Chittenden County — Burlington, South Burlington, Essex, Winooski, Williston, Shelburne, and the rest of greater Burlington — has unusually strong, credentialed help for kids with special needs, anchored by the University of Vermont Children's Hospital and the nationally respected Stern Center for Language and Learning in Williston. Your local districts — Burlington School District, South Burlington School District, and the Essex Westford School District — each run special education. This is Chittenden County's own yellow pages of the best, most relevant help — named experts and clinics where we can verify them, ranked by real credentials (ABPP, BHCOE, Orton-Gillingham, COPAA, CCC-SLP, OTR-L, board-certification), never by reviews or who pays. In Vermont your free front door is Children's Integrated Services Early Intervention (CIS-EI, birth–3) and your school district's evaluation and IEP for ages 3+. Vermont calls its preschool special education Essential Early Education (EEE). Start there, 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 Vermont Agency of Education approved independent day school serving up to 35 students in grades K-8 with emotional disabilities, specific learning disabilities, and developmental disabilities. Provides clinical assessment, psychiatry, educational testing, and academic instruction in self-contained classrooms.
Burlington School District serves students with specialized programs — autism support, behavior, and life-skills — within an inclusion model, including Essential Early Education (EEE) for ages 3–5. South Burlington and Essex Westford run their own as well. In Chittenden County the strongest specialized placements are most often within the public districts; insist on the right program through the IEP process.
The Stern Center, serving learners since 1983, offers one-on-one structured-literacy tutoring, learning evaluations, speech therapy, and social-learning support for students with dyslexia, language disorders, and autism — Vermont's premier independent learning center and a strong supplement to (or alternative within) the district program.
Vermont Family Network, the state's Parent Training and Information Center, offers free help weighing options and pushing for the right program through the IEP process — invaluable when deciding between a district placement, the Stern Center, and other supports.
A special-education day school run by the Howard Center for children ages 5-14 with significant emotional and behavioral challenges, combining academics with clinical treatment.
A South Burlington day school for middle and high schoolers with social, emotional, learning, or mental-health challenges, integrating accredited academics with counseling and treatment under district IEP placement.
A long-established Williston nonprofit offering learning evaluations and one-on-one Orton-Gillingham reading intervention for dyslexia, ADHD, and related learning differences — the only OGA-accredited program in Vermont.
Vermont's designated developmental-services agency for Chittenden County, providing behavioral treatment, school-based support, and family services for children and youth on the autism spectrum.
A Shelburne independent school that accepts students with diagnosed or suspected mild-to-moderate learning differences (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD, executive-function) and provides a dedicated special-educator-led support program.
A Jericho-based center serving students with autism and other neurodevelopmental differences through evaluations, special-education support, and occupational, speech, and mental-health therapies for homeschool, remote, and placed learners.
A Burlington living-and-learning community supporting college-enrolled young adults with autism, ADHD, nonverbal LD, and executive-function challenges through academic coaching and independent-living skills.
The city's public-school special-education department, federally obligated to identify, evaluate, and serve all eligible students with IEPs in the least restrictive environment, including a free Extended School Year program.
A Putney school (about 2 hours south, listed for families seeking specialized placement) serving boys in grades 6-12 with dyslexia and language-based learning differences through intensive language and literacy therapy.
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.
Vermont's largest school district (Williston, Shelburne, Hinesburg, Charlotte, St. George), operating special education within a multi-tiered system of instruction. Free for residents; specific programs and staffing change year to year.
Public district that has built its own in-district program for students with autism and intensive needs after area therapeutic schools closed. Free for residents; specific programs and staffing change year to year.
Public district that created its own specialized program for students with significant needs, intended to grow to serve roughly 20 students locally. Free for residents; specific programs and staffing change year to year.
The University of Vermont Children's Hospital's Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics program in Burlington provides developmental evaluation for young children — Vermont's academic medical home for complex developmental, autism, and ADHD concerns. The referral for thorough, hospital-based diagnosis.
The UVM Vermont Center for Children, Youth & Families runs an Autism Assessment Clinic within Child & Adolescent Psychiatry for children and teens up to 18 suspected of having autism — a diagnosis-focused academic clinic (note: it requires Vermont Medicaid as primary insurance and does not provide ongoing care). The deep academic option for a complex diagnostic question.
The Stern Center for Language & Learning in Williston provides research-based learning evaluations that identify dyslexia, language disorders, and learning disabilities — a credentialed nonprofit option when you need a thorough private read of how your child learns, distinct from a medical diagnosis.
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 across Chittenden County, instead of trusting star ratings.
The Stern Center's Orton-Gillingham Institute is the only organization in Vermont accredited by the Orton-Gillingham Academy. Its instructors deliver highly targeted, multisensory, one-on-one structured-literacy tutoring (Orton-Gillingham and Wilson) for students with dyslexia — the gold standard for evidence-based reading intervention in Chittenden County.
