Founded with the mission of promoting awareness and action in support of Special Education.
We aim to create diverse and inclusive schools serving children with special needs in countries with minimal access to such educational environment.
CHANGE THROUGH PASSION
OUR BENEFICIARIES
children with special needs, up to the age of 22
OUR TOOLS
advocacy, training & collaboration
OUR INITIAL TARGET COUNTRY
Ethiopia
WHO WE ARE
A group of volunteers bound by the same cause
OUR TEAM
Aida Amare, B.S. Specialize in Special Education (Autism Spectrum Disorder)
Aida Amare is an accomplished advocate, educator, and community leader dedicated to advancing autism awareness, education, and inclusion across diverse communities. With more than 17 years of lived and professional experience supporting individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), she has become a trusted voice in the field, bridging families, educators, and professionals through evidence- based practice and collaborative leadership.
Aida’s advocacy is deeply personal. As the mother of a 19-year-old son with Autism Spectrum Disorder, she draws from firsthand experience to guide her approach to training, program development, and family engagement. Her lived experience gives her unique insight into the challenges families face and the importance of creating practical, compassionate supports that empower individuals with autism to thrive.
As the Founder and President of Hope for Special Education, Inc., Aida leads professional development programs that empower educators, clinicians, service providers, and families worldwide. Through Hope, she has coordinated autism and behavioral management training at Addis Ababa University and Black Lion Hospital in Ethiopia and jointly led an eight-week virtual Foundations of Autism course. She also co-taught the first Two-Tiered ASD Certificate Program in Evidence-Based Practice in Ethiopia, supporting participants through instruction, practicum observation, and certification.
Aida’s educational background includes a Master of Arts in Special Education (Autism Spectrum Disorder), a Bachelor of Science in Business Accounting, and training in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) through the UCLA Early Childhood Partial Hospitalization Program.
In addition to her leadership at Hope for Special Education, Aida is also the Founder and President of The Peer Spot, Inc., which offers individualized life skills and community integration programs that help neurodiverse individuals build independence and social connection.
Aida is also an active presenter and keynote speaker, having shared her expertise at the CAPTAIN (California Autism Professional Training and Information Network) Evidence-Based Practice Conference, Disability Awareness Month for the East San Gabriel Valley SELPA, and community events throughout Los Angeles. As a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Representative for the Walnut Valley Unified School District (WVUSD), she has collaborated with educators and administrators to improve transitions and strengthen inclusive practices for students with disabilities.
Recognized for her outstanding service, Aida has received multiple awards for excellence from her district and the SELPA. She also co-established a classroom for children with disabilities at a religious organization, where she helped design and teach an inclusive Sunday School program for children with ASD, demonstrating her commitment to inclusion beyond the classroom.
Through her combined work with Hope for Special Education and The Peer Spot, Aida continues to build bridges between cultures, systems, and families. Drawing on her personal experience and master’s- level expertise in special education, she empowers communities through evidence-based, compassionate, and inclusive approaches to supporting individuals with autism.
Sharon Floyd, B.A. Psychology, M.Ed. Education
Director of Education, Hope for Special Education, Inc.
Sharon Floyd is a highly respected educator and leader with more than 30 years of experience in the field of Special Education. As the Director of Education for Hope for Special Education, Inc., she brings deep expertise in curriculum design, teacher training, and program implementation for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and related developmental disabilities.
Ms. Floyd holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree. She also possesses multiple teaching credentials, including Education Specialist credentials covering elementary through transition, Multiple Subject, Early Childhood, and Elementary Moderate-Severe. Her extensive professional training includes TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children), Advanced TEACCH, Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS) Advanced Level, and Discrete Trial Training.
