Greater Indianapolis — Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Greenwood, Speedway — is home to Riley Children's Health, the Fortune Academy (Indiana's only Orton-Gillingham-accredited school), and IN*SOURCE, the state's parent center. The hard part is knowing which help is genuinely excellent and how to reach the free options first. This is Indianapolis's own directory, ranked by real credentials (ABPP, BHCOE, Orton-Gillingham accreditation, COPAA, board-certification) — never by reviews or who pays. Start with the free Indiana options, then the best evaluators, schools, therapists, doctors, and advocates near you.
✓ Every provider here is vetted by credentials, never pay-to-play. How we choose →
Private school for students with diagnosed specific learning disabilities; staff are trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach, Multisensory Math and the Strategic Instruction Model. Reading-and-language focused remediation.
Dyslexia-focused school operating since 2005 using a multisensory, Orton-Gillingham-based curriculum woven through every class for students with dyslexia and related language-based learning differences.
College-prep day school in Carmel for grades 3-12 serving students with ADD/ADHD, language-based learning differences, high-functioning autism and processing challenges in small classes.
State-licensed and Indiana-DOE-accredited therapeutic day/residential school primarily serving students with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability who need a highly structured environment.
Cognia-accredited private school serving K-12 students with learning barriers including autism spectrum disorder, with individualized special-education supports.
Accredited alternative/therapeutic school on the Crossroad Child & Family Services campus with certified elementary, secondary and special-education teachers for students not succeeding in traditional classrooms.
Part of Damar Services, Damar Academy is fully accredited by the Indiana Department of Education and serves students ages 6-21 with developmental and behavioral challenges, blending special education with therapy and Indiana-licensed special-education teachers.
Fortune Academy is the only Orton-Gillingham Academy-accredited school in Indiana — grades 1–12 for students with language-based learning differences like dyslexia, with all staff trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach and a low 6:1 teacher ratio.
Founded in 1988, Worthmore Academy serves K–12 students with a range of learning differences — dyslexia, autism spectrum, ADD/ADHD, communication disorders, and cognitive differences — with the goal of helping each child return to a traditional setting within one to two years.
Indiana's accredited middle- and high-school program developed specifically for students on the autism spectrum, The Independence Academy (Indianapolis) is accredited by the Indiana State Board of Education and ISACS — with strong post-graduation college and career outcomes.
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.
Indianapolis public district with an established special-services department serving 1,600+ eligible students with disabilities ages 3-22, including autism and learning-disability programming. Programs change year to year.
The metro's largest district runs a unified special-education department with dedicated autism programming built on evidence-based practices and individualized supports. Programs change year to year.
Large, well-regarded Fishers-area public district with a long-standing continuum of special-education and autism services across its schools. Programs change year to year.
Top-rated Carmel public district with an established special-education department offering a full continuum of services and autism supports across elementary, middle and high schools. Programs change year to year.
IU School of Medicine clinic providing interdisciplinary evaluation and treatment for children with neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders, led by board-certified developmental pediatricians and psychologists.
Multi-specialty behavioral-health practice with clinical psychologists specializing in pediatric neuropsychological assessment and treatment for children, teens and families; services in English, Spanish and Turkish.
Greater-Indianapolis practice providing comprehensive psychological and psychoeducational testing for children and adolescents in English and Spanish, with HSPP-licensed psychologists.
Dr. Garry Wright III is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist (ABPP-CN) doing comprehensive pediatric and adolescent neuropsychological evaluations for learning disorders, ADHD, autism, and developmental concerns. The board-certification credential families should look for in a private evaluator.
A child-focused testing practice (Drs. Kassandra Lowery, Kevin Dugan, Rose Buckley, Aerin Welch NCSP, Kate O'Brien, Rachael Hanson) offering neuropsychological, psychoeducational, developmental, and Independent Educational Evaluations — assessing cognitive ability, academics, ADHD, learning disabilities, and autism.
A dedicated assessment practice in Carmel doing comprehensive child and adolescent psychological testing — ADHD, autism, and learning/psychoeducational evaluations — with a structured process of clinical interview, testing, rating scales, detailed report, and feedback.
Led by April Krowel, PhD, HSPP, The Brain Center provides neuropsychological and autism/ADHD evaluations, including lower flat-rate options delivered by supervised postdoctoral residents and doctoral students — a more affordable evaluation route.
Michael O'Brien, PsyD, HSPP, an independently licensed Indiana psychologist, has provided psychological evaluations and consultation since 2000, including assessment for learning, developmental, and autism-related concerns.
Riley Children's (IU Health) pediatric neuropsychology and psychology testing clinic conducts comprehensive evaluation of intelligence, memory, executive function, language, and academic skills — most often for specific learning disorders (including dyslexia), executive-function delays, and ADHD.
Riley Children's Autism Spectrum and Developmental Disorders Outpatient Program provides comprehensive assessment and treatment for autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders from birth to age 18 — a leading academic option for a formal diagnosis.
