Greater Charlotte — Charlotte, Concord, Huntersville, Matthews, Gastonia, Rock Hill — is home to Atrium Health Levine Children's, The Fletcher School, and ECAC, North Carolina's statewide parent center. The hard part is knowing which help is genuinely excellent and how to reach the free options first. This is Charlotte'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 North Carolina 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 →
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction-approved private school serving students who need a highly specialized special-education and clinically sophisticated, behavior-analytic environment. Part of the established Melmark network of evidence-based special-needs programs.
Licensed and accredited nonpublic school and nonprofit serving children with autism through small-group, K-12 instruction and ABA-based supports tailored to each child. Long-standing regional autism-services provider in the greater Charlotte/Triad corridor.
An SAIS/SACS-accredited independent day school (NAIS member) for K–12 students with mild-to-moderate learning disabilities, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, executive-function and language disorders, and high-functioning autism, with a roughly 5:1 ratio.
A South Charlotte day school on the Shalom Park campus offering small classes and a customized curriculum for students with learning disabilities, dyslexia, ADHD and autism, with fitness and elective classes.
A non-profit independent day school for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1 or other communication differences and non-verbal learning disorders, who have average-to-above-average intelligence; integrates academic, social and emotional learning.
A life-centered, hands-on special-education school for middle- and high-school students with complex language, learning and/or cognitive disabilities, plus a Bridges post-secondary transition program.
Charlotte's leading school for learning differences, The Fletcher School (8500 Sardis Road) teaches K–12 students with specific learning disabilities and/or ADHD using the Orton-Gillingham approach, multisensory instruction, and a 6:1 student-teacher ratio. Admission requires documented average-or-above intelligence and an LD/ADHD diagnosis.
ECAC's parent specialists can help you compare additional Charlotte-area school options for dyslexia, autism, and learning differences — and explain North Carolina's options, including the ESA+ scholarship for students with disabilities, at no cost.
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 Exceptional Children Program provides free IDEA-mandated special-education services across all CMS schools, covering autism, specific learning disabilities, speech/language, and other categories. Includes a dedicated district Autism (AU) Team and a parent liaison to help families navigate evaluations and IEPs. Programs change year to year.
Free special-education services across the Charlotte-metro Union County district (Monroe/Waxhaw/Indian Trail), including autism, learning-disability, and speech/language programming under IDEA, with related services and transition planning. Programs change year to year.
Free IDEA special-education services across the Concord/Kannapolis Charlotte-metro district, serving students with autism, specific learning disabilities, and other eligibilities with self-contained and inclusion options plus related services. Programs change year to year.
Psychology practice offering comprehensive evaluations for autism, ADHD, and learning differences across the lifespan, conducted by licensed psychologists specializing in neurodivergence and co-occurring mental-health conditions.
A board-certified clinical neuropsychologist in Charlotte providing academic evaluations for learning disorders (LD) and ADHD. The ABPP credential is the gold standard to verify in any private evaluator.
In-depth evaluations of learning, attention, executive functioning and emotional development for children and teens, including autism-spectrum evaluations and ADHD testing, serving South Charlotte, Ballantyne and Matthews.
Serving Charlotte families since 1980, this practice runs an ASD Clinic, ADHD Clinic and neuropsychology service offering psychological and educational assessment plus multidisciplinary developmental evaluations for young children.
Nationally certified school psychologist and Fellow of the National Academy of Neuropsychology offering brief and comprehensive assessments for attentional and learning differences, ADHD, autism and dyslexia in children and teens.
Levine Children's Division of Pediatric Psychology & Neuropsychology — including Joanna Peters, PsyD, ABPP — uses thorough testing of thinking, learning, memory, and attention to evaluate learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism, with reports that guide your child's school and medical team.
With locations in Charlotte and Concord, this Atrium Health Levine Children's practice provides developmental and behavioral evaluation for developmental delays, autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities.
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.
A Cotswold-area learning center offering Orton-Gillingham tutoring — a structured, sequential, multisensory approach especially helpful for students with dyslexia — alongside broader academic tutoring for K–12 students.
Pam James of Pam's Reading is an Orton-Gillingham reading specialist with 19 years of experience and a Graduate Certificate in Dyslexia Education — her team of O-G tutors and licensed NILD educational therapists meets students throughout metro Charlotte, and she's an approved ESA+ and Disability Grant provider. A named, top-credentialed Charlotte dyslexia specialist.
The Academy's directory lists accredited Orton-Gillingham practitioners across greater Charlotte — 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.
Private pediatric therapy practice providing ABA, speech, and occupational therapy with a team of certified Speech-Language Pathologists (CCC-SLP), Occupational Therapists, and Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs). Multidisciplinary care coordinated in one practice.