Throughout her distinguished career, Ms. Floyd has taught across a variety of instructional settings, including Resource Specialist, Self-Contained, and Inclusion classrooms, with a strong emphasis on supporting students with autism. She previously served as an Autism Program Specialist and Autism Program Coordinator for the East San Gabriel Valley SELPA in Los Angeles County, where she oversaw 30 specialized autism classes. In these roles, she trained and supported teachers, instructional assistants, related service providers, and administrators in developing effective and inclusive classroom practices.
Ms. Floyd is also an active Leadership Team Member for CAPTAIN (California Autism Professional Training and Information Network), where she provides training and consultation in the implementation of Evidence-Based Practices (EBP) for autism. Her impact has reached international audiences through her presentations at the International Association of Special Education (IASE) Biennial Conference in Windhoek, Namibia, as well as her two-day Autism and Behavioral Management training at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. She also co-taught an eight-week virtual Foundations of Autism course, reaching educators and professionals across Africa.
As Director of Education at Hope for Special Education, Ms. Floyd developed and implemented the first comprehensive Two-Tiered Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Certificate Program in Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Ethiopia. This innovative program equips teachers, aides, and parents with both foundational and advanced training in autism education.
With her extensive knowledge, leadership, and passion for inclusive education, Sharon Floyd remains a driving force in advancing professional development and improving outcomes for individuals with autism and other special needs.
Luis Jimenez
Board Member
Luis Jimenez has over twenty years of digital marketing and product management experience. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management Information Systems from California State University, Northridge. Luis was born in Colombia, South America, and emigrated to the U.S. in the early eighties.
He has spent half his career running his own marketing agencies and the other half working for large global marketing and advertising agencies, serving clients like World Wildlife Fund, Audi, Nike, Levi’s, and others. Most recently, Luis was recruited by Google to lead the launch of the Google Assistant Smart Displays and is currently the Head of Creative Program Management for the Google Cloud brand. Luis has a passion for education and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. He is excited to take a hands-on role to support HFSE’s mission
Samson Tilahun
Treasurer and Fundraising Coordinator
Mr. Tilahun is alumnus of California State University-Northridge, with a degree in Business Administration, International Business option. Since 2005, Mr. Tilahun has held concurrent positions with Oceanside Homehealth Inc and Enterprise Holdings LLC, as a member of the Human Resources & Payroll Department, and the Rental Sales Team, respectively, where he was responsible for generating a million dollars in annual sales for the last five years.
Marylyn Tilahun
Secretary and Special Projects Coordinator
Mrs. Tilahun has 8 years prior experience working with government agencies and non-profit organizations overseas, implementing special programs for underprivileged youth. Currently, Since 2010 she has been in the financial services industry involved with faith-based, immigrant community organizations and individual families working towards the goal of bringing financial education and world-class financial services to every home. Mrs. Tilahun is an alumna of Ohio University with a degree in International Affairs, focused on International Development Studies.
Samuel Tesfay, MD.
Board Member and Physician
Samuel Tesfay, MD, is a physician currently working in The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG) in Walnut Creek, CA. He is a board-certified gastroenterologist working as a clinician involved in active patient care servicing a large population within Central and East Contra Costa and Tri-Valley Area of Alameda County (Diablo Service Area) in Northern California. Dr. Tesfay, was born in Ethiopia and came to the United States in 1989, graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine in 2001 and continued his medical profession in Internal Medicine and specialized in Gastroenterology. He has been practising in the field of gastroenterology since 2008 and is currently serving as a Director of Inflammatory Bowel Disease for the Diablo Service Area within TPMG.
Hagerey Mengistu
Board Member and Special Education Attorney
Miss Hagerey Mengistu has helped and continues to help clients in the areas of Special Education, SPED, and Immigration Law by representing and guiding students and parents in the Due Process Request and hearings as well as educating and empowering parents to advocate for their children. She attends IEP meetings and develops and implements SPED advocacy presentations at local community organizations. Miss Mengistu is currently the Principal Attorney at the Law Offices of Hagerey A. Mengistu since 2013 and an alumna of the San Diego State University, graduating Cum Laude, and the California Western School of Law.