Special Learning
Special Learning is a Chicago-based ABA education and training company that delivers continuing education, RBT training, parent curricula, and remote therapy (V-CAT) for the autism community, serving 32,000+ customers across 140+ countries through a BACB ACE-approved platform of 671+ courses.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Special Learning does
Special Learning is a Chicago-based private company founded in 2010 by Karen Chung that delivers Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) education, training, and remote therapy services for individuals with autism and the professionals and families who support them. The platform offers 671+ courses spanning BACB-approved continuing education for BCBAs/BCaBAs (32 CEUs for $199/year), RBT training, foundational ABA courses, the Journey to Independence curriculum, and a suite of free interactive clinical tools (Visual Schedule Maker, Social Story Creator, ABC Data Collection, Autism Screening Checklist) that require no account. The company holds BACB ACE Provider authorization #OP-14-2437 continuously since 2010 and additionally operates the V-CAT program delivering BACB-certified remote ABA therapy internationally through secure video.
The business operates a hybrid e-commerce, subscription, freemium, and professional services model. Revenue comes from recurring CE subscriptions ($199-$299/year or $49/month for All Access), one-time training purchases ($29-$199), V-CAT professional services gated by free consultations, organization/team licensing with volume pricing ($249/seat at 5+ seats), and a free-tool-driven lead capture funnel. Primary customer segments are families/caregivers, BCBA/BCaBA professionals, RBTs and behavior technicians, special educators, ABA agencies, and allied health professionals across 140+ countries. The company is founder-led by CEO Karen Chung with co-founder Michele LaMarche, has 11-50 employees, and discloses five small funding rounds totaling approximately $675K between 2011 and 2015 with no subsequent disclosed rounds. Strategic partnerships include ESBAP (hosting ethics tools and a directory of 8,553 ABA providers), Step By Step Academy (clinical content pipeline), and Dr. Michael Wagner (screening checklist content).
Special Learning firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Special Learning
- Legal name
- Special Learning, Inc.
- Website
- https://special-learning.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Special Learning is a Chicago-based ABA education and training company that delivers continuing education, RBT training, parent curricula, and remote therapy (V-CAT) for the autism community, serving 32,000+ customers across 140+ countries through a BACB ACE-approved platform of 671+ courses.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Special Learning industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Applied Behavior Analysis Training
- NAICS
- Other Schools and Instruction (6116), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Autism Teacher Training & Professional Development (EDAKAKAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ), Autism Assistive Technology & Learning Tools (Educational) (EDAKAKAM), Special Needs Skill-Building & Therapy Learning Apps (Autism, OT/PT, Life Skills) (EDAFAKAJ)
Keywords
Where Special Learning is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Special Learning business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- CE Library Subscriptions: Annual subscriptions providing access to BACB-approved continuing education courses. CE Library provides 32 CEUs for $199/year. Build Your Own (All Access) provides unlimited access to full catalog for $299/year or $49/month. CE Bundles focused on specialty areas (Early Childhood, Adolescent/Adult, School-Based) at $199/year each. Revenue is recurring subscription with annual billing, with monthly option for All Access. Knowledge-check questions embedded per BACB ACE participation-monitoring standard.
- Training and Curriculum Products: One-time purchases of structured courses and curricula including RBT Training Library ($99), ABA Level 1 ($199/$29), Journey to Independence Curriculum Level 1 ($79), Early Learning Sampler ($199), Autism Parent Kickstart Program ($129). Revenue is one-time license model with 12-month access from purchase date.
- V-CAT Remote ABA Therapy: Paid virtual ABA therapy program delivered by BACB-certified behavior analysts. Starts with a free 60-minute consultation; ongoing therapy is a paid service with pricing discussed during consultation based on specific needs. This is a professional services revenue stream.
- Organization / Team Licensing: Team licensing, seat-packs, and state-specific programs (including PA IBHS) for agencies and organizations. Volume pricing for multiple seats. Organization dashboard for assigning training, tracking completions, and maintaining technician compliance.
