Big Wave Project volunteers and future residents
Big Wave Project volunteers and future residents

A place to belong…for adults with special needs

We are a parent-driven Bay Area non-profit in San Mateo County, creating a unique community and building an enduring home for our adult children with special needs. 

Our shared vision is a lifetime solution of purpose, individual choice, and lifelong friendships for our children, where they can thrive in a community of their peers. 

Our goal is for our children to be able to live in a safe haven that will be there for them when we no longer can be.

special needs adults working on coastal farm

Video by: Nueva Social Impact Filmmaking Club (SIFC) students at The Nueva School

Big Wave Project empowers special needs residents to reach their full potential

Empowering our residents to reach their full potential

More than just a place to live, Big Wave is a place to gather, make friends, learn new skills, and find joy for adults with special needs of all different backgrounds, ability levels, and ages.

Future residents will be able to choose their individual daily schedules consistent with a supported living model.

Many will go off-site to day programs, take classes, or engage in volunteering, and some will work.  They might grow vegetables and flowers, feed the chickens, and enjoy nature on our community farm which serves adults with special needs from all over the Bay Area.

Residents may optionally attend the Culinary Academy and Day Program operated by our ground floor tenant, the non-profit One Step Beyond, which serves Bay Area adults with special needs.

The beach and harbor, which is near the Big Wave Campus, will provide residents with a host of recreational opportunities in a coastal setting, integrated into the greater community.

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What our community is saying about Big Wave...

A community where everyone matters

Our future residents have a wide range of neurodiverse diagnoses from autism to Down syndrome, developmental delay, brain tumor survivor, and Williams syndrome. 

But they are not defined by their disabilities. They enjoy art, music, sports, animals, camping, academics, reading, cooking and more.   

Like everyone, they want opportunities for social and educational enrichment, community engagement, skills training, employment, and financial sustainability.  Many love to engage with the volunteers that come to our Farm.  And all want to achieve their highest potential.

And that’s why we created Big Wave. 

planting raised garden bed at Big Wave Project farm

As of March 2023, Big Wave is accepting applications for a limited number of memberships.