Meet Our Founder

My Story

As a childhood victim of sexual assault, I experienced firsthand the challenges and barriers to reporting such trauma. This personal journey ignited a passion within me to advocate for those who may be voiceless. During my Masters Program, I conducted research on the alarming prevalence of sexual assault among neurodiverse individuals. This research also led me to uncovering a terrifying reality, neurodiverse individuals also make up an alarming number of the criminals charged with sexual crimes. My decade of experience in Applied Behavior Analysis revealed a significant gap in sexual health education tailored specifically for neurodiverse individuals, compounded by a lack of interest from parents who often view these discussions as "taboo". This empowered me to create iHOPE.​

My Mission is to empower families by providing essential support and resources for navigating critical topics such as puberty, friendships, intimacy, dating, boundaries, independence, consent, housing, and transitioning into adulthood. Together, we can foster open dialogue and create an environment for neurodiverse individuals to thrive as they transition into adulthood, independently and safely.​

"Disability should never disqualify anyone from accessing every aspect of life.” – Emma Thompson