Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nehemiah Lamb. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nehemiah, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission the drives your brand?

The story behind my organization mission, which is building a community where disabilities cease to exist started while I was working as a Director at a YMCA. I was responsible for managing the summer camp, which hosted over 400 children per week and assisting in managing the after school program, which served over 500 children daily.

During my time there I saw that there was a great need in the community for children with disabilities. I worked very hard to incorporate Special Needs programs at the YMCA but always felt that it was not enough. I felt a need to pursue enriching the lives of children with disabilities by offering quality adaptive programs services. This is when I started an organization that provides childcare with a focus on developing self-worth, cultivating positive social interaction and promoting community inclusion, which is called “Unique Individual”.

​In the spring of 2013, I founded Unique Individual, Inc. and in October 2015, I resigned from the YMCA and began working full-time with Unique Individual. The motto for U.I is, “Building a community where disabilities cease to exist”. My passion for the special needs community has grown and my goal is to provide the best quality and unique services that will impact children with special needs in Georgia.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Nehemiah Lamb, I was born and raised in Atlanta, GA. I grew up in with great parents and loving siblings. Growing up, I had my first experience working with children in church. I had the opportunity to become an assistant Sunday school teacher in a Pre-K class and later became a game leader on Wednesday nights for the youth. While in high school and during college, I worked at the YMCA as a lifeguard, swim instructor, summer camp counselor, after school counselor, assistant site director and site director, which increased my passion for working with children.
After graduating from high school, I attended the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, where I was a member of the men’s tennis team. I graduated with a B.S. in Industrial Technology with an emphasis in Construction Management.

Working as a director in a NPO, I was able to see that there was a need in the special needs community when it came to quality and affordable programs and services. I believe everyone see’s the children with “mild autism” or children on the spectrum that are high functioning but they do not see the children ranging from 4 – 22 years old, that needs restroom assistance or those that have severe mental and physical needs. Regardless of there level of care, I believe that they deserve to experience the same opportunities that other children are able to receive. The programs and activities might look “different” but they will enjoy it.

That is why I created Unique Individual and adaptive programs and services that will meet their needs. Every child is an individual and responds, interacts and processes information differently, that is why these children need different programs and services than other children.

Programs and services we offer:

After School Care
Summer Day Camp
In-home Respite Care
Adaptive Swim Lessons
Parental Assistance (We assist taking child to Doctors, Dentist, Speech and OT Therapy appointments)
Social Skills

Have you ever had to pivot?

In March of 2020, the entire world had to pivot in how they operate in business and personal life. Things were definitely different in how we had to perform our programs and services. Working with the population of children we do, and their need for in-person care and services, a lot of services had to make a pivot and make our programs a 1:1, which has taken a huge hit on our bottom line, but we were able to meet the needs of the children and the parents which had to work from home and try to assist with school work.

Overall, everything has been good, and the journey has been full of ups and downs, but those stories add value and experiences, which brings us to where we are today. I have definitely had a few struggles and challenges, which makes the end result that much sweeter. COVID put a stop on a few things that we had in motion, but I’m thankful that we are still moving forward. With the prayers and help of family and friends, we will continue to be here for the special needs community and the families that we serve.

We always look at ways to create partnerships in the community and with local and national businesses.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson that I had to learn was to stay out of people’s pocket. When you are running a business and you have employees, you can not alwaysgive discount to the programs and services that you have. By doing so, you undervalue yourself and the business you have created.

I have come from humble beginnings and I know how tough things can be sometimes for families, that is why I created affordable programs and services to meet families where they are but also keeping the level of quality and care everyone deserves.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.uniqueindividual.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uniqueindividualatl/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uniqueindividualatlanta/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nehemiah-lamb/