Bella Smiles for Developmental Disabilities
About the Founder
Born and raised in Uganda, Teddy comes from a walk of humble beginning. Teddy’s story is long but in short here is the version:
Teddy started her journey as a social worker right from childhood where she had to advocate and care for almost eleven siblings back in Uganda. Teddy then moved on to complete her bachelor’s in social science at Makerere University -Uganda.
At World Vision Uganda
Right after her graduation , Teddy joined World vision Uganda: https://www.wvi.org/ where she was a community worker and there she served children who were basically orphanage due to HIV /AIDS in Kyanamukaka-Masaka Uganda for almost three years.
Relocation to New York - USA
From World vision Teddy then got married to her sweet heart and moved to New York-USA which was a cultural shock “ the city that does not sleep” so busy Teddy , with the love for children was lucky to start working as a case worker with almost three different foster care agencies(Family and Children’s services, Graham Windham and Jewish Board for Children and families) where she attained almost eleven years of experience in child welfare in America. Teddy as she hustled the life in America obtained a scholarship and attended Columbia University school of Social Work right in the heart of New York -Manhattan where she obtained her Masters Degree in Social work.
By then Teddy, was struggling in her marriage she had medical condition called endometriosis : https://www.endofound.org/ which caused her to undergo IVF treatment to get her first child. With joy Teddy and her then husband received their first baby Sabrine who later was diagnosed with autism at two and half years : https://www.autismspeaks.org/ with all these new developments , Teddy experienced domestic violence which led her to relocated to Washington state where she struggled and was assisted by two main organizations Step by step please read Teddy’s story at: https://www.stepbystepfamily.org/ and Catherine’s Place https://www.catherineplace.org/
Before she knew it Teddy had relocated with no job, with a special need child and she was pregnant . Teddy had her second daughter in 2015 named her Sabella . At this time Teddy was working with Washington state and continues to work with the state with Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) Teddy also works as a per-diam social worker in the Emergency Room(ER) with Catholic Health Initiative(CHI) where she encounters people who need assistance due to mental health crisis and homelessness.
Teddy is a mother now to a child Sabella with Rett Syndrome: https://www.rettsyndrome.org/ when Sabella was diagnosed Teddy who was dealing with her own medical challenges(fighting cancer twice) had gone through mastectomy and a reconstruction, it seemed like bad luck was striking Teddy from all corners but Teddy kept two things at heart; her smile and trust in God.
Its these two that have motivated a single struggling mother of two special needs children to start a nonprofit to support families like hers pave the way to empower and provide evidence based approaches to services for children with developmental disabilities in Uganda.
