Greater Columbus — Columbus, Dublin, Westerville, New Albany, Hilliard, Grove City — is home to Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio State University, and the renowned Marburn Academy for learning differences. The hard part is knowing which help is genuinely excellent and how to reach the free options first. This is Columbus'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 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 →
Private school serving students with specific learning disabilities, with staff trained in the Orton-Gillingham structured-literacy approach to help students become effective learners and confident self-advocates.
Full-service accredited day school with structured, low-ratio classrooms for children ages roughly 6.5-12 with emotional and behavioral difficulties, combining academics with childhood mental-health treatment. Part of long-standing St. Vincent Family Services.
Tuition-free special-needs-focused school for students with ADHD, autism spectrum disorder and related learning/social disorders, using small classroom sizes and individualized instruction. Part of the statewide Summit Academy network.
Founded in 2005 by special-education teachers and a parent, The Learning Spectrum serves hundreds of Central Ohio students with autism and related disabilities, combining 1:1 ABA with occupational, speech, and music therapy and educational services.
Private school-day program (preschool through age 21, with a newly accredited grades 9–12 program) for children and young adults with autism and other developmental disabilities, using Applied Behavior Analysis alongside academics and therapies.
Specialized private school (now part of New Story Schools) serving students ages 3–21 with autism and emotional/behavioral needs who need a small, individualized environment instead of public school. Approved for Ohio's Autism and Jon Peterson scholarships.
Central Ohio's leading school for bright students with learning disabilities, Marburn Academy (New Albany) serves grades 2–12 with dyslexia, ADHD, and executive-function challenges — accredited at the highest level by ISACS and one of only 18 schools in the nation with a language program accredited by the Orton-Gillingham Academy.
Oakstone Academy (Westerville) is a private PreK–12 school providing an inclusive environment for children with autism spectrum disorder alongside typically developing peers — a distinctive inclusion model.
Haugland Learning Center serves the educational and therapeutic needs of children and young adults (ages 3–22) with autism, Asperger's, and other developmental disabilities — an alternative to public school for students who need a specialized environment.
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.
Public district frequently recommended by families for students with significant disabilities or autism, with deep staffing (200+ paraprofessionals, 20+ psychologists, social workers) and a specialized preschool program. Programs change year to year; verify current placement and IEP services with the district.
Public district offering a continuum from regular-classroom support to specialized learning centers, with Intervention Specialist Consultants covering autism, behavior management, assistive technology and instructional strategies. Programs change year to year; confirm current offerings with the district.
Ohio's largest district, providing the full IDEA continuum of special-education services plus a dedicated special-needs preschool for eligible young children. Programs and building assignments change year to year; verify current services and eligibility with the district.
Public Educational Service Center therapeutic day school serving students whose emotional/behavioral needs require a structured, clinically supported placement, available to central/southwest-Ohio districts via ESC partnership. Programs change year to year; confirm current intake and catchment.
Private practice specializing in pediatric neuropsychological evaluation for individuals from preschool through college, assessing autism, ADHD, learning disabilities and developmental concerns.
Central-Ohio practice led by a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who is also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), offering specialized assessment and intervention for ADHD, learning challenges and developmental disabilities.
Assessment practice founded by a school psychologist, providing comprehensive cognitive and educational evaluation for ADHD, autism spectrum conditions and learning challenges such as dyslexia.
Ohio-licensed clinical psychologist specializing in pediatric neuropsychology, with fellowship training at Kennedy Krieger/Johns Hopkins and Nationwide Children's. She evaluates ADHD, learning disabilities, and developmental concerns in children, adolescents, and young adults.
Columbus pediatric psychology practice led by Dr. Jess Graber, a licensed clinical psychologist and doctoral-level behavior analyst (BCBA-D), providing research-backed diagnostic evaluations to determine whether autism, ADHD, or other conditions explain a child's profile.
Nationwide Children's Pediatric Neuropsychology Program — including Kelly A. McNally, PhD, ABPP and H. Gerry Taylor, PhD, ABPP-CN (both Ohio State professors) — provides comprehensive evaluations of learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism for children with medical, neurological, and neurodevelopmental conditions.