- Free Resource Lead Capture: Free resources (The ABCs of Autism guide, Visual Schedule Maker, Social Stories, Screening Checklist) drive email capture and account creation, converting to paid subscriptions and product purchases. Free consultation CTAs generate qualified leads for V-CAT and paid programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | CE Library — 32 CEUs for BCBAs/BCaBAs |
| Subscription | Monthly | All Access (Build Your Own) — Unlimited catalog access |
| Subscription | Annual | CE Bundles — Specialty-focused CE training |
| Subscription | Annual | Advanced CE Library — 23.5 CEUs |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | RBT Training Library — Foundational RBT course |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | ABA Level 1 — Foundational ABA course |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Journey to Independence Curriculum Level 1 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Journey to Independence Early Learning Sampler |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Autism Parent Kickstart Program |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Intro to Autism Bundle — Starter bundle for newly diagnosed families |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | ABCs of Autism — Plain-language autism primer |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Autism Behavior Management & Skill-Building Toolkit |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | V-CAT Remote ABA Therapy |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Resources |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Special Learning product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Special Learning provides continuing education, training curricula, clinical tools, and remote Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for behavior analysts, behavior technicians, educators, agencies, and families of individuals with autism. Its core products include a BACB ACE-approved CE Library (32 CEUs/year), an All Access subscription with 671+ courses, RBT training, the Journey to Independence curriculum, and the V-CAT remote therapy program delivered by BACB-certified analysts.
Product overview
Special Learning is a neurodiversity education and ABA training platform offering a portfolio of continuing education products, training curricula, clinical tools, and remote therapy services. The core offerings include the CE Library (32 CEUs for $199/year) and All Access subscription ($299/year or $49/month) for BCBAs and BCaBAs, alongside the RBT Training Library and ABA Level 1 foundational courses for entry-level professionals. The Journey to Independence Curriculum provides structured skill-building programs for families, while V-CAT delivers end-to-end virtual ABA therapy with free initial consultations. Free tools include the Visual Schedule Maker, Social Story Creator, Token Board Maker, ABC Data Collection tool, and Autism Screening Checklist. The platform also offers specialized CE bundles for Early Childhood, School-Based, and Adolescent/Adult settings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- V-CAT: Virtual Consultation, Assessment and Therapy — Special Learning's end-to-end remote ABA therapy program delivered by BACB-certified behavior analysts.
Products and services
- CE Library for Behavior Analysts BACB ACE-approved continuing education library providing 32 CEUs (including 4 Ethics and 3.5 Supervision) for BCBAs and BCaBAs renewing their credentials, with 12-month access.
- All Access CE Library (Build Your Own) Subscription providing unlimited access to the full catalog of 671+ courses across all BACB content areas, available as annual or monthly billing.
- Intro to ABA: Level 1 Foundational self-paced video course on core Applied Behavior Analysis concepts and practical strategies for new entrants and families, with separate pricing for parents versus standard learners.
- RBT Training Library Foundational RBT training library covering the full BACB RBT Task List for behavior technicians pursuing certification.
- Journey to Independence Curriculum — Level 1 Structured, step-by-step skill-building curriculum for parents and educators building everyday skills toward independence for learners with autism, also available in Spanish.
- Journey to Independence — Early Learning Sampler Early-learning curriculum sampler that builds foundational skills with young learners.
- V-CAT (Virtual Consultation, Assessment and Therapy) End-to-end remote ABA therapy program delivered virtually by BACB-certified behavior analysts, including initial assessment, individualized treatment plan, ongoing therapy sessions, caregiver training, and progress monitoring; begins with a free 60-minute consultation.
- Autism Behavior Management & Skill-Building Toolkit Practical toolkit with at-home strategies for managing behavior and building everyday skills, aimed at parents and caregivers.
- Intro to Autism Bundle Starter bundle containing all the resources a newly diagnosed family needs in one purchase.
- The ABCs of Autism Plain-language digital guide introducing autism for parents and caregivers, priced at $9.99.
- CE Bundle 1: Early Childhood Specialty CEU training bundle focused on early intervention and play-based strategies for early childhood specialists.
- CE Bundle 2: Adolescents & Adults Specialty CEU training bundle covering adolescent and adult ABA topics for transition specialists.
- CE Bundle 3: School-Based Specialty CEU training bundle for behavior analysts and psychologists working with school-aged students in school-based settings.
- Autism Parent Kickstart Program Comprehensive parent training program that bundles webinars, eBooks, and 2 hours of live video consultation with BCBA/BCaBA experts, with 12-month access.
Quantifiable outcome
- 32,000+ customers served since 2010
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Special Learning
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Special Learning technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Special Learning partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ESBAP (Ethics Standards Board for ABA Providers)coreESBAP is a strategic partner providing ethics tools for the ABA community. Special Learning hosts ESBAP tools including the Supervision Calculator, Ethics Decision Framework, and ESBAP Provider Directory on its platform. ESBAP's directory tracks ethics, ownership, and accreditation for 8,553 ABA providers. This partnership positions Special Learning as a hub for ethical ABA practice, not just training.
