WINGS Learning Center was founded in 2001 by Sherman Chan and Irma Velasquez to provide a supportive educational environment for individuals with autism in the San Francisco Bay Area. The center was established after the founders recognized the need for effective communication and a social environment to help their son, Aaron, who was diagnosed with autism, develop essential social and communication skills. WINGS is a California Department of Education-certified non-public school that has been supporting individuals with autism and similar learning challenges for over two decades. The center’s mission is to create a world founded on acceptance, respect, and belonging, guided by values like trust and community engagement. WINGS aims to provide lifelong, individual-centered learning and capacity building for its students, and is currently expanding to establish an adult program. The center’s approach focuses on helping individuals with autism and similar learning challenges learn at their own pace and foster personal growth in academics and independent living skills. WINGS is committed to creating a supportive and inclusive environment that enables its students to thrive and reach their full potential.
