Greater Cleveland — Cleveland, Shaker Heights, Westlake, Lyndhurst, Brecksville, plus Akron — is home to UH Rainbow Babies & Children's, Cleveland Clinic Children's, the renowned Lawrence and Monarch schools, and Milestones Autism Resources. The hard part is knowing which help is genuinely excellent and how to reach the free options first. This is Cleveland's own directory, ranked by real credentials (ABPP, BHCOE, Orton-Gillingham/Wilson accreditation, COPAA, board-certification) — never by reviews or who pays. Start with the free Ohio 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 →
A school for students with specific and language-based learning disabilities whose staff is trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach, Multisensory Math, and the Strategic Instruction Model, focused on building effective learners and self-advocates.
Operating since 1971, PEP runs five therapeutic day schools (Chesnutt, Hopewell, Phoenix, Prentiss Autism Center, Willow Creek) combining special education and mental-health treatment for students birth-21 with significant emotional, behavioral, and developmental-trauma challenges. Outcomes show statistically significant CAFAS gains.
A blended-learning autism day school serving students from kindergarten through high-school graduation, with intervention specialists, SLPs, OTs, and behavior analysts. Two campuses — Highland Hills (Breen Family Center) and Westlake.
A century-old Cleveland children's agency offering autism services (parent of the Monarch Center), therapeutic residential treatment, outpatient and school-based counseling, and crisis stabilization for children with emotional, behavioral, and developmental needs.
Northeast Ohio's independent school of choice for students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities, Lawrence School (Sagamore Hills lower; Broadview Heights upper) serves students with IEPs, 504s, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and ADHD — accredited by ISACS and a member of NAIS.
Licensed by the Ohio State Board of Education, Monarch Center for Autism (Shaker Heights) has offered individualized care and instruction to children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder since 1998 — one of Cleveland's premier autism schools.
Julie Billiart Schools serve K–8 students with mild-to-moderate autism, ADHD, anxiety, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, executive-function and other learning disabilities — across four campuses (Akron, Brecksville, Lyndhurst, Westlake).
Independent K-12 day school serving Northeast Ohio students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD, and other language-based learning differences for 50+ years. Lower School (K-6) is an Orton-Gillingham multisensory immersion program; Upper School (7-12) adds assistive technology. Accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and a member of NAIS, OAIS, and CCIS. Lower School in Broadview Heights; Upper School in Sagamore Hills.
Family of K-8 Catholic day schools (70+ years) for children with mild-to-moderate autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other specific learning disabilities. Small classes (1:6 K-2, 1:8 grades 3-8), two certified intervention specialists per grade, an onsite Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Registered Behavior Technician, plus speech, OT, music, and art therapies. Chartered through the State of Ohio and accredited by OCSAA. Campuses in Lyndhurst, Westlake, Brecksville, and Akron.
Chartered, non-public day school licensed by the State Board of Education of Ohio serving children ages 3-21 with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Part of Bellefaire JCB (founded 1868), one of the nation's largest child-service agencies. Curriculum covers social/communication skills, executive functioning, academics, daily-living and prevocational skills, sensory intervention, and behavior support; residential, transition, and adult programs also offered. Located on Bellefaire's Shaker Heights campus.
Chartered, non-public day school certified by the State of Ohio and operated by Cleveland Clinic Children's Center for Autism. Serves students from earliest diagnosis through age 21 using evidence-based, individualized programming in a purpose-built facility. Backed by Cleveland Clinic's pediatric autism medical and therapeutic teams.
One of Ohio's largest nonprofit child-serving agencies, operating therapeutic day-treatment schools that combine special education with mental-health services for students ages 5-22 facing complex developmental trauma, mental-health challenges, and autism. Six day-treatment centers including the Prentiss Autism Center. Staffed by certified special educators and licensed mental-health clinicians; works in partnership with school districts and the ESC of Northeast Ohio.
Specialized autism school operated in collaboration with the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County, serving students from districts across Cuyahoga and Lorain counties with certified intervention specialists and individualized, evidence-based instruction. Long-established nonprofit (90+ years serving children with disabilities) with classrooms in Highland Hills and Westlake, plus integrated therapy services.
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 regional ESC operates and supports specialized public special-education classrooms (including autism programs, in partnership with districts and Achievement Centers for Children) across Cuyahoga County and Northeast Ohio at no cost to families. Programs change year to year.
Ohio's second-largest district provides a full continuum of free IDEA services and specialized programs across 34,000+ students, including dedicated autism, multi-disability, and emotional-disturbance classrooms. Specific program placements change year to year.
A well-regarded inner-ring suburban district offering free special-education services and specialized programming across the disability categories under IDEA. Programs and placements vary by year and student need.
A historically high-performing suburban district that provides a free continuum of special-education and related services (speech, OT, psychology) under IDEA, with inclusion and specialized classroom options. Offerings change year to year.
Provides on-site autism diagnostic evaluations (often available within about a week) alongside its clinic-based ABA, speech, and occupational therapy across Cleveland and Akron locations.
