Central, East, and Downtown LA — DTLA, Boyle Heights, East LA, Mid-City, Koreatown, South LA — is home to many Spanish-speaking families, and bilingual, culturally responsive help matters here. This is the area's own directory, ranked by real credentials (ABPP, BHCOE, Orton-Gillingham accreditation, COPAA, board-certification) — never by reviews or who pays — with bilingual and Spanish-speaking options flagged throughout. Start with the free Regional Center entitlement, 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 →
Established 1924 Catholic school for grades 7-12 in the Diocese of Alexandria, accredited through Cognia. Its St. Joseph Cabrini program provides structured academic support and accommodations for students with learning differences within a small 9:1 student-teacher setting.
Specialized learning center founded by learning specialist Liz Hines, treating dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia and executive-function challenges with structured, multisensory instruction. Approved provider for Louisiana's $1,000 K-5 dyslexia voucher, giving Central Louisiana families in-person remediation.
One of the nation's largest nonprofits for children with autism, learning differences, and special needs — specialized campuses accessible to central and east LA families across a wide range of needs and ages.
A long-standing East/Downtown LA nonprofit running community charter schools (TK–8) with early-intervention, mental-health, and family-support services in a heavily bilingual community — a strong first stop for low-income families, though not a special-education-only nonpublic school.
The California Association of Private Special Education Schools lists state-certified nonpublic schools across central and east Los Angeles — the verified way to find a specialized placement.
Established 1983, Grades 2-12 college-prep school exclusively for students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia and other diagnosed language-based learning differences (often with ADHD). Research-based multisensory instruction (Orton-Gillingham, Wilson), small classes, credentialed staff. Serves the San Fernando Valley and greater LA.
70+ years educating Grades 1-12 students with diagnosed learning disabilities (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, processing disorders), ADHD, high-functioning autism and anxiety. 6:1 ratio, all teachers credentialed in special education, evidence-based programs (Lindamood-Bell, Wilson, Orton-Gillingham). Pasadena and West LA campuses.
Founded 1994, Grades 4-12 college-prep school dedicated to twice-exceptional (2e) learners who are gifted and also have autism, ADHD, executive-function challenges, processing deficits or mild dyslexia. Small classes, strengths-based curriculum, mentoring and advisory program. Nationally recognized 2e model.
Largest nonprofit of its kind in the U.S. serving children with autism, learning disabilities, ADHD, developmental delays and emotional needs. Nine specialized PreK-12 day schools across seven LA-area campuses (1,500+ students): Village Glen (high-functioning autism/social challenges), STEM3 Academy, Sunrise (moderate-severe ASD), Bridgeport (LD) and more. Small classes, integrated speech/OT/counseling.
State-certified nonpublic day school serving students with severe learning disabilities, emotional disturbance, autism spectrum disorders and mild cognitive impairment. Part of the Institute for the Redesign of Learning, a long-established LA special-education nonprofit. IEP-placement school with therapeutic supports.
State-certified nonpublic day school dedicated to students with autism spectrum disorders, ages 5-22. Specialized individualized curriculum with trained staff, located beside the historic Gamble House in Pasadena. Sister campus to Almansor Academy under the Institute for the Redesign of Learning.
California state-certified nonpublic school serving K-12 students with a wide range of learning, developmental and emotional disabilities. Comprehensive special-education day program with high staff-to-student support, IEP-driven placement, and related therapeutic services. Serves the West LA / Westchester area.
Nearly 60-year-old certified nonpublic special-education school serving Grades 5-12 neurodiverse students with ADHD, autism, dyslexia and learning/social-emotional needs. Small structured classes with integrated therapeutic support. Serves the South Bay, Torrance and greater LA County.
State-certified nonpublic school taking a holistic approach to students ages 11-22 (Grades 9-12+) with a range of cognitive, behavioral and social-emotional challenges. Part of the long-established Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services. IEP-placement school with wraparound clinical supports.
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.
Rapides Parish School Board's dedicated special-education center serving students with significant disabilities, operated by the district's Exceptional Student Services department under IDEA. Provides specialized academic, behavioral and related-services programming at no cost to families.
State-owned and operated facility (under Louisiana's Board of Elementary and Secondary Education) providing specialized education and therapeutic services for children with severe and multiple disabilities, including IEP-driven instruction, speech therapy and behavioral support.
The district department coordinating IEP and 504 services, evaluations, and inclusion/resource programming across all Rapides Parish public schools. Long-standing parish-wide special-education infrastructure serving the Alexandria-Pineville area.
Louisiana State University of Alexandria's research-based laboratory early-childhood center (since 1999), licensed Class A and rated through Quality Start. Provides developmentally appropriate early-childhood programming and a foundation for early identification and support of young children's developmental needs.
Private psychology clinic led by medical/school psychologist Dr. Larry Vaught (in practice since 1986) with additional doctoral-level child clinical psychologists. Provides neuropsychological evaluations and ADHD, learning-disability and behavioral assessments for children and adults.
Central Louisiana center providing autism diagnostic evaluations, ABA services and parent-training programs for children and adults on the spectrum. Listed as a diagnostic-evaluation provider for the Alexandria area.
