CELO
Celo Learning provides personalized support and resources that facilitate smooth transitions to adulthood.
CELO
Celo Learning provides personalized support and resources that facilitate smooth transitions to adulthood.
Celo Learning supports individuals with autism and diverse support needs navigating educational, vocational, social, and independent living goals across the lifespan. For some, this may mean college, career development, and greater independence. For others, it may mean daily conversation and companionship check-ins, routine-based support, community participation, and the ongoing pursuit of self-determination, confidence, and finding one’s voice.
Founder Kathleen O’Halloran provides consultation to families and individualized transition specialist services for adolescents, young adults, and adults with disabilities. Services may include post-secondary transition planning, career development, companion care, social communication coaching, executive functioning support, community integration, and relationship-centered educational support services tailored to each individual’s unique strengths, interests, and goals.
Kathleen believes every individual deserves opportunities to learn, grow, connect, explore, and experience quality of life in their own unique way throughout the lifespan. Her approach is grounded in compassion, self-determination, individualized access, and meaningful relationship-centered support.
Short-term, ongoing, virtual, in-person, half-day, and full-day support options may be available based on client needs and scheduling availability. For consultation availability, service options, or customized support planning, Kathleen welcomes families and community partners to contact her directly.
Phone: 805-208-3058
Email: kathleen@celogateway.com
Kathleen M. O’Halloran is a California credentialed Special Education Teacher and licensed School Wellness Coach. She is an Education Specialist (MMSN) with Autism Authorization and a Certified Wellness Coach II designated by the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) in support of California’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative. She also holds a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential with English Learner Authorization and brings experience teaching students from kindergarten through age 22, as well as adult learners, including multilingual learners developing language proficiency while accessing rigorous academic content.
Kathleen is a member of the Council for Exceptional Children, Division on Career Development and Transition, and the American Psychological Association, Division 25 Behavior Analysis, where she was elected to Teacher status in 2025. She also serves on the USC Alumni Association Board of Governors as the appointed representative for the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy and participates in the California Department of Public Health Safe Schools Team.
Kathleen served California public schools from 2017 to 2025, supporting students with autism spectrum disorder and diverse learning, behavioral health, and transition needs. She offers direct services to private families through Celo Learning, including individualized post-secondary transition, career development, companion care, and social communication services for youth and young adults from all walks of life.
Her self-determination work with transition-aged youth has integrated the Possible Selves approach to help students navigate transitions with agility and purpose. As a certified PEERS® for Young Adults provider trained by the UCLA Semel Institute, she has taught evidence-based social skills and continues to offer coaching aligned to the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) and the UCLA PEERS® Clinic curriculum.
Kathleen specializes in Universal Design for Learning (UDL), individualized access, and relationship-centered support that recognizes independence and self-determination look different for every learner. In addition to transition and career development services, Kathleen is experienced in personalized companion care for families and young adults with disabilities, supporting long-term clients with independence and overall quality of life at home and in real-world settings.
Kathleen is a graduate of the University of Arizona College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, and the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, where she earned an Executive Master of Leadership.
Before entering education, Kathleen built a successful career in nonprofit management, fundraising, and medical philanthropy. She advanced from an entry-level Resource Development role into Director-level leadership alongside the executive team at Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County before transitioning into healthcare external relations leadership at City of Hope National Medical Center as Director of Development, Philanthropy, and External Relations.
Her professional background spans university advancement, healthcare project coordination, event management, outreach, and community relations across nonprofit, retail, and hospitality sectors. These experiences shaped her adaptive leadership style, collaborative approach, and long-standing commitment to mission-driven work focused on improving quality of life and expanding access to opportunity.
Kathleen remains proud of the lasting impact of her work, including initiatives that continue today such as Hope Starts With Us. While leading Celo Learning and providing direct support to families, she remains actively engaged in philanthropic leadership through consulting, executive board service, and community partnerships focused on education, healthcare advancement, and public impact.