In 2008,  Maria LaMon founded The Music Academy for Special Learners, in Ronkonkoma, NY ­– a music and art school for special learners and typical learners since 2008. Having experienced academic and social challenges with her son, she is familiar with the caring, time and discipline essential to help just one special learner become successful and navigate through life. LaMon developed an immediate connection and fondness for working with children who have special needs during her graduate school internship at the Developmental Disabilities Institute in Huntington, NY.

She is also the creator of Visual Music ConceptsTM (VMC) – A unique, ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) teaching method, designed to ensure that students of all levels have the ability to succeed. VMC is a program that has been recognized by Columbia University Medical Center Research Neurologist, Dr. Harry D. Schneider. This new program was first piloted by trained therapists to use music in a positive way with special learners at a Speech and Hearing Center in Ohio. VMC is now a sought after program both domestically and internationally.