Multiplying Hope & Opportunities to Thrive for People & Families Affected by Disability/Mental Health/Trauma
Why? The Need
Some statistics that drive JP’s Ability Hope are:
Nearly 20% of the world population has a disability. That’s 1 out of 5 people.
In the U.S. 1 out of 3 households has someone with a disability. So it doesn’t matter where you live. Every neighborhood has special needs.
In the U.S., only 11% of congregations has a formal special needs ministry (1 out of 9 churches).
80% of adults with a disability are unemployed or underemployed.
Why? It’s personal!
Disability became personal to me in 2014.
Our son JP was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
That diagnosis was a world shaker.
JP (not even age 3 yet) would need long-term special educational care that wasn’t available in France where our family was living & doing ministry.
Our family of 6 moved back to the U.S. As we tried to navigate this new path of disability, we discovered there wasn’t a manual, road map, or GPS about how to help us. And we met an ocean of families affected by it.
During the past decade, my passion & career have shifted to this world of disability.
Disability affects all ages & stages of life.
My “adoptive” mother, Mary Ann, struggled with Alzheimers & dementia her last decade. They gradually took away her skills & independence. She died in January 2025.
Since 2014 I have connected with other families, schools, congregations, camps, businesses & non-profit organizations who are working to serve this special needs population.
JP’s Ability Hope began in 2022 in order to focus completely on this 20% of the world population with a disability.
In 2023, opportunities to help in France opened up. Having to leave France in 2014 allowed for training & experiences in disability ministry that now allow us to help the disabled in France today.
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Interested in learning more about disability or working together on specific opportunities?
Can we help you multiply opportunities in your church or community for people with special needs?
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