Greater Birmingham covers Jefferson and Shelby counties — Birmingham, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, Homewood, Bessemer, Trussville, Chelsea. This is a true yellow pages of the best, most relevant help for a child with special needs, built so a family ANYWHERE in the metro can find genuinely excellent care nearby — named experts and therapists, not just directories. It's ranked by real credentials (ABPP, BHCOE, Orton-Gillingham/CALT/IMSLEC, COPAA, CCC-SLP, board-certification) — never by reviews or who pays. Start with the free Alabama options, then the best evaluators, schools, reading specialists, therapists, doctors, and advocates near you.
✓ Every provider here is vetted by credentials, never pay-to-play. How we choose →
A therapeutic day school and day-treatment program affiliated with the University of Alabama at Birmingham, serving elementary-aged students (grades 1-7) with significant emotional and behavioral needs.
A Birmingham non-degree transition program (founded 1991) helping young adults with autism, learning disabilities, and developmental differences build independent-living, social, and employment skills — with strong post-graduation employment and housing outcomes.
Spring Valley School (Birmingham) serves K–12 students of average-to-superior intelligence with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia — taught by Certified Academic Language Therapists (CALTs) using the Neuhaus multisensory, Orton-Gillingham-based, IMSLEC-accredited curriculum. The metro's flagship dyslexia school.
Glenwood's Allan Cott School (on its 363-acre Sicard Hollow campus) is a leading Alabama autism school offering ABA, occupational and speech therapy, counseling, and special education — day, school-based, in-home, and residential options.
The Alabama Parent Education Center can help you compare additional Birmingham-area school options for dyslexia, autism, and learning differences at no cost — including district programs and Alabama's special-needs scholarship options.
K-12 college-prep day school for students of average-to-superior intelligence with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia, offering daily structured-literacy therapy from Certified Academic Language Therapists.
Alabama's first school for children with autism, serving day and residential students ages 6-21 with autism and intellectual disabilities through individualized academic and therapeutic instruction.
Comprehensive autism treatment center and nationally accredited inclusive early-learning preschool (ages 2-6) blending ABA with developmentally appropriate practice, staffed by BCBAs, special educators, and therapists.
Birth-to-three center-based early-intervention program with transdisciplinary teams including an early-childhood special-education teacher, serving infants and toddlers at risk for developmental delay across central Alabama.
These public schools and programs have a solid track record in special education — but we don’t re-check them every year. Staff, leadership, and programs change from building to building and year to year. Treat this as a strong starting point, and confirm the current fit for your child.
Large suburban Birmingham district with a long-standing, well-resourced special education program including dedicated autism specialists and behavior specialists, serving over 1,500 students with IEPs. Programs change year to year - verify current offerings with the district.
One of Alabama's highest-rated public systems, with special education teams, paraeducators and Life Skills programming across its schools. Programs change year to year - confirm current services with the district.
The metro's core public district provides the full range of IDEA special education services, evaluations and supports across its schools. Programs and quality vary by school and year - verify current offerings directly.
A Birmingham-area practice founded by licensed psychologist Dr. Jennifer Sheehy-Knight, with Dr. Sarah Bauman and Dr. Gianna Gambera Burke (PhD, BCBA), offering psychological testing and assessment for autism, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental conditions in children and adolescents.
Homewood-based clinical neuropsychologist and member of the National Academy of Neuropsychology providing neuropsychological assessment, psychological evaluation, and educational testing.
Pediatric neuropsychology at Children's of Alabama (with UAB) — including Donna Murdaugh, PhD, ABPP-CN — evaluates the relationship among brain development, thinking, behavior, and emotions to diagnose learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism. The metro's leading academic program.
A Birmingham private practice led by Joseph Ackerson, PhD — former Director of Pediatric Neuropsychology at UAB — providing comprehensive evaluation for autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities. A respected private alternative to the hospital system.
The American Board of Professional Psychology's directory lists clinicians who passed board certification in clinical neuropsychology — the credential to verify in any private evaluator (in Hoover, Vestavia, or Trussville), instead of trusting star ratings.
Patrice Phelps, M.Ed., M.S.P., CCC-SLP at The Language Group is a Birmingham reading and language specialist who is both a certified speech-language pathologist and an Orton-Gillingham reading tutor — a rare dual credential for dyslexia and language intervention.
The Alabama Scottish Rite Foundation supports free, Orton-Gillingham-based dyslexia tutoring through its learning centers and funds teacher training in dyslexia specialization — a standout no-cost reading resource for Alabama families.
The Academy's directory lists accredited Orton-Gillingham practitioners across greater Birmingham — searchable by area so you can find one near Hoover, Homewood, or Trussville. The gold-standard credential for a private dyslexia tutor.
A huge audiobook/highlighting library — free for students with a qualifying reading disability, so your child keeps up with grade-level books while they learn to decode.
Pediatric clinic in Hoover founded in 2007 by a speech pathologist and occupational therapist, offering ASHA-certified speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and behavioral therapy for children birth through teens.
A BHCOE-accredited autism therapy center in Hoover offering ABA alongside occupational and speech therapy for the south metro — accredited for clinical quality rather than chosen by ad spend.
A BHCOE-accredited ABA provider serving the Birmingham metro with center- and home-based therapy, parent training, and behavioral support for autistic children, with a Cahaba Heights / Highway 280-area center.
