If your child in Fairfax County has autism, dyslexia, ADHD, anxiety, a speech delay, or complex needs — and Fairfax County 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.
FCPS is the largest school division in Virginia — which means great programs exist, but families can get lost in a very big system. The good news: federal law (IDEA) gives your child the same powerful rights everywhere, and here's the path to using them in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).
Before you pay anyone — including us — know your free options. We'll always tell you honestly when free help is all you need.
Private 1st-8th grade school in Annandale dedicated exclusively to students with language-based learning differences (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD). Structured, multisensory Orton-Gillingham literacy instruction all day, with speech and OT related services. Serves families across Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria and Loudoun.
Independent day school for intellectually engaged students in grades 1-12 with social, communication, pragmatic-language and organizational challenges (including high-functioning autism). Small classes (max 8:1), with speech, OT and behavior support integrated into the classroom day. Accepts both private-pay and school-district-placed students.
Chantilly day school serving children with autism, developmental delays, behavioral challenges and learning disabilities. Highly structured, individualized program with low student-staff ratios and integrated behavioral and therapeutic supports.
Therapeutic private day school in Fairfax (grades 6-12) for students with emotional disabilities, ADHD, anxiety, depression and related challenges who need a small, clinically supported setting. Integrates Inova Kellar Center mental-health and counseling services with academics.
Full-day special-education school (grades 1-12 / ages 6-21) for students with emotional disability, autism, specific learning disability, intellectual disability, OHI and multiple disabilities who need a more supportive setting. On-site speech-language pathology, social work, counseling and OT. A companion Fairfax campus (PHILLIPS Building Futures) serves transition-age students.
Full-time therapeutic special-education day school in Springfield (grades 2-12) specializing in learning and behavioral disabilities, autism and emotional disabilities. Approximately 4:1 student-teacher ratio with embedded clinical and behavioral supports.
Award-winning Alexandria day school (grades 3-12) for average-to-gifted students with learning differences or ADHD. Small classes (10 or fewer; 6 in lower school), multisensory instruction, reading and math remediation, and a college-prep track tailored to different learning styles.
Private special-education day school in Springfield (grades 1-12) for students with autism and emotional/behavioral support needs. Therapeutic, structured environment with individualized academics, behavior support and clinical services for students who need more than a public classroom can provide.
Parent-founded (2000) special-education day school serving roughly 30 students ages 5-22 with autism and related developmental disabilities. Highly individualized, visually-based instruction with embedded therapeutic supports; serves Fairfax-area families from its Northern Virginia location near Manassas.
Northern Virginia day school (K-8) for bright students who learn differently — language-based learning disabilities, ADHD, executive-function and social challenges. Small, flexible classes with individualized, adaptive instruction; a new Reston-area location expands access for Fairfax/Reston families.
Special-education day school in Leesburg for students ages 5-22 with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism. Progressive, supportive learning environment with life-skills and individualized instruction; part of The Arc of Loudoun's continuum of disability services serving the Northern Virginia region.
Northern Virginia campus (Oakton) of the well-regarded Siena School, serving bright, college-bound students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences. Multisensory, research-based instruction, small classes and a strengths-based model. Sister campus to the flagship Silver Spring, MD school.
Renowned independent school (grades 1-12) in DC for students of average-to-superior intelligence with dyslexia, ADHD and other language-based learning disabilities. Arts-infused, multisensory, experiential instruction with embedded clinical and academic supports. A regional gold standard accessible to Fairfax families across the Potomac.
Rockville day school (preschool-grade 12) for children with language and learning disabilities, autism, intellectual disabilities and other health impairments. Multisensory, language-intensive curriculum delivered by a team of teachers, SLPs, OTs, PTs and social workers. Long-standing DMV gold-standard program.
DC independent school (ages 18 months-grade 5) combining best practices of early-childhood and deaf/hard-of-hearing education in an inclusive setting. Each classroom is co-taught by a master's-level educator and a full-time speech-language pathologist — a national model for children with hearing loss and language needs.
DC school serving students ages 4-22 with intellectual disabilities, autism and secondary disabilities. Highly structured, individualized academic and functional-skills programming with embedded therapeutic and behavioral supports for students with significant needs.
Nonprofit Rockville day school (ages 4-21, ~200+ students) for students with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, OHI, specific learning disability and speech/language impairment. Renowned model programs (e.g., Model Asperger Program) and strong related-services team. A DMV gold-standard autism school.
Small Potomac day school (grades K-8) for students with learning differences and related developmental and social needs. Nurturing yet challenging environment with low ratios, individualized instruction and integrated speech, OT and social-emotional support.
Hyattsville college-prep day school (grades 5-12) for students with specific language-based learning differences (dyslexia, ADHD). Rigorous, individualized, multisensory programming with assistive technology and embedded support services.
Nonpublic therapeutic day school in Rockville (ages 5-21, grades 2-12) for students with emotional and behavioral disabilities and autism spectrum disorder. Clinically integrated model pairing academics with on-site mental-health treatment and counseling.
Silver Spring campus of The Auburn School (grades K-8) for bright students with social, communication and pragmatic-language challenges, including high-functioning autism. Small classes with integrated speech, OT and social-skills instruction. Sister campus to the Chantilly, VA location.
Flagship campus of The Siena School (grades 4-12) in Silver Spring for bright, college-bound students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences. Multisensory, research-based instruction, assistive technology and a strengths-based culture. A leading DMV dyslexia school.
Nationally renowned special-education school (within the Kennedy Krieger Institute) serving students with autism, neurodevelopmental and complex learning/behavioral needs, including a high-school and career-tech program. Research-driven, interdisciplinary model. Baltimore-based but a recognized destination program for the broader DMV.
We track the region's most respected evaluators and specialized schools — ranked by quality, never by who pays. Families near Fairfax County often look at Commonwealth Academy (Alexandria), The Auburn School (Herndon), The Newton School (Sterling), 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 Fairfax County 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.
FCPS runs your child's IEP — one of the nation's largest districts, with a full continuum of special-education and autism programs. 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 Fairfax County. No pressure, no cost — and we'll tell you honestly whether you even need us.
Get your free first call →