Cleveland Clinic Children's offers pediatric neuropsychological and behavioral-health evaluation of learning, attention, and developmental concerns — a second strong academic option for comprehensive assessment.
Dr. Karen Burk Paull provides comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations for children, adolescents, and college students (ages 6–22), diagnosing learning disabilities, dyslexia, ADHD, and related psychological concerns with detailed recommendations.
UH Rainbow Babies & Children's pediatric neuropsychology team — including Rachel Burmeister Tangen, PhD, ABPP (board-certified) and Christine Barry, PhD (autism-focused) — provides comprehensive evaluations of learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism within its Division of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics and Psychology.
Cleveland Clinic Children's offers pediatric neuropsychological and behavioral-health evaluation of learning, attention, and developmental concerns — a second strong academic option for a comprehensive assessment in greater Cleveland.
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.
Part of the Scottish Rite Masons' national network, the Children's Dyslexia Center of Cleveland (Rocky River, director Jessica Rzepka) provides free, one-on-one Orton-Gillingham structured-literacy tutoring for children with dyslexia — multi-year intervention at no cost to families, one of the West Side's best-kept free resources.
The Academy's directory lists accredited Orton-Gillingham practitioners across greater Cleveland — 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.
An Ohio-based pediatric therapy organization delivering individualized ABA, speech-language therapy, and occupational therapy at more than 30 sites across Greater Cleveland, staffed by BCBAs, licensed SLPs, and OTs.
Offers integrated speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, and behavioral (ABA) therapy for children across Broadview Heights, Cleveland, Akron, and surrounding communities, staffed by licensed and certified clinicians.
Provides individualized pediatric speech-language, occupational, and behavior therapy to families across the greater Cleveland and Akron areas, staffed by licensed and certified therapists.
A Cleveland-area pediatric therapy center offering ABA, speech-language, and occupational therapy from credentialed clinicians for children with autism and developmental needs.
A BHCOE-accredited autism therapy provider with Middleburg Heights and Mayfield centers, offering ABA alongside occupational, speech, and feeding therapy plus diagnostic evaluations — accredited for clinical quality.
United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cleveland's LeafBridge program provides pediatric physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy for children from infancy through age 22, including feeding therapy — a long-standing local nonprofit.
A pediatric clinic offering speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, enrichment groups, and parent coaching from a purpose-built indoor-and-outdoor sensory facility serving the greater Cleveland area.
A BHCOE-accredited autism therapy provider with Middleburg Heights and Mayfield centers, offering ABA alongside occupational and speech therapy — accredited for clinical quality rather than chosen by ad spend.
A BHCOE-accredited ABA provider serving the Cleveland area — research-based applied behavior analysis for autistic children, accredited for clinical quality.
The Behavioral Health Center of Excellence directory lists accredited ABA providers across greater Cleveland — the real quality bar for autism therapy, instead of whoever advertises most.
A century-old Cleveland nonprofit, the Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center delivers pediatric speech-language therapy and structured-literacy services from ASHA-certified (CCC-SLP) clinicians — a trusted, mission-driven local option with sliding-scale support, not a name that bought its place.
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.
UH Rainbow's Division of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics and its Autism Center provide leading-edge, multidisciplinary diagnosis and care for autism, ADHD, and developmental concerns — board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians, psychologists, and neuropsychologists working together.
The American Academy of Pediatrics' directory helps you find board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians in greater Cleveland — the credential to verify for a formal autism or ADHD diagnosis.
Cleveland Heights-based ECAG, run by Reaching Heights, provides free parent mentoring, IEP-meeting preparation and support, educational workshops, and resource connection for families of children with disabilities in Cuyahoga County.
The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' directory lists active, vetted special-education advocates and attorneys serving greater Cleveland — the field's real professional standard.
A Northeast Ohio firm that blends special-education legal services with advocacy — attorneys working alongside certified intervention specialists and special-education advocates on IEP disputes and school issues.
The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland provides free civil legal help to income-eligible families across the Cleveland region — a no-cost route to legal assistance, including some education and benefits matters.
Cleveland State University's Speech and Hearing Clinic provides comprehensive, low-cost diagnostic and therapeutic services for children — articulation, language, stuttering, voice, and hearing — delivered by graduate clinicians under ASHA-certified faculty supervision.
Cleveland-based Milestones Autism Resources (now at Lifeworks) runs Ohio's free autism Helpdesk — referrals, vetted resources, and the latest information for families at every age and stage, plus free professional workshops.
For children birth to 3, Ohio's Early Intervention provides free developmental evaluations and early-intervention therapies — the earliest, no-barrier place to start.
For children birth to 3, Ohio's Early Intervention (Help Me Grow) 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.
Ohio'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.
Ohio's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center, serving families since 1972 — free help understanding your rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings for children birth to age 26. A great first call.
Federally funded and free — they help Ohio families understand their rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings. A great first call.
Ohio'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 Cleveland?
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 Cleveland?
A New Story lists credential-vetted schools, evaluators, therapists, advocates, and the free public programs and parent centers in Ohio — searchable by ZIP, and free forever.