Chicago has some of the country's best children's hospitals and special-education schools — the trick is knowing which are genuinely excellent and near you. This is Chicago's own credential-vetted directory of the best evaluators, schools, therapists, and doctors, plus the free and low-cost options.
A great specialist across the metro usually isn't practical day-to-day. Pick your area for a deeper, credential-ranked directory of the best local evaluators, schools, therapists, doctors, and advocates — led by Illinois's free services.
✓ Every provider here is vetted by credentials, never pay-to-play. How we choose →
A long-standing Chicago therapeutic day school (affiliated with UChicago) for children and adolescents with significant emotional/behavioral needs, anxiety, learning disabilities, and autism.
An ISBE-approved therapeutic day school licensed to exclusively serve students with autism (K through age 22), combining standards-based academics with practical life and therapy services.
An ISBE-approved nonpublic therapeutic day school serving students with autism and related developmental disorders, using a developmental, relationship-based (DIR/Floortime) model.
The leading Chicago-area day school for bright grade-1–8 students with learning disabilities like dyslexia — 5:1 ratio, multisensory teaching, plus on-site speech, social work, and OT, aimed at returning kids to mainstream school.
A K–12 Northbrook school for students with complex learning disabilities and social-emotional needs — small classes, individualized plans, and on-site counseling, speech, and OT, serving 50+ districts.
A long-running Chicagoland school (La Grange area) for students with learning differences, focused on individualized academics and building self-esteem.
Century-old therapeutic day school (founded at the University of Chicago) and national leader in milieu therapy for students with anxiety, emotional challenges, autism, and learning disabilities, elementary through high school. Clinical staff support emotional regulation throughout the day while students attend rigorous accredited classes. Accredited by the Council on Accreditation, Cognia, ISBE, IDCFS, and IDHS.
Nonpublic therapeutic day school for students ages 3-22 with autism spectrum disorder, emotional disability, developmental delay, or intellectual disability. Uses Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and the SCERTS model with skill-acquisition training. Three campuses: Chicago, Tinley Park, and Machesney Park.
Public therapeutic day school operated by the TrueNorth Education Cooperative serving PK-12 students with emotional or behavioral disabilities, autism, anxiety, depression, and other health impairments. Separate elementary and middle/high school programs with certified special-education staff supporting students whose needs exceed the general district setting.
Accredited therapeutic day school serving students ages 5-21 with autism or other emotional, behavioral, or developmental disabilities. Provides a structured therapeutic environment promoting social, cognitive, and academic growth, operated by the long-established Little Friends autism services organization.
A dedicated neuropsychology practice — board-certified pediatric neuropsychologist Dr. Mia Gregor (ABPdN) plus licensed clinical and school psychologists do comprehensive neuropsychological and psychoeducational testing for kids with learning, attention, and autism-spectrum concerns.
Northwestern-affiliated clinic offering neuropsychological and psychoeducational evaluations for children and adults to identify learning disabilities, ADHD, and developmental conditions.
A multidisciplinary diagnostic center led by a developmental pediatrician and licensed therapists, using validated tools (ADOS-style) for autism and comprehensive developmental evaluations across several Chicagoland offices.
Chicago's top children's hospital — board-certified pediatric neuropsychologists (incl. Dr. Clayton Hinkle, ABPP) providing comprehensive, school-ready evaluations for learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism.
Rush's academic neuropsychology team provides thorough child and adolescent evaluations for learning, attention, and developmental concerns.
The American Board of Professional Psychology's directory lists clinicians who passed board certification in clinical neuropsychology — the real credential to look for in a private evaluator.
A nonprofit (Scottish Rite) center providing free, certified Orton-Gillingham multisensory reading, spelling, and writing tutoring to children with dyslexia — no cost to families.
A reading and learning specialist since 1996 providing Orton-Gillingham, Wilson Reading System, and other research-based structured-literacy instruction for struggling and dyslexic readers.
The Academy's directory lists accredited Orton-Gillingham practitioners — the gold-standard credential for a private dyslexia tutor near you.
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.
A Chicagoland multidisciplinary pediatric practice (25+ years) offering ABA, speech, occupational, physical, and feeding therapy plus neuropsychological evaluations across several south/west suburban locations.
A BHCOE-accredited, center-based ABA provider with multiple Chicago locations — play-based, individualized early autism therapy led by credentialed BCBAs.
A well-established Chicago-area multidisciplinary practice — licensed speech, occupational, and ABA therapy under one roof, plus testing.
A Chicago pediatric therapy clinic with licensed speech-language pathologists, occupational/physical therapists, and ABA — a play-based, family-centered setting.
For more options, the BHCOE directory lists every accredited ABA provider in Chicago — the real quality bar for choosing ABA.
One of Chicago's most comprehensive outpatient diagnostic and treatment centers for developmental and behavioral differences, home to a large autism diagnosis and treatment program.
Nationally ranked board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians (with Northwestern Feinberg) — comprehensive diagnosis and care for autism, ADHD, and developmental concerns.
Comer Children's developmental-behavioral team helps families understand and treat complex developmental, behavioral, learning, and genetic disorders — a strong South Side option.
A Chicago-area firm of attorneys and advocates with decades of special-education experience, representing parents in IEP/504 disputes, eligibility, placement, and due process across Cook, Lake, and DuPage.
A firm focused exclusively on special-education law and guardianship — due process hearings, manifestation determinations, mediations, and protecting a child's right to a free appropriate education.
An experienced independent special-education advocate (former CPS Director of Autism and Intellectual Disabilities) offering affordable IEP guidance, advocacy, and expert-witness support, by appointment.
A long-respected Chicago special-education legal and advocacy practice (Matt Cohen) handling IEP/504 disputes, eligibility, placement, and due process across Illinois.
For more options, the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' directory lists active, vetted special-education advocates and attorneys serving Illinois.
DePaul's training-clinic community services provide low-cost psychological and assessment services in Chicago, supervised by licensed faculty — a more affordable route to an evaluation.
A Chicago children's hospital dedicated to kids with complex conditions and disabilities, deeply experienced with Medicaid families — developmental, behavioral, and therapy services when private care isn't affordable.
Federally funded and free — they help Illinois families understand their rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings. A great first call.
Illinois'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 Chicago?
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 Chicago?
A New Story lists credential-vetted schools, evaluators, therapists, advocates, and the free public programs and parent centers in Illinois — searchable by ZIP, and free forever.