If your child in Loudoun County has autism, dyslexia, ADHD, anxiety, a speech delay, or complex needs — and Loudoun 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.
LCPS is one of the fastest-growing divisions in the country, and special-education capacity hasn't always kept pace with that growth. The good news: federal law (IDEA) gives your child the same powerful rights everywhere, and here's the path to using them in Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS).
Before you pay anyone — including us — know your free options. We'll always tell you honestly when free help is all you need.
Founded in 2003 by parents with The Arc of Loudoun, Aurora is a Leesburg private day school using applied behavior analysis (ABA) for students ages 5-22 with intellectual and developmental disabilities, primarily autism. BCBAs, VDOE-licensed teachers, SLPs and OTs are on every student's team; ~9:1 ratio. The only specialized autism day school physically located in Loudoun County.
Loudoun County Public Schools' own specialized public school in Leesburg, serving students with significant disabilities along the continuum of LCPS special-education services. Part of the district that provides free special education for Loudoun children ages 2-21; staffed by licensed special educators with related services (OT, PT, speech).
Leesburg campus of nonprofit PHILLIPS Programs, a VDOE-licensed and VAISEF-accredited special-education provider. Building Futures ~ Loudoun serves students ages 14-21 with disabilities through career-pathway and work-readiness programs (Building Trades, Culinary Arts, Agri-Enterprise). Sister campus PHILLIPS School-Annandale serves grades 3-12.
Part of New Story/Rivermont's network of 17 VDOE-licensed Virginia campuses; the Northern Virginia school (Reston, serving Loudoun via district referral) provides therapeutic, standards-aligned education for students ages 5-22 with autism and emotional disabilities, integrating ABA, MTSS, counseling and SEL. VDOE-licensed teachers, small classes, licensed clinicians.
Independent K-8 day school in Herndon for bright students with social and communication challenges, including high-functioning autism, ADHD, anxiety, PDD-NOS and NVLD. Evidence-based, data-driven curriculum building academics plus executive functioning, social communication and pragmatic language. Supports both private-pay and IEP-referred students from Loudoun and across Northern Virginia.
For 50+ years, Oakwood (Annandale) has served grades 1-8 students with specific learning disabilities including dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD and processing disorders. Structured, multisensory, language-based instruction. VDOE-licensed and accredited by VCPE and VAISEF; draws families from Loudoun and the greater DC metro.
VDOE-licensed special-education school providing 1:1 support (each child paired with an instructional assistant, therapist, BCBA, or special-ed teacher all day) for children with autism, behavioral challenges, developmental delays and learning disabilities. Curriculum tied to VDOE standards with OT, PT, speech and ABA. Explicitly serves Loudoun County district students.
Nonprofit full-day special-education school for grades 3-12 / ages 8-22 whose emotional disability, autism (high-functioning), learning disability, multiple or intellectual disability require a more supportive setting. Strengths-based model addressing academic, behavioral, emotional and social needs. VDOE-licensed, VAISEF/VCPE-recognized, and OSSE-approved nonpublic.
Therapeutic education program (grades 3-12) operated by Inova in Fairfax for students eligible for special education with emotional and/or learning disabilities, plus social, behavioral or health-related needs that interfere with learning. Integrated with Inova's behavioral-health services. VDOE-licensed and VAISEF-accredited.
Long-established therapeutic day school in Springfield serving ages 6-21 with emotional disabilities, developmental/language disorders and specific learning disabilities. School-wide ABA, clinical services, case management, art/speech/OT therapy, and a transition/job-sampling program beginning at age 14. VDOE-licensed; serves DC and Virginia including Northern Virginia districts.
Award-winning Alexandria day school for average-to-gifted students grades 3-12 with learning differences or ADHD. College-prep curriculum (honors/AP) with reading/math remediation, embedded assistive technology, and executive-function support; classes capped at 10 (6 in lower school). Accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools.
Grades 3-12 school for bright, college-bound students with language-based learning differences such as dyslexia, with mild-to-moderate needs in reading, writing, spelling or math. Headquartered in Silver Spring, MD, with a Northern Virginia campus in Oakton (grades 3-8) accessible to Loudoun families via I-66/Route 123.
Nationally recognized Rockville nonpublic special-education day school (ages 5-21) for autistic students and those with complex learning needs; programs include Multiple Learning Needs (MLN) and the Model Asperger Program (MAP), plus full related services. Twice named a U.S. Dept. of Education Blue Ribbon School; serves DC, MD and VA families including Northern Virginia.
Part of the Treatment and Learning Centers, KTS (Rockville) has since 1995 served preschool-12th grade students with language and learning disabilities, autism, intellectual disabilities and other health impairments. Multisensory, language-intensive curriculum delivered by teachers, SLPs, OTs, social workers and PTs. Serves the broader DMV including Northern Virginia.
Small K-8 day school (Bethesda/Potomac) providing a multisensory, therapeutic environment for students who need smaller classes and individualized attention. Specializes in special education, OT, speech, executive functioning, ADHD, learning differences, dyslexia, social thinking and sensory processing. Draws DMV families including Northern Virginia.
For 45+ years Chelsea (Hyattsville) has prepared grades 5-12 students (ages 10-20) with language-based learning disabilities — dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia and other specific learning disabilities — for higher education. NAIS member with Maryland MSDE Type I Special Education approval; serves the DMV.
Sheppard Pratt-governed nonpublic special-education day school (grades K-12, ages 5-21) in Rockville for students with emotional and behavioral disabilities and autism spectrum disorder. On-site counseling, speech, OT, PT, psychiatry, nursing, PBIS and restorative practices. Serves the DMV including Northern Virginia placements.
Independent grades 1-12 DC school (Reservoir Rd + Foxhall Rd campuses) for students with language-based learning differences such as dyslexia, ADHD and specific learning disabilities, using a distinctive arts-centered, multisensory curriculum. OSSE-approved certified nonpublic special-education school serving the DMV.
Nonsectarian special-education public charter school in DC serving ~270 students ages 3-22 with intellectual disabilities, autism or multiple disabilities (24.5+ hours of special-ed services on the IEP). Focus on functional academics, daily-living skills, community-based instruction and career training. Serves students from DC, Virginia and Maryland.
Independent DC school (ages 18 months-grade 5) and international model for the inclusive oral education of young children with hearing loss who use cochlear implants or hearing aids, alongside hearing peers. Unique co-teaching model pairs a master's-level educator with a full-time speech-language pathologist in every classroom. Specialty option for DMV families seeking listening-and-spoken-language support.
Johns Hopkins-affiliated Kennedy Krieger operates five model special-education schools (ages 5-21) for children with learning, emotional, physical, neurological and developmental disabilities including autism — Baltimore campuses (Fairmount, Greenspring), Powder Mill (Laurel, MD, autism-focused) and a Southern Maryland campus. Powder Mill is the closest option for DMV/Northern Virginia families seeking this level of medical-educational integration.
We track the region's most respected evaluators and specialized schools — ranked by quality, never by who pays. Families near Loudoun County often look at The Newton School (Sterling), The Auburn School (Herndon), and Little Hands Pediatric Therapy (Sterling), 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 Loudoun 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.
LCPS runs your child's IEP, with special-education programs across a fast-growing county. 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 Loudoun County. No pressure, no cost — and we'll tell you honestly whether you even need us.
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