Dayton and the Miami Valley — Kettering, Beavercreek, Centerville, Huber Heights, Springboro — have credentialed help for kids with special needs, anchored by Dayton Children's Hospital and decades-old local practices. This is Dayton's own yellow pages of the best, most relevant help — named experts and therapists where we can verify them, not just directories. It's ranked by real credentials (ABPP, BHCOE, CALT/Orton-Gillingham/Barton, COPAA, CCC-SLP, OTR-L, board-certification) — never by reviews or who pays. Ohio has no Regional Center system, so your free front door is Help Me Grow / Ohio Early Intervention for birth–3 and your school district's evaluation for ages 3+ — start there, then the best evaluators, schools, reading specialists, therapists, doctors, and advocates near you.
✓ Every provider here is vetted by credentials, never pay-to-play. How we choose →
Nonprofit K-12 community school built specifically for students with autism spectrum disorders, ADHD and related diagnoses, using small class sizes (two staff per room), the Science of Reading, and embedded ABA, speech and OT supports. Part of the statewide Summit Academy Schools network.
Independent day school for students with diagnosed specific learning disabilities, dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities, with staff trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach and Multisensory Math.
Long-established independent PK-12 college-prep school with a low 6:1 student-teacher ratio and dedicated learning support for students with language-based learning differences and twice-exceptional learners.
Lemon Tree of Dayton helps parents of children with disabilities find the right educational environment and get the therapy and instructional services they need — speech, language, literacy, and special-education support both in and out of school. A useful guide when weighing school options.
A searchable directory for comparing Dayton-area private and special-education school options by location, grades, and program — useful for finding a specialized placement near you.
Tuition-free, nonprofit public community school built specifically for students in grades K–12 with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders and related diagnoses. Small classes of no more than 18 students led by two teachers, with embedded ABA strategies, speech/language and occupational therapy, the Science of Reading approach, and transition support. Part of the statewide Summit Academy network of specialized schools.
County public education service center delivering special education across the greater Dayton region. Operates specialized student learning programs (Learning Center West, Learning Center North, Future Self Center, Early Childhood Program) for students with significant needs, including language-based learning disabilities and twice-exceptional learners, with individualized instruction, therapeutic methods, related services, and low student-teacher ratios.
County public education service center serving Greene County's districts (Beavercreek, Fairborn, Xenia, Bellbrook-Sugarcreek, Greeneview, Cedar Cliff, Yellow Springs). Provides special education programs and related services — speech/language, OT/PT, adaptive PE, vision/hearing and audiology, mental-health supports, and an alternative school with behavior intervention for at-risk students — at sites in Yellow Springs, Bellbrook, Fairborn and Xenia.
County public education service center serving Clark County and the Springfield area within the Dayton metro. Runs the Clark Education Center with specialized classrooms tailored to students across the autism spectrum and students who struggle in traditional settings due to behavioral needs, plus a range of related special-education services and staff training. A regional public option within commuting distance of Dayton.
Specialized autism-focused school serving early childhood through high school with small class sizes and individualized, multidisciplinary instruction for neurodiverse learners. State-approved provider for Ohio's Autism Scholarship, Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship and EdChoice, so families can apply scholarship funds toward tuition. Located in the Cincinnati area, roughly 50 miles south of Dayton — a credentialed regional fallback option.
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 educational service center providing special-education programs and related services to 16 Montgomery County districts, including its Learning Centers for students with significant disabilities. Programs change year to year; confirm current placement options with the ESC and your home district.
Public ESC serving Greene County districts (Beavercreek, Fairborn, Xenia, Bellbrook-Sugarcreek and others) with special-education programs, speech/language, OT/PT, behavior intervention and early-childhood services. Programs change year to year; confirm current options with the ESC.
Practice led by an Ohio-licensed psychologist board-certified in clinical neuropsychology (ABPP), specializing in neuropsychological evaluation of children, teens and adults including autism, ADHD and learning disorders.
Established Dayton-area psychology practice (30+ years) providing comprehensive assessment for autism spectrum disorder, ADHD and learning disorders alongside therapy services.
Psychologists trained in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) evaluating for autism and developmental disabilities; team includes a licensed psychologist with 20+ years working with individuals with developmental disabilities.
