. We were all so proud of him!” 

For her future classes, Saanvi hopes to introduce new experiments, welcome more students, and continue building friendships. She emphasizes how deeply she cares for her students, saying, “I love all the students, and when I say this, I truly mean it. I always want to keep a bond with them [and] I always check up on everyone individually [at the end of class].” 

One of her favorite memories comes from an elephant toothpaste experiment she conducted last summer. Using soap and yeast, the mixture erupted into colorful foam, much to the students’ delight. “The kids were so excited,” she recalls, adding that, “when they poured the yeast inside the bottle, the whole thing exploded, and spilled over the trays. All the kids just started yelling, ‘This is so fun! Can we do it again?” Seeing their joy reminded her of why she continues teaching, as “their excitement inspires [her] to keep going with these STEM classes.”

However, her creativity was not limited to STEM lessons. After noticing how easily some students became overstimulated, Saanvi designed a sensory room:  a calming space for students of all ages to relax when feeling overwhelmed or having sensory overload. The room is softly lit with gentle music playing in the background and filled with sensory toys to create a soothing atmosphere. Students have found the room deeply helpful; when a student feels overexerted or anxious, they can step inside to take a break where they rest, recharge, and find comfort in activities that bring them joy.

Saanvi notes that society still has significant progress to make in fully embracing and supporting students with special needs. The special needs community is often stigmatized or pushed off to the margins. Saanvi expresses, “I think that’s the first step, if anything, just being open-minded. These students really need our support as a community. The support they need is lacking today.” Acknowledging and addressing the challenges these children face not only benefits them but ultimately enriches our society as a whole, creating a more compassionate and understanding community for everyone.

Website link: https://dancing-dango-8019d0.netlify.app/main.html#about