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, instead of trusting star ratings.
A nonprofit providing Orton-Gillingham multisensory tutoring (reading, spelling, written expression, math) for struggling readers of all ages — in person and online — plus dyslexia testing, school-based programs, training, and summer camp.
Part of the Scottish Rite Masons' national network (downtown Indianapolis, 650 N. Meridian St.), the Children's Dyslexia Center of Indianapolis provides free, one-on-one Orton-Gillingham structured-literacy tutoring twice a week for children with dyslexia — multi-year intervention at no cost to families, one of the metro's best-kept free resources.
The Academy's directory lists accredited Orton-Gillingham practitioners across greater Indianapolis — the gold-standard credential for a private dyslexia tutor, verified by training rather than advertising.
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.
Indiana-grown ABA provider delivering research-based applied behavior analysis through BCBA-supervised, certified therapists at center and in-home settings.
Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP) member offering center-based ABA therapy for children with autism, delivered by BCBA-supervised clinical teams.
Outpatient occupational-therapy clinic providing OTR/L-led services for children, teens and adults with sensory-processing and fine/gross-motor needs.
Founded in 2009, BACA is a BHCOE-accredited provider with learning centers across greater Indianapolis (Fishers, Zionsville, Indianapolis), offering center-based and in-home ABA plus speech-language therapy and autism diagnostics.
A BHCOE-accredited autism provider with multiple greater-Indianapolis centers offering ABA therapy, speech-language therapy, and occupational therapy, plus diagnostic services and family support.
A long-standing central-Indiana nonprofit whose interdisciplinary team of licensed psychologists, social workers, and BCBAs provides autism diagnostic evaluations and evidence-based behavior intervention (ABA, CBT) for children and families.
A locally owned pediatric clinic serving infants and children across central Indiana with occupational therapy, speech therapy, feeding therapy, and autism spectrum disorder testing.
Laura Davis holds the ASHA CCC-SLP and an Indiana speech-pathology license, providing pediatric speech, language, feeding, and swallowing therapy for infants and children on the north side of Indianapolis (Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville, Westfield).
Founded in 2009, BACA is a BHCOE-accredited provider with learning centers across greater Indianapolis (including Fishers), offering center-based and in-home ABA plus speech and language therapy — accredited for clinical quality rather than chosen by ad spend.
A BHCOE-accredited Indianapolis-area autism center focused on early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) for young children — research-based ABA, accredited for clinical quality.
The Behavioral Health Center of Excellence directory lists accredited ABA providers across greater Indianapolis (including Hopebridge and Centria) — the real quality bar for autism therapy.
Abbie Lande, M.S., CCC-SLP, founded UpWord Speech Therapy in Carmel, serving the greater Indianapolis metro (Zionsville, Westfield, Fishers, Whitestown) with evidence-based, family-centered speech and language therapy for children from birth through young adulthood.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's directory lists speech-language pathologists who hold the CCC-SLP — the national mark of a fully qualified clinician.
Riley Children's and IU School of Medicine's Developmental Medicine team provides expert diagnosis and management of autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, and developmental delay — board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians at Indiana's leading children's hospital.
The American Academy of Pediatrics' directory helps you find board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians in greater Indianapolis — the credential to verify for a formal autism or ADHD diagnosis.
An Indianapolis law firm with an established special-education practice (attorneys Alexandra Curlin and Robin Clay), advocating for children's rights in IEP/504 disputes, due process, and FAPE enforcement.
The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' directory lists active, vetted special-education advocates and attorneys serving greater Indianapolis — the field's real professional standard.
Beyond information, IN*SOURCE's trained staff can help you prepare for and understand IEP meetings at no cost — a respected free alternative to hiring a private advocate first.
Indiana Legal Services provides free civil legal help to income-eligible families across the Indianapolis region — a no-cost route to legal assistance, including some education and benefits matters.
Part of IU's Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, IRCA provides free, research-based information, articles, and guidance for Indiana families and educators on autism — a deep, no-cost knowledge resource alongside clinical services.
University speech-language clinics offer low-cost evaluation and therapy delivered by supervised graduate clinicians. ASHA's directory helps you locate the nearest accredited program serving the Indianapolis area.
For children birth to 3, Indiana First Steps provides free developmental evaluations and early-intervention therapies — the earliest, no-barrier place to start.
For children birth to 3, Indiana's First Steps provides free developmental evaluations and early-intervention services (speech, OT, PT, developmental) through a family-centered, local network. The earliest, no-barrier place to start if you have any concern about your baby or toddler.
Indiana'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.
Indiana's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center — free help understanding your rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings, with training for families and service providers statewide. A great first call.
Federally funded and free — they help Indiana families understand their rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings. A great first call.
Indiana'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 Indianapolis?
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 Indianapolis?
A New Story lists credential-vetted schools, evaluators, therapists, advocates, and the free public programs and parent centers in Indiana — searchable by ZIP, and free forever.