Practice offering neuropsychological and psychological assessment for children, adolescents and adults, including autism spectrum disorder, led by an Ohio-licensed psychologist.
Dayton Children's Hospital runs a developmental diagnostic clinic and a dedicated Autism Diagnostic Clinic, with physicians, nurse practitioners, and psychologists evaluating autism, ADHD, and developmental delays — and the hospital holds Certified Autism Center designation. The Miami Valley's leading evaluation hub.
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 across the Dayton area, instead of trusting star ratings.
CodeBreakers' dyslexia specialists are certified in the Barton Reading & Spelling System — an Orton-Gillingham-influenced, simultaneously multisensory, explicit, systematic program — and have served students with dyslexia in Dayton, Troy, and the surrounding area for over ten years.
The Academy's directory lists accredited Orton-Gillingham practitioners across the Miami Valley — searchable by area so you can find one near Dayton, Kettering, or Beavercreek. The gold-standard credential for a private dyslexia tutor.
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.
Dedicated autism therapy center providing center-based ABA under Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), plus occupational, speech and feeding therapy and insurance-recognized diagnostic services.
Oakwood/Dayton-area ABA provider offering in-home and clinic-based ABA, early intervention, parent training, behavioral consultation and social-skills groups under BCBA supervision.
Pediatric therapy network with Dayton-area clinics providing licensed speech-language pathology, occupational therapy and physical therapy for children with developmental delays, autism and sensory needs.
Nonprofit center providing free, intensive one-on-one multisensory reading instruction using the Orton-Gillingham approach, with tutors trained and supervised in accredited dyslexia-remediation methodology.
Speech & Language Associates of Dayton has served the Miami Valley for over 40 years. Its ASHA-certified clinicians include Patricia K. Fisher, M.A., CCC-SLP (phonological disorders, voice, language) and Jill Patton, M.S., CCC-SLP (articulation, fluency, phonology, language) — covering articulation, autism, pragmatics, literacy, stuttering, and orofacial myology.
United Rehabilitation Services is a Dayton nonprofit providing comprehensive pediatric speech-language and occupational therapy (and feeding/oral-motor) for children birth to 18 — a mission-driven local option with multiple disciplines.
The BHCOE directory lists accredited ABA providers across the Dayton area, ASHA ProFind lists CCC-SLP speech therapists, and AOTA lists OTR/L occupational therapists — searchable by zip so families in Kettering, Beavercreek, or Centerville find the nearest.
Dayton Children's developmental pediatrics team — physicians, nurse practitioners, and psychologists — diagnoses, treats, and provides long-term care for autism, ADHD, and developmental conditions, including a dedicated autism diagnostic clinic. The Miami Valley's main hospital-based developmental program.
The American Academy of Pediatrics' directory helps you find board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians across the Dayton area — the credential to verify for a formal autism or ADHD diagnosis.
The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' directory lists active, vetted special-education advocates and attorneys serving the Dayton area — the field's real professional standard.
OCECD's trained parent mentors help Ohio families prepare for and understand IEP meetings at no cost — a respected, statewide free alternative to hiring a private advocate first.
Ohio's protection & advocacy agency offers free legal information and advocacy for special-education rights — a no-cost first stop before hiring a private advocate or attorney.
URS is a Dayton nonprofit committed to serving children regardless of family circumstances, providing speech, occupational, and other pediatric therapies — a mission-driven option when cost or insurance is a barrier.
Legal Aid of Western Ohio (with Advocates for Basic Legal Equality) provides free civil legal help to income-eligible families across the Dayton area — a no-cost route to legal assistance, including some education and benefits matters.
For children birth to 3, Help Me Grow provides free developmental evaluations and early-intervention therapies — the earliest, no-barrier place to start in Ohio.
OCECD offers free workshops and one-on-one parent support across Ohio — a rich free resource for families learning their rights and navigating the system.
Ohio's Help Me Grow / Early Intervention provides free developmental evaluation and in-home early-intervention services for children birth to 3 with delays or disabilities. The earliest, no-barrier place to start in the Miami Valley.
Ohio's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center offers free help understanding your rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings — knowledgeable, statewide, and a great first call.
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.
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 Dayton?
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 Dayton?
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.