EP #259: Beyond Traditional Learning: How Two Moms Created a Haven for Special Needs Students

What makes Gina Korczak and Maygan O'Donnell with Uniquely You Learning Center good neighbors?

What happens when two mothers, both raising children on the autism spectrum, decide traditional education isn't working for their kids? Something extraordinary emerges. Meet Maygan O'Donnell and Gina Korczak, founders of Uniquely You Learning Center, who are revolutionizing special education with their holistic approach for elementary-age children with developmental challenges.

Their vision goes beyond academics. At Uniquely You, every day includes communication support, sensory enrichment, physical fitness, social-emotional learning, mindfulness, and music therapy. This comprehensive approach nurtures the whole child—academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviorally. As Maygan explains, "Our mission is to help children thrive by offering personalized instruction and support." They've created an environment where children aren't just accepted but celebrated for their uniqueness.

The center challenges a persistent myth about special needs education. Contrary to the belief that these children can't thrive in structured settings, Maygan and Gina witness extraordinary progress daily. Their dedication extends beyond classroom hours—they spend their free time finding creative ways to connect with each child's interests. When one student showed fascination with wheels, they tracked down a 500-pound wheel on Facebook Marketplace, creating an unexpected source of joy in their sensory gym. This dedication transforms their school into a family, a safe haven where children who may not be able to advocate for themselves are seen, supported, and understood. As they look to the future, they plan to grow alongside their students, developing a life skills lab to foster independence. To experience this special community firsthand, visit uniquelyulearningcenter.org or call 469-361-2120 to arrange a tour.

To learn more about Uniquely You Learning Center go to:

https://uniquelyyoulearningcenter.org/

Uniquely You Learning 

469-361-2120

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Sophia Yvette.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Are you in need of a privateschool for special needs
students?
Well, one may be closer thanyou think.
Today I have the pleasure ofintroducing your good neighbors
Megan O'Donnell and Gina Korsak,with Uniquely you Learning
Center.
Ladies, how are you today Doingwell?

Speaker 3 (00:31):
Good.

Speaker 2 (00:32):
Well, it is a pleasure to have you on today
and we're super excited to learnall about you and your business
.
Can you tell us a bit aboutyour company?

Speaker 3 (00:41):
Yes, yes, Uniquely you Learning Center is a private
education center dedicated toempower elementary-age children
with special needs anddevelopmental delays.
Our mission is to help childrenthrive by offering personalized
instruction and support thatfocuses on academics, social,
emotional and behavioral growth.
It's more of a holisticapproach the whole child.

(01:02):
We provide inclusiveenvironment that celebrates
every child's uniqueness.
As our students continue togrow, our vision is to grow
along with them.
Our long-term goal is to builda life skills lab where students
can learn and experienceessential skills to help them
become as independent aspossible.

Speaker 2 (01:21):
So, ladies, how did you get started in this business
?
So?

Speaker 4 (01:24):
ladies.
How did you get started in thisbusiness?
Well, actually, our journeyreally began as two moms
volunteering together, so wewere both raising children on
the autism spectrum and wereally experienced firsthand the
need for something different.
Megan has numerous years inbusiness and then I have 22 plus
years in education, and wereally saw the gaps in a

(01:48):
traditional education and wantedto create a space where
children were not only acceptedbut celebrated.
And so from that vision,uniquely you Learning Center was
born.
We also knew we really wantedto offer a holistic approach, so
not just academics, but thewhole child, as Megan said.
So that's why we include ourdaily specials like

(02:11):
communication and languagesupport, sensory enrichment,
physical fitness, social,emotional learning, mindfulness
and music therapy, because theseexperiences really support
growth in every area of life.

Speaker 2 (02:24):
Because these experiences really support
growth in every area of life.
So, ladies, what is the biggestdifference between a holistic
approach and a more traditionalapproach?

Speaker 4 (02:42):
So I would say really the focus on tapping into all
parts of each of our students,so that we're not just focused
merely on academics or somespecial needs schools just
focused on therapeuticinterventions.
So we're really trying to tapinto all of those areas.

Speaker 2 (02:56):
And what is the biggest myth or misconception
you typically come across inyour industry?

Speaker 3 (03:04):
Well, I think a common myth is that children
with special needs they can'tlearn in a structured
environment or that their growthis limited.
At UILC we see the opposite ofthat every day in our kids.
With the right environment andthe support and the approach,
these children are makingincredible progress.
Our focus is always to help ourstudents build the confidence

(03:26):
and develop the life skills thatfill that part of the community
caring, the caring community.
So it's just that we really seethat you can do the structured
side with the support behind it.

