If your child in Arlington has autism, dyslexia, ADHD, anxiety, a speech delay, or complex needs — and Arlington Public Schools isn't giving them what they need — you don't have to figure it out alone. A New Story is a free resource built by a DMV parent who has lived it. Everything here is free to use.
APS is a smaller, well-resourced division — but smaller doesn't always mean your child automatically gets what they need. The good news: federal law (IDEA) gives your child the same powerful rights everywhere, and here's the path to using them in Arlington Public Schools (APS).
Before you pay anyone — including us — know your free options. We'll always tell you honestly when free help is all you need.
Northern Virginia's established language-based day school (founded 1971) for bright students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia and ADHD. Closest credentialed special-ed day school to Arlington; explicitly serves Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax and Loudoun families. Multisensory, structured-literacy instruction with certified specialists.
College-prep day school in Alexandria (minutes from Arlington) for grades 3-12 with ADHD, executive-function challenges, mild learning differences and twice-exceptional (2e) learners. Small classes (10 or fewer), embedded compensatory-strategy curriculum, honors/AP track. Strong fit for average-to-gifted Arlington students who need support without a fully restrictive placement.
Long-established nonpublic special-education program serving students with significant emotional, behavioral, autism and learning disabilities, including those who need a therapeutic placement via their IEP. A core public-school IEP placement option for Arlington and the wider DMV.
Serving DC and Virginia special-needs students for 60+ years, with therapeutic and academic programs for children with emotional disabilities, autism and learning disabilities. An IEP-placement day school within easy reach of Arlington.
Therapeutic special-education program (grades 3-12) operated by Inova's behavioral-health center for students with emotional and/or learning disabilities and autism spectrum needs. Wraps clinical mental-health services around academics; an IEP therapeutic placement for Arlington-area students.
Loudoun County day school serving students ages 5-22 with intellectual disabilities and significant developmental needs across grades 1-12. A credentialed life-skills and functional-academics placement option within the Northern Virginia / DMV region.
Day school for bright students with social, communication and pragmatic-language challenges (autism spectrum, NVLD). Herndon (VA), Silver Spring (MD) and Baltimore campuses; the Herndon and Silver Spring locations are reachable from Arlington for families seeking a small, social-cognition-focused program.
Internationally recognized DC day school (founded 1967) for bright grades 1-12 students with dyslexia, ADHD and other language-based learning disabilities. Arts-infused, experiential college-prep model. A gold-standard DMV option accepting IEP placements; close to Arlington across the river.
DC day school offering an ungraded, diagnostic-prescriptive program (K-12) for students with learning disabilities, attention deficits and speech-language delays. Accepts students through the IEP process; a credentialed cross-river option for Arlington families.
DC school serving students ages 3-22 with intellectual disabilities, autism and multiple/secondary disabilities. Functional academics, life-skills and transition-to-adulthood focus, with jurisdiction-funded IEP placements. A core DMV option for students with more significant support needs.
DC school (ages 18 months-Grade 5) internationally known for the oral education and inclusion of young children with hearing loss, using cochlear implants and hearing aids. Every classroom pairs a master's-level teacher with a full-time speech-language pathologist. A premier DMV option for deaf/hard-of-hearing and significant language-needs early learners.
Silver Spring day school (grades 3-12) for bright, college-bound students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences. Multisensory, structured-literacy program with specially trained faculty. A DMV gold-standard dyslexia school within reach of Arlington.
Rockville day school (preschool-grade 12) of the Treatment & Learning Centers for students with language/learning disabilities, autism, intellectual disabilities and other health impairments. Team model of certified teachers, SLPs, OTs, PTs and social workers. A gold-standard DMV language-intensive program.
Nationally recognized Rockville school (ages 4-21) for students with autism and other developmental disabilities, with comprehensive therapeutic and behavioral services and well-known autism programs/outreach. A premier DMV autism placement accepting IEP referrals.
Small Bethesda/Potomac day school (K-8) providing a multisensory, therapeutic environment for students with ADHD, learning, language, social or sensory-processing challenges who need small classes and individualized attention. A credentialed Montgomery County option for younger DMV learners.
Silver Spring day school (grades 5-12) specializing in students with language-based learning disabilities. Structured-literacy and assistive-technology emphasis with certified special educators. A DMV option for older students needing intensive reading/writing remediation.
