The Inland Empire — Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario, Fontana, Moreno Valley, Rancho Cucamonga, Corona, Temecula, Murrieta, Rialto, Victorville and the High Desert — is one of the nation's largest metros, and it has deep, credentialed help for kids with special needs, anchored by the Inland Regional Center, Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, and the IEHP-backed Inland Empire Autism Assessment Center of Excellence. Your local districts — Riverside Unified, San Bernardino City Unified, Corona-Norco Unified, Fontana Unified, Moreno Valley Unified, Hemet Unified and dozens more — each run a special-education department, but the quality and the wait times vary block to block. This is the Inland Empire's own yellow pages of the best, most relevant help — named experts and clinics where we can verify them, ranked by real credentials (ABPP, BHCOE, Orton-Gillingham/CALT, COPAA, CCC-SLP, OTR-L, board-certification), never by reviews or who pays. In California your free front door is your Regional Center (Inland Regional Center) for Early Start (birth–3) and developmental-disability diagnosis, plus your school district's evaluation and IEP for ages 3+ — by law the district must complete the evaluation within 60 days of your signed consent. Start there, then the best evaluators, schools, reading specialists, therapists, doctors, and advocates near you.
✓ Every provider here is vetted by credentials, never pay-to-play. How we choose →
Private nonprofit school (founded 1986) for students with language-based learning disabilities including dyslexia, with daily Orton-Gillingham instruction. WASC accredited, California Association of Independent Schools member, and a state-certified Nonpublic School; serves Inland Empire families from North Tustin.
State-certified Nonpublic School serving students ages 5-22 with autism, developmental disabilities, and behavioral or unique learning needs. Serves San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, and Los Angeles counties from its Ontario campus.
State-certified Nonpublic School (part of the national Specialized Education Services network) offering K-12+ academic and social-emotional instruction for students with autism, intellectual disability, emotional disability, other health impairments, and multiple disabilities.
Oak Grove Center is a California-certified Nonpublic School and treatment center in Murrieta serving students ages 8–18 with autism and significant behavioral, mental-health, or communication challenges — a K–12 day and residential program your IEP team can fund when the district can't meet the need.
California certifies Nonpublic Schools (NPS) for students whose needs can't be met in the district; the CDE directory lets you find state-certified specialized placements serving Riverside and San Bernardino counties — a placement your IEP team can fund when appropriate.
A searchable directory for comparing Inland Empire private and special-education school options by location, grades, and program — useful if you're seeking a specialized placement.
CDE-certified nonpublic school serving students ages 5–22 with autism spectrum disorder, developmental disabilities, and behavioral/learning challenges. Embeds applied behavior analysis (ABA), speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and counseling into the school day, with placements made via the student's IEP. Serves Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and LA districts.
Nonprofit residential, educational, and therapeutic center founded 1989. Operates two WASC-accredited special-education nonpublic schools — the K-12 Jack Weaver School on the Murrieta campus and Oak Grove at the Ranch in Perris — serving students ages 5–22 with autism, emotional disturbance, learning, and developmental disabilities, with embedded mental-health and behavioral treatment.
Long-established Riverside nonprofit (roots to 1970s; current entity formed 2006) operating a CDE-certified nonpublic school and nonpublic agency for children ages 3–12 under district contracts. Provides early intervention, therapeutic preschool, ABA-based autism programs, and speech/occupational/physical therapy across Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Established statewide network of state-certified nonpublic schools (CAPSES member) operating elementary, middle, and high-school campuses in San Bernardino. Serves school-age students with autism, emotional/behavioral disabilities, and intellectual disabilities using applied behavior analysis and evidence-based instruction, with the goal of returning students toward less-restrictive settings.
Chino Hills campus of the Spectrum Center state-certified nonpublic school network, serving grades 8–12 with intensive academic, behavioral, communication, and therapeutic services for students with autism and emotional/behavioral disabilities. Includes vocational training and community-based instruction.
One of California's largest accredited nonpublic schools, serving children, youth, and adults with multiple disabilities — over 60% with autism spectrum disorders. Provides special education Pre-K through transition plus integrated speech, occupational, physical, counseling, and behavior therapy. Buena Park location serves Riverside/San Bernardino districts and sits within ~45 miles of the western Inland Empire.
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.
Long-running county-operated public program providing classroom-based, empirically supported instruction for students with autism across Riverside County districts. Free as part of public special education. Programs change year to year, so confirm current openings and placement with your district and the county office.
Public SELPA covering eastern San Bernardino County districts, with a dedicated autism program specialist plus SELPA-employed occupational and physical therapists serving children ages 3-22 in special education. Free as part of public services. Programs and staffing change year to year; verify with member districts.
Established public district program with over 250 special education staff serving roughly 4,900 students across autism, learning disabilities, emotional disability, and speech/language needs, including specialized district schools. Free as part of public education. Programs change year to year; confirm placement through the IEP team.
Large public district special education department providing specialized instruction and related services at no cost for children from birth to age 22, with a full continuum from resource support to special day classes. Programs change year to year; confirm current services with the district.