A Birmingham pediatric practice providing speech-language therapy and occupational therapy by CCC-SLP and OTR/L clinicians in home, school, and office settings — two Birmingham locations.
A therapist-run Homewood clinic with nationally registered, state-licensed pediatric occupational and speech therapists serving children from 6 months to 14 years with a range of developmental needs.
A Homewood pediatric occupational-therapy practice taking a personalized, holistic approach — including infant feeding, tongue-tie, and torticollis care — to help children build the skills they need.
A Birmingham-area multidisciplinary clinic combining occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, and ABA with developmental and dyslexia evaluation, Orton-Gillingham literacy intervention, feeding therapy, and social/executive-functioning groups — useful when a child needs several therapies under one roof.
Founded by Birmingham parents in 2005, Mitchell's Place is a BHCOE-accredited nonprofit autism treatment center (Southside and Overton) with ABA, an accredited early-learning preschool for ages 2–6, plus speech and occupational therapy — comprehensive, mission-driven care.
A BHCOE-accredited autism therapy center in Hoover offering ABA alongside occupational and speech therapy for the south metro — accredited for clinical quality rather than chosen by ad spend.
Connect Birmingham is a pediatric speech-language practice whose therapists all hold a master's degree and the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) and are Alabama-licensed — 25+ years of combined experience. A named standout for speech and language therapy.
The BHCOE directory lists accredited ABA providers across the metro (including Early Autism Services and Simplified Behavioral Health in Chelsea), and ASHA ProFind lists CCC-SLP speech therapists and AOTA lists OTR/L occupational therapists — searchable by zip so families in Bessemer, Trussville, or Chelsea find the nearest.
A Vestavia Hills pediatric practice offering autism evaluations, ADHD diagnosis and management, and developmental screenings alongside primary pediatric care, with in-person and telehealth options.
UAB Developmental-Behavioral Medicine at Children's of Alabama — including the Civitan-Sparks Clinic and the Medical Autism Clinic (MAC) — provides expert diagnosis and management of autism, ADHD, and developmental and learning concerns by board-certified specialists.
The American Academy of Pediatrics' directory helps you find board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians across greater Birmingham — the credential to verify for a formal autism or ADHD diagnosis.
A special-education law firm representing children with autism, dyslexia, ADHD, speech-language impairments, intellectual disability, and behavioral concerns across Alabama, with an IEP coaching/preparation service in addition to due-process representation.
An Alabama special-education law firm handling IEP and 504 disputes, school discipline, bullying, due process, and mediation — representing families against Jefferson County, Birmingham City, and Shelby County schools.
The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' directory lists active, vetted special-education advocates and attorneys serving greater Birmingham — the field's real professional standard.
Beyond information, the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program provides free individual case advocacy — attending IEP meetings, negotiating with districts, joining mediation, and representing parents in due-process hearings. A powerful free alternative to hiring a private advocate.
Legal Services Alabama provides free civil legal help to income-eligible families across the Birmingham region — a no-cost route to legal assistance, including some education and benefits matters.
The Autism Society of Alabama provides free information, referrals, and family support across the Birmingham metro and statewide — connecting families to vetted local autism services alongside clinical care.
University speech-language clinics (such as those affiliated with area universities) offer low-cost evaluation and therapy by supervised graduate clinicians. ASHA's directory helps you locate the nearest accredited program serving Birmingham.
For children birth to 3, Alabama's Early Intervention System provides free developmental evaluations and early-intervention therapies — the earliest, no-barrier place to start.
For children birth to 3 with a developmental delay or qualifying diagnosis, Alabama's Early Intervention System (through ADRS) provides free evaluation and early-intervention services that coach parents and support development — wherever you live in the metro. Call (800) 543-3098 (English) / (866) 450-2838 (Spanish). The earliest, no-barrier place to start.
Alabama's federally mandated protection & advocacy agency — free case advocacy that can attend IEP meetings with you, negotiate with districts, join mediation, and represent parents in due-process hearings. A powerful free resource before you pay anyone.
Alabama's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center — free help understanding your rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings, plus advocacy leadership training. A great first call.
Federally funded and free — they help Alabama families understand their rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings. A great first call.
Alabama's protection & advocacy agency — free legal-rights information and help if your child's rights are being denied.
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How do I start the special-education process in Birmingham?
Put your request in writing to your child's school, asking for a full special-education evaluation — that is the legal first step. On A New Story you'll find a free, ready-to-send evaluation-request letter you can use today.
How long does a special-education evaluation take?
Once you give written consent, the school generally must complete the evaluation and hold an eligibility meeting within a set timeline (often around 60 days, though it varies by state). Putting your request in writing starts the clock.
Can my school district pay for a private special-education school?
Sometimes. If the public school can't provide an appropriate education, the district can be required to fund a state-approved nonpublic placement. It isn't automatic — it takes the right evaluation and advocacy — but families do it every year, including ones with limited funds.
What's the difference between an IEP and a 504 plan?
An IEP provides specialized instruction and services under IDEA; a 504 plan provides accommodations under civil-rights law. A New Story's free guides walk you through which one fits your child.
Where can I find free special-education help in Birmingham?
A New Story lists credential-vetted schools, evaluators, therapists, advocates, and the free public programs and parent centers in Alabama — searchable by ZIP, and free forever.