Special Education Resource
Special Education Resource is a US-based online platform that delivers one-on-one special education tutoring, IEP advocacy, and homeschooling support to families of children and adults with autism, dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning disabilities, using a team of 40+ certified teachers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersGilbert, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Special Education Resource does
Special Education Resource (operating as Special Ed Resource) is a US-based, online-only service platform that delivers individualized special education tutoring, IEP advocacy and consulting, and homeschooling support to families of children (and some adults) with learning disabilities, autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and related needs. The company was co-founded in 2014 by Luke and Suzie Dalien (M.Ed.), drawing on the founders' personal experience as parents of a child with autism and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Core delivery is one-on-one virtual instruction via standard video conferencing, with students matched to one of 40+ certified special education teachers based on learning style, personality, and interests; all sessions begin with a free, no-obligation consultation with the founder or an in-house expert.
The product surface spans a core Special Needs Tutoring line (with sub-products for dyslexia, ADHD, autism, math, reading, and general learning disabilities), an IEP Advocacy/Consulting line (including condition-specific IEP support for autism and dyslexia), Parent Advocacy and Special Education Advocacy, Special Needs Homeschooling curricula, the STRIDE group social-skills program, and state-specific offerings built around Arizona ESA, Florida FES-UA, West Virginia Hope, and Wyoming ESA scholarship programs. The technology stack is deliberately lightweight: commodity video conferencing for delivery, Stripe and Keap for payment and invoicing, Google Analytics for site analytics, and a content marketing footprint (blog, YouTube, Facebook groups, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok) that drives top-of-funnel acquisition.
Commercially, Special Education Resource operates as a direct-to-consumer provider with a recurring-subscription tutoring model (monthly/weekly packages), supplemented by fee-based IEP consulting engagements and grant-funded purchases through state ESA programs. There is no public revenue disclosure, no external funding history, and no parent company; the entity is a privately held LLC founder-owned by the Daliens. Reported scale metrics include 1,500+ documented success stories, 100,000+ sessions completed, and 45+ tutors, with services delivered nationwide via the online platform.
Special Education Resource firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Special Education Resource
- Legal name
- Special Education Resource LLC
- Website
- https://specialedresource.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Special Education Resource is a US-based online platform that delivers one-on-one special education tutoring, IEP advocacy, and homeschooling support to families of children and adults with autism, dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning disabilities, using a team of 40+ certified teachers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Special Education Resource industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Special Education Tutoring and IEP Advocacy Services
- NAICS
- Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Other Schools and Instruction (6116), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Special Education (SPED), IEP & Accessibility/Assistive Technology (EDAJAMAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Specialized Instruction & Resource Support (Inclusion, Pull-Out, Co-Teaching) (EDAJAKAC), Parent & Caregiver Training for IEP Navigation (EDAKACAJ), IEP/504 Academic Support Tutoring (EDANAFAA)
Keywords
Where Special Education Resource is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gilbert
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Special Education Resource business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Online Tutoring Services: Individualized online tutoring for children and adults with special needs including Autism, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, ADHD, Non-Verbal, Social Anxiety, and other circumstances. Sold as monthly or weekly tutoring packages. Default payment via credit card.
- IEP Support Services: IEP support services to assist parents in understanding their child's Individualized Education Program, process of obtaining one, and individualized recommendations regarding services, accommodations, and modifications
- Consultation Services: No-cost initial consultation followed by fee-based consulting engagements including 30-minute conversations and follow-up calls with IEP professionals
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Individual Tutoring Sessions |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | IEP Consulting |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Special Education Resource product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Special Education Resource sells individualized online tutoring and IEP advocacy/consulting services to families of children with special needs across the United States. Its certified special education teachers deliver one-on-one video-conference tutoring in dyslexia, ADHD, autism, math, reading, and other learning disabilities, alongside IEP review/advocacy and special needs homeschooling support. Services begin with a free no-obligation consultation and are paid as monthly/weekly tutoring packages plus paid IEP consulting engagements.
Product overview
Special Education Resource is a service-based platform offering individualized online special education tutoring, IEP advocacy and consulting, and special needs homeschooling support. The core offerings consist of Special Needs Tutoring (covering dyslexia, ADHD, autism, math, reading, and general learning disabilities) and IEP Advocacy/Consulting (including IEP for Autism and IEP for Dyslexia sub-services). Supporting services include Parent Advocacy, Social Skills & Special Classes (STRIDE program), and state-specific programs for Arizona ESA, Florida FES-UA, West Virginia Hope Scholarship, and Wyoming ESA. All services begin with a free no-obligation consultation. The company operates online, pairing students with certified special education teachers for one-on-one instruction.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- STRIDE: Socializing and Taking Responsibility In Developing Excellence - a program designed to enhance social skills for children with special needs
Products and services
- Special Needs Tutoring Individualized one-on-one online tutoring for children and adults with special needs including autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD, non-verbal, social anxiety, and confidence challenges. Tutors are certified special education teachers who tailor instruction to each student's unique learning style.
- Dyslexia Tutoring Specialized tutoring for students with dyslexia using visual aids, clear instructions, small attainable goals, and methods such as the Barton reading and spelling method to build reading and spelling skills.
- ADHD Tutor Personalized one-on-one tutoring for children with ADHD, providing individualized plans, identifying missing foundational pieces in education, and tailoring instruction so each student can learn at their own pace.
- Autism Tutor Specialized one-on-one tutoring for children with autism addressing sensory overload, social deficits, communication delays, and motor skill disabilities through individualized instruction.
