When life didn’t give him answers, Mr. Khairul built his own.
It started with a father’s heartbreak and turned into a calling. When his son was diagnosed with severe autism at three years old, Khairul faced a wall of confusion. Limited resources. Pricey programs. Zero clarity. But instead of giving up, he decided to disrupt the special needs centers’ status quo in Klang Valley.
💥 Turning Frustration into Action
Back in 2016, after years of searching through special needs centers in Malaysia and Singapore, Khairul found something that worked for his son: a classroom-style approach coupled with personalized therapy that focused on real-life behavior and learning. The results? Game-changing.
So, he brought the curriculum in Singapore home.
That’s how Headstart Academy was born Malaysia’s first multi-disciplinary early intervention center with premier facilities designed especially for young children on the autism spectrum.
Today, Headstart isn’t just a center it’s a movement for inclusion, hope, and progress.
🧩 What Makes Headstart Different
Forget the old-school, one-size-fits-all methods. Khairul’s academy blend’s structure, play, and therapy into one powerful ecosystem that helps kids thrive.
Here’s what sets them apart 👇
- Value-driven, Accessible, and Real: Monthly fees from RM2,500–RM3,500 (not RM10k like traditional ABA).
- Real Assessments, Not Guesswork: A 3-week immersion program to truly understand each child.
- Proven Success: Between 30 – 40% of Headstart’s kids transition to mainstream schools within a year.
Even the pandemic couldn’t stop them. After a major “reset,” Headstart bounced back stronger, expanding to Damansara and Ampang even teaming up with other parents from Petronas, supporting hundreds of families with special needs children.
💪 Breaking Taboos, Building Futures
In Malaysia, talking about special education fees is still “taboo.” But Khairul is changing that conversation.
“We’re not profit-driven,” he says. “90% of our costs go to teachers and rent. We’ve never raised fees in three years.”
With 90% staff retention and growing demand, Headstart has become a trusted name for parents tired of empty promises and overpriced programs.
🌈 What’s Next? The Future of Autism Support
Khairul’s latest mission: empowering autistic teens and young adults.
In 2025, he opened a new youth center in Petaling Jaya, creating safe spaces for routine, skills, and emotional balance especially for those beyond the school years.
The goal? To build community-based hubs where autistic youth can grow, work, and thrive with support from developers, corporates, and the government.
Headstart is also moving into curriculum licensing and professional training for educators, helping more centers replicate its success across Malaysia.
💬 A Message for Every Parent
“When parents say, ‘Thank you my child is finally in school,’ that’s the real win,” says Khairul.
His advice to parents: “Start somewhere. Any intervention is better than none. The right structured program can change everything.”
Because in a world where early intervention often feels out of reach, one dad proved that empathy + innovation = transformation.
✨ Headstart Academy is more than a school it’s a revolution born from love.
