Hope Services is Silicon Valley’s leading provider of services to people with developmental disabilities and mental health needs. “Developmental disability” means a severe and chronic disability attributable to a mental or physical impairment that begins before adulthood, such as intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, and Down syndrome. In addition, we serve those who have mental health conditions. We serve approximately 3,500 people and their families in six counties and provide a broad spectrum of services.
Hope also operates a number of businesses to raise funds and provide employment for people with developmental disabilities, including a recycle/reuse business for clothing and household goods, auto donations, HopeTHRIFT stores, and staffing solutions for businesses.
Our History
More than 60 years ago, a group of concerned parents of children with special needs came together to change the way young people with developmental disabilities were treated. These courageous parents believed that their kids deserved the same opportunities as everyone else.
Among their earliest achievements was opening one of the first preschools for these children. In 1952, 12 children with developmental disabilities walked through the door of a one-room schoolhouse in San Jose and entered a new world – a world where they could receive an education and make friends.
The founding families of what later grew to be Hope Services left a lasting legacy that reflects the simple philosophy that has guided the mission of Hope: to improve the quality of life for individuals with