Our promise
How we choose who's on this list
Every school, evaluator, therapist, doctor, and advocate in our directory earns its place by real credentials — never by paying us. Here's exactly how, and why you can trust it.
We don't rank by star ratings — they're noisy and easy to game. Nobody pays to be listed, we take no money to recommend anyone, and we never sell your data. The directory answers to families, and only families.
What earns a place on the list
We look for the honest signals of quality that hold up over time — the bar a careful, informed parent would use if they had weeks to research it themselves:
Board certification
Recognized clinical boards — e.g., ABPP / ABCN for neuropsychology — and physicians certified in their specialty.
School accreditation
Independent-school and special-education accreditation (e.g., Cognia, regional and state associations).
Professional licensure
Licensed, currently-credentialed providers — CCC-SLP (speech), OTR/L (occupational therapy), BCBA (behavior), licensed psychologists.
Recognized methods
Evidence-based, structured approaches — e.g., Orton-Gillingham / Wilson for dyslexia and reading.
Standing in the field
Membership and good standing in the field's real professional bodies (e.g., COPAA for advocates), and long, established reputation.
University & hospital affiliation
Academic medical centers and university clinics — the recognized diagnostic and training homes in a region.
ABPP / ABCNOrton-Gillingham · WilsonCCC-SLP · OTR/L · BCBACogniaCOPAAUniversity & hospital programs
Why not star ratings?
Online ratings are easy to game, easy to flood, and reward marketing budgets over real expertise. A five-star clinic can be terrible for your child, and a brilliant, quiet specialist can have barely any reviews. Credentials and standing are the honest bar — not the loudest reviews.
About the public-school options
When we list strong public schools and programs, they've earned it on 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 those as a strong starting point, and confirm the current fit for your child.
The lines we never cross
✓Nobody pays to be listed. Inclusion is earned, never bought.
✓We never take money to recommend anyone — no pay-to-play placement, ever.
✓We never sell your data. Your family's information is yours.
✓We're advocacy and education — not legal advice or representation.
Help us keep it honest
We're human, and the world changes — a program closes, a phone number changes, a great new provider opens. If something's wrong or missing, tell us and we'll fix it fast.