Special Learning: A Global Leader in Autism and Special Needs Education

One in every 68 American children is on the autism spectrum, with a tenfold increase in prevalence in the last 40 years, which counts for over 3 million individuals in the U.S and tens of millions around the globe. There is no established explanation for this continuing increase, although improved diagnosis and environmental influences are two reasons that are often considered. However, the fact to be noted is that one can always overcome autism by leveraging technology advancements.
Karen Chung, Founder and CEO of Special Learning identified this global problem 7 years ago and set about doing something about it. Thus, with a vision to help over a billion people around the globe with autism and special needs, Special Learning, Inc., an education technology company that exists to help the 70+ million people in the world with autism to attain a higher quality of life, came into service.
Special Learning: Changing the lives of Individuals with Autism and Special Needs
Special Learning provides 24/7 access to the world’s most effective early intervention therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). ABA-based training tools and resources are available as a one-time purchase or as a subscription, depending on the product or user’s preference.
Special Learning is improving the lives of millions of people around the world with autism and other developmental disabilities by teaching how to properly use ABA, the only evidence-based autism treatment method, to people who provide education, support and care to individuals on the Autism spectrum.
Special Learning’s basic, intermediate and advanced course curriculum designed by leading experts are being conveniently used by parents, clinicians, therapists, paraprofessionals, and educators. Also, the Special Learning package that includes extensive libraries of relevant materials, expert articles & blogs, and live webinars is getting highly preferred by clients.
With a mission to provide those, who care for and treat individuals on the autism spectrum and with special needs, with the most helpful and effective resources to assist in helping each student reach their full potential, Special Learning is paving their way to new heights. Presently, Special Learning market reach spans nearly 100 countries, many of which sorely lack adequate numbers of therapists to treat those in need.
Karen Chung: Driving force and Innovation Behind the Mission
As an entrepreneur and investor, Karen has had active involvement over the past 15 years in several businesses in various industries including executive search, investment banking, real estate development and high-end retail.
A native of South Korea, Karen immigrated with her family to the United States in 1975 and obtained her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Northern Illinois University and a master’s degree in Business Management from Northwestern University.
Karen is an active member of the Kellogg Graduate School of Management and is a frequent guest speaker on the topics of entrepreneurship and private equity. She is also a founding member of a new graduate-level degree program which focuses on Women’s Leadership at Benedictine University. At Special Learning, Karen is the driving force and innovation behind her mission to become the most comprehensive special needs provider in the world.
Leveraging technology and Easing the burden
Special Learning respects and admires those who are at the front lines in education and believes that teaching is truly a vocation that requires a unique day-in-day-out commitment. Before joining Special Learning, a number of their team members have previously worked directly in the education system and thus, they are well aware of the diverse challenges students, teachers and parents face.
The team strives every day to use technology easing those challenges for students, teachers and parents, and talks internally all the time about simplifying their needs. The team believes in being easy to use and interact with and knows how to distinguish between having world-class training, tools and resources available, and making it work for the client every single time. Also, they use technology to gather feedback from their clients as a part of their continuous improvement commitment.
Ethics training has been the particular area, Special Learning is being recognized around the world and for which, they have partnered with Dr. Jon Bailey, one of the world’s foremost experts, to conduct monthly live and interactive webinars.
Looking beyond the Dawn
“We see education continuing to adapt to the lifestyle and needs of the user. As many institutions have begun thinking through how the curriculum can be best offered and delivered is strategically smart. Teaching for enduring understanding should be our mutual goal,” asserts Karen on the future of education.
Also, Karen assures, “We are very excited about some changes we will be launching in the near-term to enhance our client’s experience while providing them more options as to how they may choose to use our products. We understand it’s about choice, ease and reliability. We are continuously listening to our clients and act swiftly in response where we think we can improve.”