In 1947, Mrs. Bernice Kussell realized that some of the children in the Arizona State Hospital were not being served appropriately. Armed with hope and a belief in a better way of life for these kids with developmental disabilities, she opened her home as a residence for her new family. Having outgrown the private residence in 1951, Mrs. Kussell founded Valley of the Sun School, which later became Valley of the Sun School and Habilitation Center. Operating as a non-profit and private organization, Valley of the Sun School was one of the first of its kind in Arizona. Today we remain a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Our employees deliver services to over 400 individuals of all ages and from many ethnic backgrounds.