Hope D. Wall was a local pioneer in special education. Born in 1912 in South Dakota, she later moved to Aurora with her family and taught at Brady School. In 1961, parents asked her to help start a school for the mentally retarded. Prior to this time, most children with disabilities did not attend school. Although she had no formal training in working with children with disabilities, she accepted the challenge.
At its inception, Wall was the only teacher at the private, eight-student John F. Kennedy School for the Mentally Retarded, which was in the old post office building. In 1969, East and West districts took over JFK and came together to build the present facility. The current Hope D. Wall School opened in 1971. Wall retired in 1972 and died in 2001 at the age of 89.
Hope D. Wall is a cooperative public school operated by East and West Aurora Districts for Aurora students residing in District 131 and District 129. Services are provided for students from age 3 to 21. The mission of the school is to value diversity in the population, and to promote effective communication among the students, families, staff, and community members.
The Hope D. Wall programs provide an educational service which assist students in achieving their academic potential, providing an educational setting which enhances their emotional and social adjustment and development, and prepare them to function as productive members of society, exercising as much independence as possible.
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