How It Started

OUR Story

Maria Hernandez, founder of Dream Hope & Believe.

"When my child Gabriella was born with Down syndrome, I discovered a new world I never thought existed. I saw this as an opportunity that God gave me to give passion to something in my life; the only way to have passion is to feel it. I was given the opportunity to understand how, why, and when to do what I am doing now. I went through what all the parents that come to our office go through.


After my daughter was born, I dedicated myself exclusively to caring for her for two years. She had open-heart surgery when she was three months old and later got pneumonia at four months old. Overcoming challenge after challenge throughout her life, knowing that knowledge is power, and that power gives us the ability to do what is right, I decided to go back to school and professionally learn what I was already doing.

I accepted the challenge, and I prepared myself to do it the right way to serve others going through what I was living. I can now teach others coming behind me that having a child with special needs brings us a new way to do and see things. Some people think that having a child with special needs is a curse, and it is not a curse but a blessing.


Graduating as an Occupational Therapist and having work experience opened the door for Dream Hope & Believe to become a reality in June 2016. Nothing states better what we do than our name. We have a lot of hope for our children, and we believe they will achieve what they need to accomplish in their lives, hence Dream Hope & Believe."

How It Started

OUR Story

Maria Hernandez, founder of Dream Hope & Believe.

"When my child Gabriella was born with Down syndrome, I discovered a new world I never thought existed. I saw this as an opportunity that God gave me to give passion to something in my life; the only way to have passion is to feel it. I was given the opportunity to understand how, why, and when to do what I am doing now. I went through what all the parents that come to our office go through.


After my daughter was born, I dedicated myself exclusively to caring for her for two years. She had open-heart surgery when she was three months old and later got pneumonia at four months old. Overcoming challenge after challenge throughout her life, knowing that knowledge is power, and that power gives us the ability to do what is right, I decided to go back to school and professionally learn what I was already doing.

I accepted the challenge, and I prepared myself to do it the right way to serve others going through what I was living. I can now teach others coming behind me that having a child with special needs brings us a new way to do and see things. Some people think that having a child with special needs is a curse, and it is not a curse but a blessing.


Graduating as an Occupational Therapist and having work experience opened the door for Dream Hope & Believe to become a reality in June 2016. Nothing states better what we do than our name. We have a lot of hope for our children, and we believe they will achieve what they need to accomplish in their lives, hence Dream Hope & Believe."

Love Is in the Air

Meet The Team

Our Values

Our team believes that everybody is capable, and everybody deserves a chance. Our children are unique, and it does not matter how big the challenge might be; it is possible to overcome it with confidence, optimism, respect, courage, and caring for others. We teach our children that they have to serve and care for each other, and we lead by example.

Service with Empathy

We teach our children who are more functional to have mercy, love, and compassion to help others who may be less functional. Love, mercy, and compassion are what we see when one of our kids helps another to walk safely while being at the park, which for us, is an excellent accomplishment besides treating any special need.

Service & Growth

Our Vision

Our vision is to keep helping each of our children to achieve all of their goals. Our founder dreams of a place where all children can go regardless of age and experience life without restrictions or disabilities. A place where children can play, swim, draw, interact with nature, learn how to love each other, and learn how to respect and connect with animals.


As our founder says, "My dream is for children with special needs to have a space where they can do what they need to do on their own and have fun. Being able to cook simple meals, do their laundry, and all those common things that may sound simple for some people but are a dream for others."