Speaker 2 (03:42):
Now, who are your target clients and, in terms of
marketing, how do you typicallyattract them?

Speaker 4 (03:49):
We would say our target families right now are
those with elementary age,children who have special needs
or benefit from anon-traditional learning
approach.
We, as we shared earlier, hopeto expand.
As our kids continue to getolder, we want to grow with them
, so we connect with familiesthrough community partnerships,

(04:10):
word of mouth, referrals fromtherapists and educators.
Just recently we were at theAwesome Moms resource event in
Irving and we really like toconnect with families and show
who we are as people and thatthis isn't just a business for
us.
So we really like to share oursuccess stories and invite

(04:30):
parents to visit and experienceour welcoming child centered
environment.

Speaker 2 (04:36):
Now, you ladies are clearly very hard workers.
But outside of work, what doyou like to do for fun together?

Speaker 3 (04:46):
Well, I think what we consider fun is not the average
fun, what people normally seeas fun.
Gina and I, we spend a lot ofour time really planning on what
we can do to for our kids atour school.
Those are the kind of funthings that we do like there's

(05:06):
many times this is really kindof crazy, but when we get a
moment to go together we'llactually go shop and go out and
find stuff that we can provideto like.
Recently one of our studentshad a birthday and he loves like
wheels like he's obsessed.
So Gina and I like Ginaactually found a big wheel on

(05:29):
Facebook Marketplace and oneafternoon Gina and I took our
lunch and went out to find thisbig wheel and bring it back and
make it part of our sensory gymfor him.
So now we have a ginormous bigwill in our gym for our students

(05:49):
.
But that's what we consider.
Fun is what we can think ofoutside of the box.
That is the true interest toeach individual child.
We really try to bringsomething out special.
So that's what we do for fun.
We sit and brainstorm all thesethings.

Speaker 4 (06:07):
I think them having fun brings joy to us so truly
like seeing the smiles on theirfaces.
And who would have thought a500-pound wheel would bring so
much joy?
But it has like for all thekids, not just who loves wheels.
So yeah, it's.
It's a different kind of fun.

Speaker 3 (06:28):
That's what we do for fun.

Speaker 2 (06:31):
Wow.
Well, it certainly sounds likeyou guys are more than just a
private school.
You're more of a family, then.

Speaker 3 (06:38):
Absolutely, absolutely.
And I think that that's reallykind of what we pride ourself in
is because we know having achild with special needs of any
kind, but then when you throw inwhere a child is nonverbal and
you are entrusting your child,who cannot advocate for
themselves or speak forthemselves, and you're pretty

(07:01):
much they're spending themajority of their time with us,
that you know we do have todevelop that kind of unit, a
family unit that you can trust,because you just wouldn't leave
your child with just anybody.

Speaker 2 (07:15):
Well, for sure, that is for sure.
So, gina and Megan, what is onefinal thing you would love for
our listeners today to rememberabout Uniquely you Learning
Center?

Speaker 4 (07:31):
We want people to know that, uniquely, you is more
than just a school.
It's really a safe haven.
So every child who walksthrough our doors is seen, heard
and supported.
We really take pride increating an environment where
kids can be themselves, buildrelationships and really develop
the skills they need to thrive,and we've seen that in our

(07:52):
first almost full year of school.
We've seen our kids really soarand that's just something that
really can't be measured or noamount of money can ever give
this sense of joy that we feellooking at our students and
seeing their successes.

Speaker 2 (08:13):
Yes, it is beautiful work that you ladies are doing.
I must say one final thing.
Where can our listeners go tolearn more about Uniquely you
Learning Center?

Speaker 3 (08:25):
Well, there's a couple of different places.
They can always go to ourwebsite, which is
uniquelyulearningcenterorg.
They can give us a call if theywant to set up a time to come
and actually tour our facilityat 469-361-2120.

(08:46):
We are on social mediaplatforms Facebook and Instagram
and they can email us or emailus.
Our email is also at uniquelyyou learning center at gmailcom.
So we are happy to, you know,connect with them anyway if they
just want to start by learningabout us going through our
website.

(09:06):
If they want to call andactually visit us at our
facility, we would love to setup a tour.

Speaker 2 (09:12):
Well, gina and Megan, I truly appreciate you both
being on this show today, and Iwish you and your business the
best moving forward.

Speaker 3 (09:22):
Thank you so much for having us Thank you.

Speaker 1 (09:25):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to gnpfriscocom.
That's gnpfriscocom, or call469-221-9345.