If your son or daughter struggles with attention, impulsivity, or staying organized — and you think it might be ADHD — these are the best evaluators, schools, and specialists in the DMV. Real names, honest notes.
ADHD is diagnosed by a developmental pediatrician, psychologist, or neuropsychologist. A thorough evaluation rules out look-alikes (anxiety, learning disabilities) and tells the school exactly what supports your child needs.
Most kids with ADHD do well in mainstream school with the right supports — but some need a smaller, structured setting built around executive function. These schools specialize in exactly that, and several can be district-funded.
We track 40+ schools that serve ADHD and executive-function needs across the DMV. Our free matcher narrows it to your child in two minutes — and we help you get the right one funded.
An ADHD evaluation through a private neuropsychologist can cost thousands — but you have free and low-cost options, including your child's pediatrician and the school itself.
Start here if paying out of pocket isn't possible right now:
The free options here aren't the leftovers. Your public school's evaluation is done by the same kind of licensed psychologists and specialists who work in private practice — and by law it has to be comprehensive. Early Intervention is run by trained professionals. University clinics are supervised by senior faculty using the exact same gold-standard tests as the $5,000 private evaluators. Being honest: a highly-paid private evaluator will often spend more one-on-one time with your child and write a longer, more detailed report — and sometimes that extra depth matters. But more time and a thicker report don't necessarily mean a different answer. The core testing is the same, and money should never decide whether your child gets help — in the DMV, it doesn't have to.
Tell us your situation on a free call and we'll point you to the right free option for your family — no pressure, no cost.
Once you have a diagnosis, the next step is getting the school to actually provide what your child needs — and getting the right placement funded. That's where an advocate comes in.
For cases that head to a formal hearing, you may want a special-education attorney (e.g., Michael J. Eig & Associates is the region's best-known parent-side firm). We'll tell you if you've reached that point and connect you.
That's okay — most parents aren't. Tell us about your child in your own words and we'll guide you to the right next step. Free, no pressure.
Tell us about your child →