Rockville therapeutic day school (grades 1-12) serving students with emotional disabilities and autism who need a clinically supported environment. Integrates mental-health treatment with academics; an IEP therapeutic placement in the DMV.
Kennedy Krieger Institute's special-education schools (ages 3-21) for students with a wide range of learning, developmental and neurological disorders, backed by leading neurodevelopmental clinical expertise. Multiple Maryland campuses serving the broader region; the gold-standard option for complex medical/neurological profiles.
Arlington's home district offers the full continuum of IEP services plus specialized autism programs: the Multi-Intervention Program for Students with Autism (MIPA), Mini-MIPA pre-K sites, and the Secondary Program for Students with Autism (SPSA), alongside speech, OT, PT, counseling, assistive tech and transition services. A Parent Resource Center supports families navigating placement. The first, free, legally required option for any Arlington child.
We track the region's most respected evaluators and specialized schools — ranked by quality, never by who pays. Families near Arlington often look at Commonwealth Academy (Alexandria), The Lab School of Washington (DC), and Oakwood School (Annandale), among others. Start with your child's specific need:
Use our free, guided "What's going on with my child?" tool — it turns what you're noticing into a clear one-page summary you can hand your Arlington school or doctor.
A board-certified clinical neuropsychologist (ABPP-CN) providing comprehensive neurocognitive and psychoeducational evaluation in Fairfax — the kind of rigorous report a strong IEP is built on.
A Fairfax practice offering neuropsychological and psychoeducational evaluations for children, with school-ready reports for IEP and 504 planning.
The American Board of Professional Psychology directory lists only board-certified neuropsychologists — the field's real credential. Filter to Virginia to find one near you.
Instructors certified in IMSE Orton-Gillingham and the Wilson Reading System, providing structured-literacy dyslexia therapy to students across Northern Virginia.
Find an Academy-credentialed Orton-Gillingham practitioner or a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) — the genuine dyslexia-instruction credentials — near you in Virginia.
The IDA's provider directory lists structured-literacy tutors and programs that meet its standards for evidence-based dyslexia instruction.
Pediatric occupational, speech and physical therapy with licensed clinicians, in Arlington.
Pediatric speech, occupational and physical therapy delivered in clinic, home, school or daycare, with a sensory gym at their Sterling office.
Licensed pediatric occupational therapists serving Northern Virginia since 2011, in Annandale.
Speech, occupational therapy and ABA with licensed therapists providing one-on-one care in Fairfax County.
Developmental screening and autism assessment using standardized tools, at offices in Fairfax, Herndon, Great Falls and Aldie.
Comprehensive, multi-step autism and developmental evaluations for children and teens, serving Loudoun and Northern Virginia.
Dr. Lowry Shropshire, developmental pediatrician, provides developmental evaluations and monitoring in Alexandria.
The American Academy of Pediatrics' HealthyChildren directory helps you find a board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatrician near you.
Serves Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington, Falls Church and Alexandria with IEP and 504 review, placement and least-restrictive-environment help, meeting preparation and representation, and due-process support.
A Northern Virginia special-education law firm representing families in IEP and 504 disputes, with an educational advocate (Kaitlynn Fraze, PhD) on staff.
Special-education advocacy and expert-witness services across Fairfax County and the wider DC/Maryland/Virginia area.
The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' searchable directory lists only active, vetted special-education advocates and attorneys — the field's real professional standard.
By law, your district must evaluate your child for special education at no cost once you request it in writing — always the first, free step. Use our free, ready-to-send request letter.
GMU's training clinic in Fairfax offers low-cost, sliding-scale psychological and psychoeducational assessment, supervised by faculty.
APS runs your child's IEP, with a continuum of special-education services and programs across Arlington. Programs change year to year; confirm current offerings.
Virginia's free, federally funded Parent Training & Information Center: training and one-to-one help understanding your rights, evaluations, IEPs and meetings, birth to 26. A great first call.
Virginia's federally mandated protection & advocacy agency — free legal-rights information and advocacy when your child's special-education rights are being denied.
Free developmental evaluation and early-intervention services (speech, OT, PT, developmental therapy) for any Virginia child birth to 3 with a delay — no diagnosis or income test needed.
Tell us what's happening with your child in Arlington. No pressure, no cost — and we'll tell you honestly whether you even need us.
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