Senator Joel Lourie receives the painting Dolphins from Yasmeen Zakkary. Senator Joel Lourie was presented with a painting by a young artist, Yasmeen Zakkary, in recognition of people with disabilities.

Yasmeen has Atypical Rett's Syndrome, a rare genetic neurological disorder. Yasmeen is the daughter of Marti and Mike Zakkary of Columbia. Senator Lourie visited with Yasmeen, her parents, Lyssa Harvey of the Art and Play Therapy Center of South Carolina, and Mary Leitner, executive director of the Richland and Lexington County Disabilities and Special Needs Board.

Senator Lourie was presented with a colorful

piece titled Dolphins.

Yasmeen, who has had her pieces exhibited at Edventure Museum, has been working with at the Art and Play Therapy Center for approximately four years. Her grandfather in Syria has been a particularly tremendous inspiration to Yasmeen. He is an artist and eagerly encourages Yasmeen to continue doing what she loves and what she says makes her "feel good and powerful."

Yasmeen and her family were among the many people at the state house to advocate on behalf of people with disabilities. More than 500,000 South Caroli- na residents and families are impacted by severe lifelong disabilities, including autism, head injuries, spinal cord injuries, mental retardation and related disabilities.

Yasmeen receives services from the Richland/ Lexington Disabilities and Special Needs Board; although, in recent months her service coordination service was reduced because of the recent budget cuts.

March is Disabilities Awareness Month.