Charlotte and Fort Mill practice providing speech therapy delivered by licensed SLPs who hold their Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP), plus ABA and occupational therapy. Credentialed, multidisciplinary pediatric care.
Established autism provider offering center-based and community ABA therapy plus autism diagnostic services, with care directed by Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) overseeing teams of behavior technicians. Accepts Medicaid and major insurance.
Regional dyslexia education resource offering accredited Orton-Gillingham courses and supervised clinical teaching leading to national certification, under the supervision of a Fellow of the Orton-Gillingham Academy. IMSLEC-accredited training serving Western NC and beyond.
A BHCOE-accredited Charlotte provider offering ABA alongside pediatric speech, occupational and physical therapy under one roof — coordinated, multidisciplinary care for children, serving NC families since 1989.
A BHCOE-accredited autism therapy center offering research-based ABA, occupational therapy and autism diagnostic evaluations for children roughly 15 months to 10 years.
A long-running nonprofit speech and hearing center providing pediatric speech-language evaluation and therapy (Director of Speech-Language Services Angie Rikard, M.A., CCC-SLP), with community-based and sliding-scale options.
A BHCOE-accredited Charlotte provider offering ABA alongside pediatric speech, occupational, and physical therapy under one roof — coordinated, multidisciplinary care for autistic children.
A BHCOE-accredited autism therapy center serving Charlotte — 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 Charlotte (including Autism Behavioral Institute, Solving Autism, and Centria Healthcare) — the real quality bar for autism therapy.
Carolina Kidz Therapy, owned by Pamela DiCarlo, M.S., CCC-SLP, offers both pediatric speech and occupational therapy — with OT from April Heath, OTR/L (17+ years) — serving the Charlotte/Gastonia area. A named CCC-SLP + OTR/L standout under one roof.
ASHA ProFind lists speech-language pathologists who hold the CCC-SLP and AOTA lists licensed occupational therapists (OTR/L) — national credentials to verify, searchable anywhere in greater Charlotte.
A developmental-behavioral pediatrics clinic (Barbara E. Kissam, MD; Caitlin N. Rissler, NP) evaluating and treating autism, ADHD and learning disabilities for ages 0–22 with 90-minute intake evaluations and ongoing medical management.
A state-supported UNC autism program providing autism evaluation, diagnosis and training for all ages using gold-standard instruments (ADOS, CARS2); services are free for North Carolina residents.
Led by division chief Yasmin Senturias, MD, Atrium Health's Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics (Charlotte & Concord) diagnoses and treats autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, and developmental concerns — and can write IEP letters of support.
The American Academy of Pediatrics' directory helps you find board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians in greater Charlotte — the credential to verify for a formal autism or ADHD diagnosis.
A COPAA-certified special-education advocate (completed the 27-week SEAT 2.0 training) who attends IEP and 504 meetings, reviews records, writes educational plans and coaches families across Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Union, Cabarrus, Mooresville and Catawba districts.
A Charlotte-based law firm focused on special-education and general-education law, handling IDEA, Section 504 and due-process matters for North Carolina families.
Founded by Karen Vaughn — a former special-education teacher turned attorney — the firm fights for students' educational rights, attending IEP and 504 meetings and handling bullying, suspension and discipline matters.
The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' directory lists active, vetted special-education advocates and attorneys serving greater Charlotte — the field's real professional standard.
Beyond information, ECAC's trained parent specialists can help you prepare for and understand IEP meetings at no cost — a respected free alternative to hiring a private advocate first.
Legal Aid of North Carolina provides free civil legal help to income-eligible families across the Charlotte region — a no-cost route to legal assistance, including some education and benefits matters.
ECAC offers free workshops, one-on-one support, and resource navigation for North Carolina families — including help finding low-cost speech, evaluation, and therapy options across the Charlotte area.
University speech-language clinics offer low-cost evaluation and therapy delivered by supervised graduate clinicians. ASHA's directory helps you locate the nearest accredited program serving the Charlotte region.
For children birth to 3, North Carolina's Infant-Toddler Program provides free developmental evaluations and early-intervention therapies — the earliest, no-barrier place to start.
For children birth to 3, North Carolina's Infant-Toddler Program (through the local CDSA) provides free developmental evaluations and early-intervention services (speech, OT, PT, developmental). The earliest, no-barrier place to start if you have any concern about your baby or toddler.
North Carolina'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.
North Carolina's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center — free help understanding your rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings for families raising children with disabilities birth to age 26. A great first call.
Federally funded and free — they help North Carolina families understand their rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings. A great first call.
North Carolina'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 Charlotte?
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 Charlotte?
A New Story lists credential-vetted schools, evaluators, therapists, advocates, and the free public programs and parent centers in North Carolina — searchable by ZIP, and free forever.