About the Founder

Elena Widdes, the founder of Special Needs Tutoring USA is a San Diego native and has been teaching for over 6 years. She is a graduate from the University of California at Santa Barbara and she holds two credentials; Multiple Subject Teaching Credential (certified to teach multiple subjects in grades kindergarten though 8^th grade) and she holds an Education Specialist Teaching Credential (certified to teach children in grades kindergarten through 12^th grade who have mild to moderate disabilities).

Elena is currently working on her Masters in Special Education. Her expertise lie in the area of teaching children who have autism including Asperger’s Syndrome, mild mental retardation, learning disabilities, speech and auditory processing difficulties, emotionally disturbed, and ADD/ADHD.  Because Elena is trained and highly qualified in these areas, she recognizes the need for all of the tutors that we work with to have at least one school year worth of experience working with students who have disabilities.

  In her experience in working with IEP’s (Individualized Education Program) and students with special needs, Elena saw that many students could greatly benefit from some extra help and guidance.  Thus, Special Needs Tutoring USA was born.  Her idea and goal is to provide the best, most experienced and caring tutors for students that have special needs, to help them reach their academic, social and life goals.

Elena is currently a Special Educator with the San Diego Unified School District.