- Special Education Math Math tutoring with individualized plans designed around each student's learning style, including support for dyscalculia and other disabilities affecting number comprehension.
- Special Education Reading Reading instruction focused on letter recognition, pronunciation, and reading comprehension with individualized curriculums tailored to each child's unique needs.
- Learning Disability Tutor Comprehensive tutoring for children with various learning disabilities, including dysgraphia, language processing trouble, and other learning-related challenges.
- IEP Advocacy / IEP Consulting Expert review and guidance for Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Includes a 30-minute consultation, individualized research, an inclusive report identifying accurate/inaccurate IEP items, and a follow-up phone call to help parents advocate effectively.
- IEP for Autism Specialized IEP guidance for autistic children, ensuring they receive appropriate accommodations to address sensory overload, social deficits, communication delays, and motor skill disabilities.
- Parent Advocacy Guidance program helping parents understand and actively participate in the creation and implementation of their child's IEP, empowering them to secure accommodations and supports.
- Special Needs Homeschooling Homeschool support program offering tailored curricula, flexible approaches, and resources for families educating children with special needs at home, including autism and dyslexia-specific tracks.
- Social Skills & Special Classes (STRIDE) Small virtual group classes that teach social skills in a positive peer environment, including the STRIDE program (Socializing and Taking Responsibility In Developing Excellence).
- Free No-Obligation Consultation A no-cost, no-obligation one-on-one phone or video call with founder Luke Dalien or a highly qualified special education expert to understand family needs and recommend suitable services.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1,500+ successes documented on website
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Special Education Resource
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Special Education Resource technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature1 record
Special Education Resource partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Special Education Resource competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Reading Horizons: Provider of literacy instruction products and tutoring specifically for struggling readers including those with dyslexia. Comparable SPED-adjacent reading tutoring offering, more product/tool oriented vs. SER's service-led model.
- Sylvan Learning: National tutoring franchise with explicit programs for students with learning disabilities, dyslexia, and ADHD. Comparable SPED tutoring offering, with broader footprint but more standardized and less individualized than SER's online certified-teacher model.
- Lindamood-Bell: Specialized literacy and learning disabilities instruction provider with proprietary methods (e.g., Seeing Stars, LiPS). Comparable in SPED tutoring focus and individualized instruction model, with stronger IP/protocols but historically center-based delivery.
- Tutor.com: Online 1:1 tutoring platform serving K-12 and adult learners on demand. Comparable in online delivery and tutor matching, though less specialized in SPED than SER and historically contracted through institutions/libraries rather than D2C parents.
- Outschool: Marketplace for live online classes for kids, including SPED and learning-difference content. Comparable in online delivery to parents and live small-group format (similar to STRIDE), though Outschool's model is broader and marketplace-based vs. SER's employed tutor model.
- Varsity Tutors: Large online tutoring platform offering 1:1 instruction across subjects including special needs and learning differences. Most direct comparable on online delivery model, though at much larger scale and broader subject coverage than SER's SPED focus.
Broad incumbents
- Khan Academy Kids: Large-scale free educational platform with early learner content reaching special needs populations. Adjacent rather than directly competing; comparable in serving the same end parents but operates a free, asynchronous, content-led model rather than paid live tutoring.
Emerging players
- Understood.org: Nonprofit resource platform for parents of children with learning and attention issues, offering content, tools, and IEP guidance. Comparable in IEP advocacy and parent education content but does not deliver paid tutoring services directly.
- Bridges Academy: Independent school and tutoring provider serving students with learning differences, including SPED-focused instruction and parent resources. Comparable in mission and SPED-only positioning, though physical and online hybrid rather than exclusively online.
Others
- Children's Home & Aid / IEP advocacy consultancies: Network of regional nonprofits and consultancies offering IEP advocacy and special education parent support. Overlaps with SER's IEP advocacy/parent training service line but typically grant-funded and nonprofit-structured.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Customer concentration
Special Education Resource social profiles
Digital presenceSpecial Education Resource financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Special Education Resource leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Special Education Resource funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Special Education Resource 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 Education Resource
What does Special Education Resource do?
Special Education Resource sells individualized online tutoring and IEP advocacy/consulting services to families of children with special needs across the United States. Its certified special education teachers deliver one-on-one video-conference tutoring in dyslexia, ADHD, autism, math, reading, and other learning disabilities, alongside IEP review/advocacy and special needs homeschooling support. Services begin with a free no-obligation consultation and are paid as monthly/weekly tutoring packages plus paid IEP consulting engagements.
Is Special Education Resource a public or private company?
Special Education Resource is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Special Education Resource founded?
Special Education Resource was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Special Education Resource based?
Special Education Resource is headquartered in Gilbert, United States, in the North America region.
How does Special Education Resource make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Online Tutoring Services are the primary driver. The others are IEP Support Services and consultation Services.
Who are Special Education Resource's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Reading Horizons, Sylvan Learning, Lindamood-Bell, Tutor.com, Outschool and Varsity Tutors. Khan Academy Kids is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Understood.org and Bridges Academy. Children's Home & Aid / IEP advocacy consultancies is listed as an others.
Does Special Education Resource have an API?
No public API is recorded for Special Education Resource.
What industry is Special Education Resource in?
Special Education Resource's product category is Special Education Tutoring and IEP Advocacy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAMAH, Special Education (SPED), IEP & Accessibility/Assistive Technology, with a secondary code of EDAJAKAC, Specialized Instruction & Resource Support (Inclusion, Pull-Out, Co-Teaching). Its NAICS code is 611691 and its SIC code is 8200.