A Columbus private practice led by Andrew Colvin, PhD, ABPP-CN — board-certified in clinical neuropsychology — offering comprehensive evaluations for learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism. The credential to look for in a private evaluator.
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.
No-cost Orton-Gillingham dyslexia intervention — 112 one-on-one 50-minute sessions over two years — for qualifying children in central Ohio. A rare free structured-literacy resource (typically with a waiting list).
Cyndi Schultz, M.A., SLP, is an Accredited Training Fellow of the Orton-Gillingham Academy — the Academy's highest practitioner level — and a speech-language pathologist who formerly directed the Language Training Institute at Marburn Academy. At Sensible Learning (greater Columbus / Olentangy) she and CALT colleagues Beth Reusser and Kristi Perry deliver structured-literacy dyslexia intervention.
The Academy's directory lists accredited Orton-Gillingham practitioners across greater Columbus — 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.
Provides Applied Behavior Analysis for children with autism alongside speech therapy and occupational therapy. Team includes psychologists, Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and licensed speech and behavioral-health providers.
Established Columbus pediatric provider offering speech, occupational and physical therapy for 20+ years, with clinicians holding the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP).
Pediatric speech, language and occupational therapy practice serving southeast Columbus, with staff holding national ASHA certification in speech-language pathology.
Pediatric clinic founded to provide quality occupational and speech-language therapy without long waitlists, staffed by licensed pediatric therapists.
Multidisciplinary provider offering ABA alongside center-, home-, and school-based pediatric therapy services for children with special needs. (Verify current BHCOE accreditation status directly with the provider.)
Integrated pediatric occupational therapy and speech-language practice addressing sensory processing, fine-motor and handwriting, self-care, feeding/swallowing, and social communication, plus neuro-affirming group programs.
A BHCOE-accredited Columbus provider offering ABA alongside pediatric therapy services — accredited for clinical quality rather than chosen by ad spend.
The Behavioral Health Center of Excellence directory lists accredited ABA providers across greater Columbus — the real quality bar for autism therapy, instead of whoever advertises most.
Tiffany Baronzzi, M.A., CCC-SLP, founded Speech+Smiles Therapy in Gahanna (Columbus metro). ASHA-certified and trained in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy, PROMPT, and VitalStim, she focuses on giving children speech clarity, language, and social-communication confidence.
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.
The American Occupational Therapy Association helps you find licensed occupational therapists (OTR/L) for sensory, fine-motor, and daily-living support — a credential to verify alongside speech and ABA care.
Nationwide Children's Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics (with Ohio State) provides developmental assessment and treatment for children under 21 with developmental, emotional, or behavioral concerns — board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians and psychologists who coordinate with families and schools.
The American Academy of Pediatrics' directory helps you find board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians in greater Columbus — the credential to verify for a formal autism or ADHD diagnosis.
Independent special-education advocate (graduate of the COPAA Special Education Advocate Training program) offering IEP/504 reviews, meeting attendance, and educational consulting for families across Ohio and beyond.
Founder-led advocacy and educational-consulting firm providing assessment, IEP & 504 support, school-liaison services, and transition planning, with deep knowledge of central-Ohio school districts.
Special-education law firm serving Ohio (IEPs, due process, manifestation determinations, disability discrimination) that also runs a free special-education legal clinic where parents of students ages 3–26 meet with an attorney or advocate.
The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' directory lists active, vetted special-education advocates and attorneys serving greater Columbus — the field's real professional standard.
Beyond information, OCECD's trained parent mentors can help you prepare for and understand IEP meetings at no cost — a respected free alternative to hiring a private advocate first.
The Legal Aid Society of Columbus provides free civil legal help to income-eligible families across central Ohio — a no-cost route to legal assistance, including some education and benefits matters.
OSU's Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic offers cost-effective evaluation and therapy for preschoolers, school-age children, and adults — articulation, language, fluency, motor speech, and hearing — accepts Medicaid, delivered by supervised graduate clinicians.
OCECD offers free workshops, training, and one-on-one parent mentoring for Ohio families — a rich free resource for learning your rights alongside clinical services.
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 Columbus?
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 Columbus?
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.