Vermont schools must identify and support students with reading difficulties, including characteristics of dyslexia, with evidence-based, structured-literacy intervention. Burlington and every Chittenden County district must offer this free — request reading evaluation and structured-literacy services in writing, and know your rights before paying for private tutoring.
The Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators lists accredited O-G practitioners — searchable near Burlington, South Burlington, or Essex. The gold-standard credential for a private dyslexia tutor, instead of trusting ads. Avoid non-evidence-based programs (Davis, Brain Gym, vision therapy, Brain Balance).
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.
Chittenden County's designated community provider, accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). Its Autism Spectrum Program delivers individualized, year-round Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for children ages 1-22, partnering with local school districts.
A private speech-language pathology practice serving children and adults across specialties including developmental and motor speech delays. Led by ASHA-certified, Vermont-licensed clinicians.
Autism Care Partners' South Burlington center provides BCBA-led applied behavior analysis along with diagnostic evaluations, speech therapy, and occupational therapy for children with autism — a credentialed local autism provider. Ask about BHCOE accreditation. Carelinks ABA and Momentum ABA also serve the Burlington area in-home.
Find Your Voice VT is a Burlington private practice specializing in pediatric speech and language services across Chittenden County — consultations, evaluations, and individualized therapy from a certified speech-language pathologist (CCC-SLP). A credentialed local choice for communication needs.
UVM Children's Hospital provides hospital-based pediatric speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and physical therapy — credentialed CCC-SLP and OTR/L clinicians for children with autism, feeding, sensory, motor, and communication needs, coordinated with the medical team.
The BHCOE directory lists accredited ABA providers across Chittenden County, ASHA ProFind lists CCC-SLP speech therapists, and AOTA lists OTR/L occupational therapists — searchable by zip so families in Burlington, South Burlington, or Essex find the nearest credentialed clinician.
UVM Children's Hospital's Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics is Vermont's academic medical home for developmental, autism, and ADHD diagnosis in young children — board-certified developmental-behavioral physicians and the strongest local route to a thorough medical diagnosis.
The Vermont Department of Health's Child Development Clinic offers developmental evaluation programs for children with known or suspected developmental concerns — a state-supported diagnostic pathway that complements your pediatrician and the UVM clinics.
The American Academy of Pediatrics' directory helps you find board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians serving Chittenden County — the credential to verify for a formal autism or ADHD diagnosis.
The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' directory lists active, vetted special-education advocates and attorneys serving Chittenden County — the field's real professional standard.
Vermont Family Network is the state's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center — free help understanding your rights, evaluations, and the IEP process, plus one-to-one advocacy coaching. A respected statewide free resource before hiring a private advocate.
Vermont's protection & advocacy agency offers free information, referral, and advocacy — including legal representation when appropriate — for special-education rights. A no-cost first stop before hiring a private advocate or attorney.
For children birth to 3, Vermont Family Network's CIS-EI program provides free developmental evaluation and family-centered early-intervention services in Chittenden County — the earliest, no-barrier place to start.
As a nonprofit, the Stern Center offers financial aid to help families afford its evaluations and Orton-Gillingham tutoring — ask about scholarships so cost is not a barrier to evidence-based reading help.
Vermont's Medicaid program and Dr. Dynasaur cover developmental evaluations and medically necessary services — including ABA, speech, and occupational therapy — for eligible children, with generous income limits. A major low/no-cost path to services.
Vermont Family Network offers free help understanding evaluations, IEPs, and your rights, plus one-to-one coaching — a no-cost first call for any Chittenden County family navigating special education.
For children birth to 3 with a developmental delay or disability, Vermont Family Network is the Children's Integrated Services Early Intervention (CIS-EI) provider for Chittenden County under Part C of IDEA — free, confidential evaluation and family-centered early intervention in your home or child care: speech, movement, vision, hearing, and child-development support. The earliest, no-barrier place to start.
Request a special-education evaluation in writing from your district — Burlington, South Burlington, or Essex Westford. In Vermont the district must hold a planning meeting within 15 school days of a referral and, once you sign consent, complete the evaluation and hold an eligibility meeting within 45 school days, then write the IEP within 30 days of eligibility. This is the free legal route to an IEP under IDEA; for ages 3–5 it is called Essential Early Education (EEE).
Vermont's federally mandated protection & advocacy agency — free information, referral, and advocacy, including legal representation when appropriate, when a child's special-education rights are denied. A powerful free resource before you pay anyone.
Federally funded and free — they help Vermont families understand their rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings. A great first call.
Vermont'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 Burlington?
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 Burlington?
A New Story lists credential-vetted schools, evaluators, therapists, advocates, and the free public programs and parent centers in Vermont — searchable by ZIP, and free forever.