Creating Communities Where Individuals with Disabilities Can Live, Learn, Work, and Thrive
For many families raising children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, one question quietly grows more urgent over time: What happens when our children become adults?
For Susan Houghton, that question became deeply personal as her son Robby approached adulthood and prepared to age out of the traditional school system. Like many parents navigating similar circumstances, she began searching for long-term living options and support systems that would allow adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live meaningful, connected, and independent lives.
What she discovered was a major gap in housing and supportive services throughout the Bay Area.
Rather than accept the lack of options, Houghton and a group of parents and community leaders decided to create something themselves.
That vision eventually became Sunflower Hill, a nonprofit organization founded in 2013 with a mission to create “places and spaces” where individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, can live, learn, work, and thrive as valued members of the broader community.
Today, Sunflower Hill has become one of the East Bay’s most recognized nonprofit organizations focused on supportive housing and life-enrichment opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
At the heart of the organization’s journey is a belief that people with disabilities deserve not only care, but also belonging, dignity, opportunity, and community connection.
The organization’s first residential community, Sunflower Hill at Irby Ranch in Pleasanton, has become a groundbreaking model for supportive and affordable living designed specifically for adults with I/DD. Residents live in a vibrant community environment that encourages both independence and connection, while also offering programming and opportunities designed to help individuals continue growing socially and personally.
For many families, the development represented far more than housing. It represented peace of mind, stability, and the possibility of a future where their loved ones could continue thriving in a supportive environment.
Susan Houghton’s own son, Robby, is among the residents at Irby Ranch — a full-circle moment that reflects the deeply personal roots of the organization’s mission.
But the vision did not stop in Pleasanton.
With more than 26,000 individuals in the greater East Bay region diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the need for affordable supportive housing continues to grow rapidly. Sunflower Hill has since expanded its efforts with additional communities currently in development in Dublin and at 949 Moraga in Lafayette.
These projects aim to build environments that go beyond simply providing apartments. The goal is to create spaces where residents feel connected, empowered, included, and supported as active participants within their communities.
Over the years, Sunflower Hill has also become known for another important part of its mission — the Sunflower Hill Garden at Hagemann Ranch in Livermore.
Spread across a one-acre organic garden, the project combines sustainability, food security, vocational learning, and community engagement into one unique program. Individuals with I/DD help plant, maintain, and harvest more than 150 varieties of fruits, vegetables, and herbs grown annually at the ranch.
Approximately 5,000 pounds of produce, herbs, fruits, and eggs are distributed free of charge each year to local nonprofits addressing food insecurity throughout the region.
The garden creates a powerful full-circle experience. Participants are not simply receiving support — they are also giving back to the wider community through meaningful work and contribution.
Managing the garden operations is Garden Manager Victoria Chavez, who helps oversee the agricultural and the ongoing cultivation efforts at Hagemann Ranch. Working alongside Program Manager Olivia Christensen, the garden has become both a learning environment and a symbol of the organization’s larger philosophy: creating opportunities for inclusion, participation, and purpose.
Programs at Sunflower Hill extend beyond housing and gardening. Irby Ranch residents and other community participants also engage in enrichment programs, life-skills development, wellness activities, arts, recreation, and cooking classes. Some of these classes are offered in partnership with other local nonprofits, including Culinary Angels, helping create opportunities for social interaction, practical learning, and community participation. The programs are very popular as many feature live performances -including magic shows, cheerleaders, dance lessons and live music.
The organization’s impact also depends heavily on a dedicated team of staff members, volunteers, board members, advisors, and partners administration and outreach, and continue expanding awareness throughout the East Bay.
The name “Sunflower Hill” itself carries special meaning.
Sunflowers are often associated with warmth, loyalty, strength, vibrancy, and joy. They are known for following the sun throughout the day, symbolizing resilience, positivity, and energy. For the founders, the sunflower became a fitting representation of individuals and families who continue moving forward with hope, determination, and purpose.
What began as a conversation among concerned parents has evolved into a growing nonprofit organization helping reshape how communities think about housing, inclusion, independence, and opportunity for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
For Susan Houghton, the journey has never been solely about buildings or programs. It has been about creating a future where individuals with I/DD are welcomed, valued, empowered, and given the opportunity to truly thrive.
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