One of HCO’s core missions is to serve and advocate for the special needs community. Building on our officers’ long-standing partnership with a local adult special needs caring center since 2021, HCO has expanded its outreach to create more accessible, inclusive, and meaningful programs for individuals with special needs. Our advocacy and service efforts are driven by the vision of a more inclusive, equitable, and bias-free world—and what makes HCO unique is its focus on empowering youth to lead these initiatives. Under the umbrella of “Youth SMILE 4 Special Needs,” organized in partnership with the Alliance of Youth Leaders in the United States (AYLUS) – Pearland Branch, HCO currently operates five programs: 1. Bucket Drumming for All, which uses music to build coordination, rhythm, and social connection; 2. SMILE Inclusive Play and Learn, offering semi-structured, play-based learning for individuals of all ages; 3. Youth-Led SMILE Camp, a summer program featuring immersive, inclusive activities that foster growth and teamwork; 4. Pearland My PlayClub, a monthly inclusive play event that raises community awareness and promotes social inclusion; and 5. SMILE Pearland, the newest addition - a condensed version of SMILE Camp designed to provide hands-on skill-building and recreation for individuals with special needs in the Pearland area. Together, these programs cultivate youth leadership while creating supportive, inclusive environments where individuals with special needs can learn, grow, and thrive.