Hope School Foundation dba The Autism Clinic at Hope

In 1957, Hope’s founders Dr. and Mrs. Charles E. Jordan searched the United States for a a place to accommodate their daughter, Judith Ann, who has multiple disabilities. In the late 1950’s, national care for people with disabilities was largely relegated to state hospitals and mental institutions. The Jordans wanted a different future for Judy, so they created the Hope School. Hope quickly earned national recognition with its forward focus on inclusion. President Kennedy appointed Dr. Jordan to the President’s Council on Disabilities and other government councils, placing Hope at the forefront of positive change for Americans with disabilities.

Hope is a multi-state nonprofit agency serving thousands of individuals with varied cognitive, physical, behavioral, developmental, intellectual and/or social-emotional disabilities. We have 65+ years of experience providing for the unique needs of children with disabilities. Hope works to create a continuum of care for the people we serve by linking family, health service providers, and staff in a multidisciplinary team for each person’s care plan. Since 1957, Hope has bridged the gap between people with disabilities and the services they so deeply need.

The Autism Clinic at Hope provides personalized clinical and therapeutic services to children with developmental disabilities including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties in communication, social interaction, sensory regulation, abstract thought processing, absorbing and interpreting information plus restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. According to the Autism Society, more than 5.4 million Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder. In 2023, the CDC estimates that 1 in 36 children are diagnosed with ASD. Diagnoses in the United States have increased nearly 200% over the last ten years, and numbers continue to rise.

Hope services include screening and diagnosis, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, music therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Each day, children at Hope Autism Clinics encounter professional, qualified clinicians, specialists, and behavior change agents to increase the children's overall health and well-being. Hundreds of children with disabilities and their families find increased joy and independence by receiving interventions through The Autism Clinic at Hope.