Multidisciplinary pediatric clinic with Board Certified Behavior Analysts, speech-language pathologists, occupational and physical therapists offering autism evaluation alongside ABA, speech, OT and psychological therapy. Serves Central Louisiana from its Alexandria location.
Children's Hospital LA's neuropsychology team includes board-certified clinicians — Dr. Anita Herrera-Hamilton, PhD, ABPP-CN and Dr. Ashley Whitaker, PhD, ABPP-CN — plus bilingual (English/Spanish) evaluators such as Dr. Jenna Chiang, PsyD, for Spanish-speaking families.
Founded by Dr. Vindia Fernandez, PhD, ABPP-CN to expand culturally and linguistically appropriate evaluations for the Latino community — bilingual/bicultural neuropsychologists (e.g. Dr. Stephanie Torres) assessing autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities.
The Hispanic Neuropsychological Society's professional directory helps you find bilingual, bicultural neuropsychologists — the right credential and the right language for an accurate evaluation of a Spanish-speaking child.
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.
The Academy's directory lists accredited Orton-Gillingham practitioners across central and east LA — the gold-standard credential for a private dyslexia tutor, verified by training rather than advertising.
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.
Hospital-based pediatric rehabilitation center (CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini) and the largest pediatric therapy provider in Central Louisiana, staffed by licensed occupational, physical and speech-language therapists evaluating and treating children birth to 18, including autism therapy.
ABA therapy practice founded and led by Sara Mansilla, MA, BCBA, LBA, with 13+ years working with children with special needs. Provides board-certified, licensed applied behavior analysis services in Alexandria and surrounding areas.
ABA therapy provider staffed by Board Certified Behavior Analysts licensed with the State of Louisiana, plus a psychologist and Safety-Care coordinator. Uses comprehensive developmental assessments to build individualized, research-based treatment plans with parent training.
Autism diagnosis and treatment center using a multidisciplinary team (pediatric psychiatrist, psychologist, behavior analyst, speech-language pathologist and occupational therapist) for evaluation, ABA, speech and OT. Long-established Louisiana provider serving the broader Cenla/North Louisiana region.
A BHCOE-accredited Downtown LA provider offering family-centered, multidisciplinary services — ABA, speech, and occupational therapy — for children with autism and special needs.
A bilingual speech-language practice serving LA County in English and Spanish — clinic-based and teletherapy speech/language therapy, early intervention, and independent educational evaluations (IEEs) for school disputes.
The Behavioral Health Center of Excellence directory lists ABA providers that passed a rigorous quality review — filter for central/east LA and ask each about Spanish-speaking staff.
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 (filter for bilingual).
Children's Hospital LA's developmental-behavioral pediatrics — led by Division Chief Dr. Douglas Vanderbilt — provides comprehensive, board-certified diagnosis and care for autism, ADHD, and neurodevelopmental concerns, serving central and east LA.
The USC University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (at CHLA, with the Keck School of Medicine) is a nationally recognized leader in services for children with developmental, behavioral, and special health-care needs.
The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' directory lists active, vetted special-education advocates and attorneys serving central and east LA — the field's real professional standard.
An LA County special-education firm working in English and Spanish — FAPE, placement disputes, IEP enforcement, mediation, and due process. Free initial consultation.
California's Office of Administrative Hearings publishes an official list of free and reduced-cost special-education advocates and attorneys statewide — a verified, no-cost starting point if money is tight.
Cal State LA's university clinic provides low-cost speech, language, and hearing evaluation and therapy — including a Bilingual Lab with bilingual graduate clinicians supervised by a certified bilingual speech-language pathologist.
The Los Angeles Scottish Rite RiteCare program provides free speech, language, and literacy treatment for children's language disorders, ages 3–18 — a genuinely no-cost option for central LA families.
LA County's free Help Me Grow program screens children for developmental and behavioral concerns and connects families to services — a no-cost first step if you're worried but unsure where to begin.
ELARC is the free California Regional Center for East Los Angeles and the eastern communities — autism, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and Early Start (0–3). Diagnosis/eligibility is free; most services are free regardless of income. Bilingual staff. It's a state entitlement, not charity.
Lanterman is the free Regional Center for Central Los Angeles, Hollywood, Downtown, and Glendale areas — funded by state and Medicaid dollars, so services are at no cost to eligible individuals. Start here if you live in the central core.
SCLARC is the free California Regional Center serving South and South-Central Los Angeles — diagnosis, eligibility, Early Start, and ongoing services at no cost for eligible children with developmental disabilities.
Federally funded and free — they help California families understand their rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings. A great first call.
California's protection & advocacy agency — free legal-rights information and help if your child's rights are being denied.
When you’re ready, an expert can review your child’s IEP and build your plan. See how it works →
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How do I start the special-education process in Central, East & Downtown LA?
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 Central, East & Downtown LA?
A New Story lists credential-vetted schools, evaluators, therapists, advocates, and the free public programs and parent centers in California — searchable by ZIP, and free forever.