Hampton Roads — Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News, Hampton, Portsmouth, Suffolk and the Peninsula — is one of Virginia's largest metros, and it has deep, credentialed help for kids with special needs, anchored by Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD). Your local districts — Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Norfolk Public Schools, Chesapeake Public Schools, Newport News Public Schools, Hampton City Schools, Portsmouth and Suffolk — each run a special-education department, but quality and wait times vary district to district. This is Hampton Roads' own yellow pages of the best, most relevant help — named experts and clinics where we can verify them, ranked by real credentials (ABPP, BHCOE, Orton-Gillingham/Wilson, COPAA, CCC-SLP, OTR-L, board-certification), never by reviews or who pays. In Virginia your free front door is the Infant & Toddler Connection (birth–3) and your school district's evaluation and IEP for ages 3+ — Virginia requires the school to complete the eligibility process within 65 business days of your referral. 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 →
Specialized day school for individuals up to age 22 with autism and related challenges, part of the long-established Faison Center. Accredited by VAISEF and licensed by the Virginia Department of Education.
Private day school for students ages 5–22 with emotional, behavioral, and developmental disabilities. Licensed by the Virginia Department of Education and accredited by VAISEF.
Chesapeake Bay Academy is a Virginia Beach independent school built for students with dyslexia, ADHD, and language-based learning differences — using Orton-Gillingham-based programs (SPIRE, Wilson, Sounds in Syllables) plus on-campus speech-language and occupational therapy. A leading Hampton Roads specialized placement.
Rivermont Schools operates a private day school in Hampton serving students with autism and significant behavioral or developmental needs — a structured, therapeutic placement option your IEP team can fund when the district can't meet the need.
A searchable directory for comparing Hampton Roads private and special-education school options by location, grades, and program — useful if you're seeking a specialized placement.
Southeastern Virginia's only independent K-12 school dedicated to students who learn differently. VDOE-licensed to serve Specific Learning Disability (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia), ADD/ADHD, language-based learning disabilities, auditory processing, developmental delays, twice-exceptional learners, and Level 1 autism. Accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) and named a NASET School of Excellence seven years running. College-prep focus with small classes and individualized support.
K-12 private special-education day school serving students with autism and emotional disabilities. Fully accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Specialized Education Facilities (VAISEF, approved by the Virginia Council for Private Education) and by Cognia. Standards-aligned curriculum with Applied Behavior Analysis, MTSS, counseling, trauma-informed practice, and SEL; ~9:1 ratio. Most students are placed via their public school district.
VDOE-licensed private day school in Norfolk serving students ages 5-22 (grades 1-12) who need intensive academic, emotional, and behavioral support beyond what the public-school setting provides. Accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Specialized Education Facilities (VAISEF) and by CARF. Continuous supervision and individualized academic/behavioral support aligned to each student's IEP; serves Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and the greater Tidewater area.
Specialized private day school for students with autism and related challenges, ages 5-22, on the Peninsula side of Hampton Roads. Part of the well-established Faison Center; accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Specialized Education Facilities (VAISEF) and by the CABAS Board, and licensed by VDOE. Applied-behavior-analytic instruction across Lower, Middle, and Upper School. Serves localities from New Kent County to Hampton.
Public-school consortium established in 1978 by Chesapeake, Franklin, Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Southampton, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach to deliver specialized settings and services. Serves 1,500+ students across distinct programs, including the Autism Spectrum Program (ASP) of self-contained classrooms for students with moderate-to-severe autism, plus emotional-support and alternative-education programs. The region's primary public specialized-placement option, accessed through a student's home district.
Premier language-based school for students with dyslexia, grades K-8. The only school in Virginia accredited by the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators (AOGPE), the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS), and the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS). Daily one-on-one Orton-Gillingham Language Fundamentals instruction, ~10:1 ratio, individualized curriculum. In Richmond — beyond Hampton Roads but the closest true OG-Academy dyslexia school and a top regional option for families able to relocate/commute.
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 special-education and alternative-education consortium serving eight Hampton Roads divisions (Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and more), serving 1,500+ students through specialized autism, emotional-disability, and complex-needs programs. Programs change year to year — confirm current offerings with your district.
Large public district offering specialized instruction, High Support classrooms, and a Preschool Assessment Center for children ages 2–5 suspected of a disability. SOL pass rates exceed state averages across subjects. Programs change year to year — verify current services with the division.
Norfolk's district special-education department provides IEP-driven services, related therapies, and partners with the SECEP consortium for intensive placements. Programs change year to year — confirm current offerings with the division.
Chesapeake's district special-education office delivers IEP and 504 services and is a founding member of the SECEP regional consortium for specialized placements. Programs change year to year — verify current services with the division.
