Boston has Boston Children's Hospital, MGH, and the country's flagship dyslexia schools — the hard part is knowing which help is genuinely excellent and how to reach the free options first. This is Boston's own directory, ranked by real credentials (ABPP, BHCOE, Orton-Gillingham accreditation, COPAA, board-certification) — never by reviews or who pays. Start with the free Massachusetts options, then the best evaluators, schools, therapists, doctors, and advocates near you.
✓ Every provider here is vetted by credentials, never pay-to-play. How we choose →
Therapeutic special education programs for students with significant emotional, behavioral and learning needs, including a K–8 school in Needham and a 7–12 school in Watertown. Massachusetts DESE-approved.
State-approved therapeutic day school for students grades 3–12 with learning, emotional and social challenges. One of New England's established therapeutic day schools.
Small therapeutic day school for teens whose educational and social-emotional needs exceed what traditional schools can meet. Approved by Massachusetts DESE and nationally recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor for its Career Development Program; operated by Justice Resource Institute.
Small therapeutic day school for teenagers whose mental health has interfered with success in a traditional public-school setting. Chapter 766-approved therapeutic program.
Therapeutic special education day school for students with significant emotional and behavioral needs, run by the long-standing nonprofit The Home for Little Wanderers. Massachusetts DESE-approved.
DESE-approved day and residential program for ages 3–22 on the autism spectrum, using the Daily Life Therapy method; accredited by the National Commission for the Accreditation of Special Education Services.
May Institute's DESE-approved (Ch. 766) full-day, year-round school for children and adolescents ages 3–22 with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities.
DESE-approved, NEASC-accredited day school (founded 1893) for ages 3–22 with a broad range of learning, communication, physical, and complex medical disabilities, using a collaborative multidisciplinary care model.
The oldest school for the blind in the U.S., serving day and residential students ages 3–22 who are blind, deafblind, or visually impaired with or without additional disabilities.
A grades 1–9 Massachusetts school for students with dyslexia and reading/writing difficulties — its Orton-Gillingham program is nationally accredited by AOGPE and the International Dyslexia Association. A national dyslexia flagship.
A grades 2–12 day and boarding school (north of Boston) for students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences — individualized programming in every class, every day, for ~500 students.
A Massachusetts Ch. 766-approved independent day school (since 1970) for students with complex, language-based learning profiles — specific learning disabilities plus possible ADHD, anxiety, Level 1 autism, or executive-function needs.
A specialized day school for students with autism spectrum disorder — structured, individualized academic and behavioral programming across a wide range of ages and needs.
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.
The district's special education office provides a continuum of services from inclusion to substantially separate programs, with a multi-year inclusion rollout underway. Programs change year to year; confirm current placements and seats with the district.
Well-regarded suburban district offering a full continuum of special education and in-district specialized programs. Programs and openings change year to year; verify current offerings with the district.
Brookline operates in-district special education and inclusion programs with a long-standing reputation for student support. Specific programs vary year to year; confirm with the district.
Suburban district with a strong student-support services department and a range of in-district special education programs. Programs change year to year; verify current placements with the district.
High-performing suburban district offering in-district special education and specialized programming across grade levels. Offerings change year to year; confirm with the district.
Private practice of licensed clinical neuropsychologists providing comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations for children and adults, including learning disorders, ADHD and autism.
Provides neuropsychological testing for children and adults in greater Boston, covering ADHD, autism and learning disorders, with associated therapy services.
Well-respected New England pediatric neuropsychology practice (founded by Dr. Ann Helmus) offering neuropsychological evaluations, autism and ADHD assessment, plus OT, speech, coaching, and educational consultation.
Practice staffed by multiple board-certified clinical neuropsychologists with subspecialty certification in pediatric neuropsychology, evaluating ADHD, autism, and learning disorders for children and adolescents.
Boston Children's Neuropsychology Program (Harvard-affiliated) provides comprehensive evaluations of learning, attention, memory, and emotional functioning — its clinicians are board-certified or board-eligible through ABPP/ABCN.
Mass General's LEAP — directed by Molly Colvin, PhD, ABPP (board-certified in clinical and pediatric neuropsychology, Harvard Medical School) — provides outpatient neuropsychological evaluations for ages 2–22, specializing in learning and neurodevelopmental difficulties.
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, instead of trusting star ratings.
Individualized reading remediation using Orton-Gillingham, Wilson Reading System, and Lindamood (LiPS), plus educational assessments, for students with dyslexia and learning differences.
Individualized Orton-Gillingham and structured-literacy instruction for students ages 4–14 with dyslexia and dysgraphia, delivered in-home, at school, or in community settings around Greater Boston.