Launched with Inland Empire Health Plan, IEAACE is a non-profit, evaluation-only center providing gold-standard neurodevelopmental and autism diagnostic evaluation for children birth–21 at its San Bernardino and Riverside sites — a one-stop multi-specialty team of developmental-behavioral pediatricians, pediatric neuropsychologists, SLPs, OTs, and geneticists. An outstanding, accessible diagnostic home.
A neuropsychology practice serving Southern California including the Inland Empire, with ABPP board-certified neuropsychologists (Rob Gray, PhD, ABPP) — rigorous neuropsychological evaluations for ADHD, learning disabilities, autism, and developmental conditions. The board credential to verify.
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 across the Inland Empire, instead of trusting star ratings.
PRIDE Reading Program offers Orton-Gillingham structured-literacy tutoring for children with dyslexia in Riverside and the surrounding Inland Empire — systematic, explicit, multisensory instruction (in-home and online). A solid evidence-based local option.
The Academy of Orton-Gillingham and the Academic Language Therapy Association list accredited O-G practitioners and Certified Academic Language Therapists across the Inland Empire — searchable near Riverside, San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga, or Temecula. The gold-standard credentials for a private dyslexia tutor.
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.
Nonprofit pediatric therapy clinic in Redlands providing direct physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy for children across San Bernardino and Riverside counties, accepting all insurance types with a play-based approach.
Pediatric speech-language clinic operating in the Inland Empire since 1997, serving children from infancy through adolescence with licensed speech-language pathologists across Corona/Riverside, Murrieta, Menifee, and Temecula.
Center-based and in-home ABA therapy provider founded in 2004 by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, delivering research-based, BCBA-supervised autism treatment in Riverside and the surrounding Inland Empire.
ABA provider founded in 2010 by a doctoral-level BCBA, delivering 1:1 applied behavior analysis for children with autism in San Bernardino, Barstow, and the wider Inland Empire.
First Step Children's Network provides applied behavior analysis for children with autism across Riverside and San Bernardino counties, with Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and behavior technicians. First Step carries BHCOE accreditation — the real quality marker for ABA.
SENSEABILITIES is a full-service pediatric clinic in Riverside offering speech-language and occupational therapy with licensed and nationally certified (CCC-SLP, OTR/L) clinicians — a coordinated local option for kids who need more than one therapy.
Five Oaks Speech Therapy is a pediatric speech and language clinic with a Rancho Cucamonga location, staffed by ASHA-certified (CCC-SLP) clinicians — a focused option for articulation, language, and related needs in the western Inland Empire.
The BHCOE directory lists accredited ABA providers across the Inland Empire, ASHA ProFind lists CCC-SLP speech therapists, and AOTA lists OTR/L occupational therapists — searchable by zip so families in Ontario, Fontana, Moreno Valley, or Temecula find the nearest.
Loma Linda University Children's Hospital is the Inland Empire's academic children's hospital — its developmental-behavioral pediatricians diagnose and help manage autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, and complex developmental conditions. The region's premier academic developmental-medicine team.
The American Academy of Pediatrics' directory helps you find board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians across the Inland Empire — the credential to verify for a formal autism or ADHD diagnosis.
The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' directory lists active, vetted special-education advocates and attorneys serving the Inland Empire — the field's real professional standard.
The Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund runs a federally funded parent training and information project serving California families — free help understanding your rights, evaluations, and the IEP process. A respected statewide free resource before hiring a private advocate.
California's protection & advocacy agency offers free legal information and advocacy for special-education rights — a no-cost first stop before hiring a private advocate or attorney.
IEAACE (with Inland Empire Health Plan) provides gold-standard, multi-specialty autism diagnostic evaluations for children birth–21 at little or no cost to many Inland Empire families — one of the best-value diagnostic resources in the region.
The Autism Society Inland Empire offers free navigation, resource lists, and family support — diagnosis assistance, provider directories, and parent guidance across Riverside and San Bernardino counties. A warm, no-cost first point of connection.
Inland Counties Legal Services provides free civil legal help to income-eligible families across Riverside and San Bernardino counties — a no-cost route to legal assistance, including some education and benefits matters.
For children birth to 3, Inland Regional Center's Early Start program provides free developmental evaluations and early-intervention services — the earliest, no-barrier place to start in the Inland Empire.
Inland Regional Center is one of California's largest regional centers, serving Riverside and San Bernardino counties with free diagnosis, Early Start (birth–3) services, and lifelong case management for children with developmental disabilities including autism, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy. Early Start intake: Riverside (909) 890-4763, San Bernardino (909) 890-4711. The earliest, no-barrier place to start.
At age 3, request a special-education evaluation in writing from your district — Riverside Unified, San Bernardino City Unified, Corona-Norco, Fontana, Moreno Valley, Hemet, and others each have a special-education office. California law requires the evaluation be completed within 60 days of your signed consent. This is the free legal route to an IEP and services under IDEA.
California'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.
Federally funded and free — they help California families understand their rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings. A great first call.
California's protection & advocacy agency — free legal-rights information and help if your child's rights are being denied.
When you’re ready, an expert can review your child’s IEP and build your plan. See how it works →
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How do I start the special-education process in the Inland Empire?
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 the Inland Empire?
A New Story lists credential-vetted schools, evaluators, therapists, advocates, and the free public programs and parent centers in California — searchable by ZIP, and free forever.