Eastern Virginia Medical School's Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences provides diagnostic evaluation, ASD testing, neuropsychological testing, and medication management for children and families.
Comprehensive neuropsychological and psychoeducational evaluations for children (age 5+) assessing ADHD, autism, learning disorders, and mental-health concerns, conducted by a licensed psychologist.
Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters' Developmental Pediatrics — a Virginia Department of Health-designated Child Development Center — provides interdisciplinary evaluation, diagnosis, and management of autism, learning disabilities, ADHD, and developmental disabilities from birth through adolescence, with clinical psychologists and neurodevelopmental/developmental-behavioral pediatricians. The region's premier diagnostic home.
CHKD's Autism Diagnostic Clinic offers focused diagnostic evaluations for children age 5 and younger — a faster pathway to an early, accurate autism diagnosis that opens the door to early intervention and services.
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 Hampton Roads, instead of trusting star ratings.
The Hampton Roads Dyslexia Center provides one-on-one reading and writing intervention using the Wilson Reading System, with fully certified Wilson Dyslexia Therapists and Orton-Gillingham specialists — the gold-standard, evidence-based credentials for dyslexia remediation.
The Academy of Orton-Gillingham and the Academic Language Therapy Association list accredited O-G practitioners and CALTs across Hampton Roads — searchable near Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, or Newport News. The gold-standard credentials 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.
Pediatric occupational, physical, and speech-language therapy with clinics in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, and Newport News, plus birth-to-three Early Intervention services in the home.
Evidence-based applied behavior analysis for children with autism, delivered in-home and center-based across Norfolk, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, and Suffolk by Board Certified / Licensed Behavior Analysts.
Research-based home and center-based ABA autism treatment in Chesapeake serving the greater Hampton Roads region, with programs designed and supervised by Board Certified Behavior Analysts.
Autism Consulting & Therapy (ACT) provides applied behavior analysis for children with autism across Hampton Roads and carries BHCOE accreditation — the real quality marker for ABA.
Children's Therapy Concepts provides pediatric speech-language, occupational, and physical therapy in Chesapeake with licensed and nationally certified (CCC-SLP, OTR/L) clinicians — a coordinated local option for kids who need more than one therapy.
TLC Speech Therapy 4 Kids provides pediatric speech, occupational, and physical therapy serving Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, and Newport News — ASHA-certified (CCC-SLP) clinicians across the whole region.
The BHCOE directory lists accredited ABA providers across Hampton Roads, ASHA ProFind lists CCC-SLP speech therapists, and AOTA lists OTR/L occupational therapists — searchable by zip so families in Newport News, Hampton, Suffolk, or Portsmouth find the nearest.
CHKD's neurodevelopmental and developmental-behavioral pediatricians (with clinical psychologists like Janice Keener, PsyD) diagnose and help manage autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, and complex developmental conditions — Hampton Roads' premier developmental-medicine team.
The American Academy of Pediatrics' directory helps you find board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians across Hampton Roads — 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 Hampton Roads — the field's real professional standard.
PEATC is Virginia's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center — free 1:1 consultations, workshops, and webinars helping families (birth–26) understand their rights, evaluations, and the IEP process. A respected statewide free resource before hiring a private advocate.
Virginia'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.
Old Dominion University's speech-language-hearing clinic provides low-cost evaluation and therapy for children with communication disorders, delivered by supervised graduate clinicians in Norfolk — a strong-value option for ongoing speech-language services.
The Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia provides free civil legal help to income-eligible families across Hampton Roads — a no-cost route to legal assistance, including some education and benefits matters.
The Endependence Center offers free information, referral, and peer support for people with disabilities and their families across Hampton Roads — a no-cost local hub when you're not sure where to turn.
For children birth to 3, the Infant & Toddler Connection provides free developmental evaluations and early-intervention therapies through local Hampton Roads programs — the earliest, no-barrier place to start.
For children birth to 3 with a delay or disability, the Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia provides free evaluation and early-intervention services (speech, OT, PT, developmental) through local programs serving Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, the Peninsula, and the rest of Hampton Roads. The earliest, no-barrier place to start.
At age 3, request a special-education evaluation in writing from your district — Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News, Hampton, Portsmouth, or Suffolk. Virginia requires the eligibility process be completed within 65 business days of your referral. This is the free legal route to an IEP and services under IDEA.
Virginia'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 Virginia families understand their rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings. A great first call.
Virginia'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 Hampton Roads?
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 Hampton Roads?
A New Story lists credential-vetted schools, evaluators, therapists, advocates, and the free public programs and parent centers in Virginia — searchable by ZIP, and free forever.