Hope On The Hard Road
Bringing Hope in Journeying on the Special Needs Road
Hope on the Hard Road is dedicated to helping connect and encourage families with children with special needs through programs designed to support the unique needs of the individual, the family, and the community.
They strive to create a supportive network that empowers families by offering resources and community-driven initiatives. They aim to enhance the quality of life for those on the special needs road, ensuring no one feels alone on their journey.
They understand the complexities and emotional demands of the special needs journey. They want to foster a sense of community and understanding and to empower families to face their challenges with resilience and hope.
Get to Know their Story, Eric and Christen Freund
Eric and Christen Freund, co-founders of Hope on the Hard Road Inc., have been married for 24 years and live in San Diego with their adult daughter while their son is away at college. Their journey with special needs began when their daughter was diagnosed with Autism just before her fourth birthday. Drawing on their professional backgrounds—Christen as a Physical Therapist Assistant and swim instructor, and Eric as a high school teacher and coach—they realized that their experiences had uniquely prepared them to support their daughter and other families in similar situations.
After their daughter’s diagnosis, the Freunds faced the challenges of balancing family life with medical appointments, therapies, and educational needs, often feeling overwhelmed and isolated. Through the support of friends, family, and their faith, they found strength and realized many families were experiencing the same struggles. This inspired them to create a ministry team at their church to support special-needs families, which eventually led to the founding of Hope on the Hard Road in 2019. Their nonprofit aims to provide encouragement, connection, and resources to families, fostering a community where families with special needs children can thrive and find hope.
Events Available to Support You
Dads
Dads, they appreciate all that you do for your family. This is a place for you to get connected and to find encouragement on the special needs journey.
Moms
Moms you do so much as a wife, a mom, and a caregiver. They want to provide a place where you can get connected and where you can find encouragement and hope for the road ahead.
Couples
If you are a Dad and Mom raising a child with special needs this is the place for you. Life isn’t easy caregiving for a child with special needs. Due to the nature of your circumstances, you can often feel isolated and exhausted and find it difficult to get the quality time that is so needed with your spouse. Through their Date Night and other events and resources, they celebrate your marriage and all that you do as a caregiving couple. Their goal is to encourage and connect you as a couple and to help bring hope for the road ahead.
Family
Life isn’t always easy for a family that is caregiving for a child, teen, or adult child with special needs. You often feel isolated and alone due to the nature of your circumstances. But they want to encourage you and your family that you are not alone. Their goal is to help your family get connected and be encouraged and ultimately to find hope in the midst of the journey.
Community
To help the special needs community be more connected, they provide resources and host local community events here in the North County San Diego area. You can also connect with them wherever you are through their virtual Parent Support Group or social media.