In 1997, Sherman Chan and Irma Velasquez formed a team to help their son, Aaron, diagnosed with autism. Recognizing the need for effective communication, the team explored various methods. Aaron progressed in expressing his needs, but it became evident that immersion in a social environment was crucial for developing social and communication skills. After discovering a gap in educational settings for children with autism in the San Francisco Bay Area, the team founded Wings Learning Center in September 2001. The center aimed to provide a supportive environment for students with autism to learn at their own pace and foster personal growth in academics and independent living skills.