Part of a national nonprofit network providing free, twice-weekly one-on-one Orton-Gillingham tutoring to children diagnosed with dyslexia, regardless of family income.
The Academy's directory lists accredited Orton-Gillingham practitioners across the Boston area — the gold-standard credential for a private dyslexia tutor, verified by training rather than advertising (Carroll School trains O-G teachers too).
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.
Nonprofit providing individualized, evidence-based ABA therapy for young children with autism, including intensive all-day 1:1 programming under Board Certified Behavior Analyst supervision and early-intervention specialty services.
ABA provider serving children and adults across Massachusetts (Allston, Bedford, Franklin, Lowell, Methuen and Worcester) with Board Certified Behavior Analyst oversight; fully accredited by the Autism Commission on Quality.
Pediatric speech-language and occupational therapy practice staffed by ASHA-certified (CCC-SLP) speech-language pathologists and licensed occupational therapists.
Clinic with multiple Massachusetts-licensed, ASHA-certified (CCC-SLP) speech-language pathologists plus occupational therapy, serving pediatric clients in the Boston area.
Multidisciplinary pediatric clinic integrating occupational, speech, physical and feeding therapy in weekly and intensive programs with licensed therapists.
Provides pediatric speech-language and occupational therapy through ASHA-certified SLPs and licensed OTs, with in-office and in-home options serving the Greater Boston area.
BHCOE-accredited ABA provider serving Boston, delivering research-based applied behavior analysis for autistic children, accredited for clinical quality rather than chosen by ad spend.
Longstanding pediatric occupational therapy center specializing in sensory integration (founded by Dr. Jane Koomar), also offering speech and mental health services for children and adolescents.
A Greater Boston autism provider offering individualized ABA alongside speech and occupational therapy for children 18 months to 9 years — coordinated, center-based early intervention.
A BHCOE-accredited ABA provider serving Boston — research-based applied behavior analysis for autistic children, accredited for clinical quality rather than chosen by ad spend.
The Behavioral Health Center of Excellence directory lists accredited ABA providers across Boston (such as Autism Behavioral Center) — the real quality bar, instead of guessing from ads or stars.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's directory lists speech-language pathologists who hold the CCC-SLP — the national mark of a fully qualified clinician.
Tufts Medicine pediatric center providing complete developmental, behavioral, and emotional evaluations and diagnoses, including autism, with an entry point to coordinated treatment.
Boston Children's Developmental Medicine Center — board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians (Harvard-affiliated) — diagnoses and treats autism, ADHD, developmental delay, and learning/behavior concerns.
Boston Medical Center's developmental-behavioral pediatricians evaluate and treat autism, ADHD, and developmental concerns — an academic safety-net option serving many families on public insurance.
Massachusetts special-education law firm assisting with document review, team-meeting navigation, school communication, and establishing or amending IEPs and 504 Plans.
Independent non-attorney special-education advocate serving Massachusetts statewide, trained through COPAA's SEAT program and William & Mary's Institute of Special Education Advocacy.
The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' directory lists active, vetted special-education advocates and attorneys serving Boston — the field's real professional standard.
Massachusetts Advocates for Children provides free education-rights help to families — special-education guidance, autism and disability advocacy, and a path to services at no cost.
A Boston firm with a respected special-education and disability practice — IEP disputes, placement, mediation, and BSEA/due-process representation.
Emerson College's Robbins Center provides speech, language, and hearing evaluation and therapy for children at modest fees — with reduced-fee plans for families unable to afford services, delivered by supervised graduate clinicians.
The MGH Institute's clinical center provides speech, language, and hearing services for children and adults, delivered by graduate clinicians under ASHA-certified faculty — an accessible, university-based option.
For children birth to 3, Massachusetts Early Intervention provides free developmental evaluations and therapies — the earliest, no-barrier place to start.
For children birth to 3, Massachusetts Early Intervention provides free developmental evaluations and therapies (speech, OT, PT, developmental). The earliest, no-barrier place to start if you have any concern about your baby or toddler.
Massachusetts's federally mandated protection & advocacy agency — free legal information and advocacy when a child's special-education rights are denied. A powerful free resource before you pay anyone.
Massachusetts's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center — free help understanding your rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings. A great first call.
Federally funded and free — they help Massachusetts families understand their rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings. A great first call.
Massachusetts'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 Boston?
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 Boston?
A New Story lists credential-vetted schools, evaluators, therapists, advocates, and the free public programs and parent centers in Massachusetts — searchable by ZIP, and free forever.