Children of Hope Academy

Our Mission:

“To assist parents to help their special needs children achieve their full potential.”

Our Story:

The story of the Children of Hope Academy begins way back in 1976 when Diana and Alton Wade welcomed their beautiful daughter Cindy, who was born with Downs Syndrome, into the world. Not wanting to do what the doctors advised, which was to just take Cindy home and love her or put her into to a state institution where she would not be a burden of time or finances for the rest of the family, they started out on a course of action dictated mostly by inspiration from on high to Diana. In fact in the recent months and years to come, they did opposite of what was advised by the doctors. Through much trial and error they stumbled upon the National Association for Child Development (NACD) in Ogden, Utah and began Cindy in their program. Amazed by the progress Cindy made, Diana became more heavily involved in NACD and started chapters in St. George and Hawaii. Diana became well known in the Down Syndrome circles and began spreading hope and awareness to families who felt defeated by their child’s diagnosis. Diana started with 7 individuals who came to her house daily to learn and do their NACD program with her. Although teaching in her home was comfortable for the time being, for years Diana had dreamed of opening a school where individuals with special needs could come to continue their education, overcome challenges, and defy the odds of what was expected of them. In 2008, they began looking for a space and came upon a run down building that was donated to them. Alton looked to Diana and exclaimed, “There is no way we are doing this!” , to which she replied, “It is perfect”. Through hundreds of hours, members of our community donating their time, labor, and money, the school blossomed from a run down, non usable property to a building that housed light, growth, and hope. Today, this school provides a home to 21 students and continues to see miracles in their lives.

The Children of Hope Academy received its name from the book “Children of Hope, Children of Dreams” by Raymundo Veras. After hearing the other options, the parents of our students felt that this name best incorporated the light and life of their beloved children.

Building Renovation:

Board of Directors

Alton L Wade is one of the co-founders of Children of Hope Academy. He attended Brigham Young University where he received a Bachelor of Science (1959), a Masters of Art from California State University (1962), and a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from BYU (1973). He has worked as a high school teacher, teacher/Vice Principal/Principle of the Church College of New Zealand, Zone Administrator for the LDS Church Educational System, President of Dixie State College, President of Brigham Young University-Hawaii, and Vice President of Student Life BYU Provo. He has been a branch president, Stake President, Mission President of the Washington DC South Mission, Temple Sealer, and Stake Patriarch in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Alton is married to his sweetheart, Diana, and lives happily with his wife, children, and grandchildren in St. George, Utah.

Diana Mae Daniels Wade (Founder) is a passionate activist and voice for individuals with special needs and their families. She graduated with a Bachelors of Science in 1959 from Brigham Young University and continued a life full of accomplishments some of which include; teacher in Long Beach California, Distinguished Service to Family Award (BYU, 2006), Emeritus Life Member- Phi Kappa Phi (2000), Distinguished Service Award (BYU 1994), and the Keynote Speaker at the BYU-Hawaii Women’s Conference (1992). Diana became truly involved when her youngest daughter, Cindy, was born with down syndrome in 1967. She led chapters of the National Association for Child Development in Hawaii and Utah. It was Diana’s dream to open up a school where people with special needs could continue their education, development and show others how truly smart and capable they are. Today she continues to educate others and spend time with her family, which is her greatest passion.  She is the proud mother of 8 children, 36 grandchildren, and 18 great grandchildren.

Sherri Dial is the mother of five children, including her daughter J.J. who has down syndrome, and the grandmother of nine. Sherri has been involved with COHA for over ten years. She is thrilled with the progress JJ has made on her social, educational, and physical skills by utilizing a personalized NACD program. COHA has been amazingly helpful in providing support and direction working on accomplishing JJ goals. Sherri Dial has worked as a Parent Consultant for the Utah Parent Center serving the Washington County Utah School District. She assisted families with children who have disabilities to navigate the services and supports for their children, coordinated and presented workshops, and attended IEP meetings for individual students.  Sherri has also been the Director of Community Action for the Five County Association of Governments, teacher for Early Intervention, Coordinator for Rural Health Scholars, and the Disability Resource Coordinator and faculty member at Dixie State University.  Sherri has a Bachelor of Science (BS) from California State University in Sociology and received a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Southern Utah University.  She serves on the Board of Directors for the Family Health Care Center and (since 2019) Children of Hope Academy.  Other programs she has been involved with include the Southern Utah Down Syndrome Association, Community Action of Utah, Utah Food Bank, Five County Emergency Food Network, Local Homeless Coordinating Committee, and the Family to Family Network.  She has also served on the Utah Developmental Disability Council, Utah Civil Rights Council and Red Rock Center for Independence Board.

Staff