- Dr. Michael WagnerminorClinical psychologist who contributed expertise to the development of the Autism Early Screening Checklist. The checklist incorporates DSM-V criteria combined with input from Dr. Wagner and a team of BCBAs.
- Step By Step Academy (SBSA)coreCo-founded by Michele LaMarche (Special Learning co-founder). SBSA is both a customer of Special Learning's CE platform and a source of expert presenters and clinical content. Many course instructors (Christine Austin, Jennifer LaLuzerne, etc.) are SBSA staff. This creates a closed loop of content development and consumption.
- Dan Dube / ABA Growth TeamminorDan Dube's RBT training course is recommended on Special Learning's platform as the preferred 40-hour foundational course for RBT certification. Special Learning refers customers to abagrowthteam.com for initial RBT training while offering PDU courses for renewal.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Special Learning competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Relias: Large healthcare and behavioral health training/CE platform serving hospitals, agencies, and providers. Comparable because it offers continuing education and compliance training across healthcare professions including ABA-adjacent audiences, though at much greater scale and broader scope.
- PESI: Large continuing education provider for mental health, allied health, and behavioral health professionals. Comparable on the CE/credentialing side though with broader categories outside ABA-specific content.
- CentralReach: Practice management, clinical, and training platform serving ABA agencies and BCBAs. Comparable on the enterprise/organizational side through staff training, compliance, and CE delivered to ABA provider organizations.
Direct peers
- Rethink Behavioral Health: ABA and behavioral health training platform serving parents, educators, and professionals working with individuals with autism and developmental disabilities. Directly comparable product set, customer segments, and BACB-relevant CE offerings.
- Behavior University: Online ABA training and continuing education provider with BACB-approved courses for BCBAs, RBTs, and behavior technicians. Closest direct competitor on CE Library, RBT training, and BCBA renewal course categories.
- CE4less: Online continuing education provider offering self-study CE courses for behavioral health professionals including BACB-approved content. Directly comparable subscription-based CE model serving the same BCBA/RBT renewal audience.
- ABA Inside Track: ABA-focused podcast and training resource for BCBAs, RBTs, and students entering the field. Comparable on the professional education and continuing-ed side, though narrower in delivery format.
- Apex ABA: Online platform providing BCBA supervision, RBT training, and ABA continuing education. Directly comparable in customer segments (BCBAs, RBTs, students) and in offering 40-hour RBT training plus BACB-approved CE.
Emerging players
- AnswersNow: Telehealth ABA therapy provider delivering virtual behavior analysis services to families. Closest partial peer to Special Learning's V-CAT offering, addressing the same geographic-access gap for families seeking remote ABA care.
- Stages Learning: Autism education resources and materials provider for educators and families of children with autism. Comparable on the parent/educator-facing product side, particularly picture-based and visual learning tools that overlap with Special Learning's free tool suite.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Special Learning social profiles
Digital presenceSpecial Learning compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Special Learning financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Special Learning leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Special Learning funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Special Learning M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Special Learning
What does Special Learning do?
Special Learning provides continuing education, training curricula, clinical tools, and remote Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for behavior analysts, behavior technicians, educators, agencies, and families of individuals with autism. Its core products include a BACB ACE-approved CE Library (32 CEUs/year), an All Access subscription with 671+ courses, RBT training, the Journey to Independence curriculum, and the V-CAT remote therapy program delivered by BACB-certified analysts.
Is Special Learning a public or private company?
Special Learning is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Special Learning founded?
Special Learning was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Special Learning based?
Special Learning is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Special Learning make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. CE Library Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are training and Curriculum Products, V-CAT Remote ABA Therapy, organization / Team Licensing and free Resource Lead Capture.
Who are Special Learning's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Relias, PESI and CentralReach. Direct peers are Rethink Behavioral Health, Behavior University, CE4less, ABA Inside Track and Apex ABA. Emerging players are AnswersNow and Stages Learning.
Does Special Learning have an API?
No public API is recorded for Special Learning.
What industry is Special Learning in?
Special Learning's product category is Applied Behavior Analysis Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAKAKAL, Autism Teacher Training & Professional Development, with a secondary code of EDAKAKAJ, Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked). Its NAICS code is 6116 and its SIC code is 8200.