Meet Fiona Gonzalez | Special Education Teacher & Teacher Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Fiona Gonzalez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Fiona, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My journey to becoming a teacher-author began during my first year teaching. As a high school/transition special education teacher, my curriculum primarily focuses on functional academics, life skills, and vocational training. This includes teaching essential independent living skills like cooking, cleaning, financial literacy, community and meal etiquette, making purchases, staying informed with current events, job readiness, social skills, and exploring recreational and leisure activities.

Each student’s needs are so unique, and because many of my adult students learn at a 3rd-grade level or lower, it’s crucial that I adapt my teaching materials to be both accessible and age-appropriate, ensuring every student can engage meaningfully with the content. There were websites such as Teachers Pay Teachers to purchase and download curriculum from; however, I quickly realized that there was a significant gap in age-appropriate materials for adult transition and independent living skills, so I often found myself creating custom resources to bridge that gap. This need for personalized, relevant resources led me to create Adulting Made Easy. It quickly gained momentum as I discovered that many other special educators were facing the same challenges, seeking practical, age-appropriate materials for their students.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Adulting Made Easy provides a wide range of resources designed for parents and special educators, including teachers and speech therapists. I create simplified, user-friendly lessons presented through worksheets, visual lectures, adapted books, file folders, task boxes, task cards, digital activities, and more. Additionally, I develop tools to help teachers stay organized, track IEP goal progress, and decorate their classrooms. Many of these resources are available for free, along with educational blog posts and social media content that offer insights into my classroom and share proven strategies that have worked in practice.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of the best things about living in Orange County, California, is the endless variety of things to do. There’s truly something for every taste and style, so my plans often depend on who’s visiting. Personally, I love exploring the diverse food scene here – from incredible multicultural cuisine to restaurants with great atmospheres and stunning views. My ideal week would include hiking or camping in Big Bear, enjoying fresh seafood in Long Beach, authentic Mexican food in San Diego, and catching an Anaheim Ducks hockey game or spending a day at Disneyland.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Teaching is a full-time commitment, so any additional work, like creating curriculum, often happens in my free time after school or on weekends. I’m incredibly grateful for the patience, support, and encouragement my husband has provided during the busy early years of building this business. I also owe a huge thanks to my sister, who has been instrumental in helping make my resources more accessible to a wider range of students.

Website: https://www.spedadulting.com

Instagram: @spedadulting

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spedadulting/

Other: Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/AdultingMadeEasy/

Image Credits
All photos were taken by me.