Greater Louisville covers Jefferson, Oldham, and Bullitt counties — Louisville, Jeffersontown, St. Matthews, Shively, Pewee Valley — plus Southern Indiana across the river (Jeffersonville, New Albany). This is a true yellow pages of the best, most relevant help for a child with special needs, built so a family ANYWHERE in the metro can find genuinely excellent care nearby — named experts and therapists, not just directories. It's ranked by real credentials (ABPP, BHCOE, Orton-Gillingham, COPAA, CCC-SLP, board-certification) — never by reviews or who pays. Start with the free Kentucky options (Indiana-side families use Indiana First Steps), 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 →
A private school serving grades 1-8 students with language-based learning differences, operating for more than 54 years as a recognized Louisville school for students who learn differently. Uses multisensory, research-based literacy instruction with small class sizes.
A Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Louisville serving students grades 1-12 plus a post-graduate program with developmental and intellectual disabilities and autism. Provides individualized instruction with speech, occupational and behavioral supports.
The de Paul School is Louisville's original school for learning differences — K–8 students with dyslexia, ADHD, processing disorders, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia, taught with the Orton-Gillingham approach. One of the nation's preeminent independent schools for language-based learning differences.
KY-SPIN can help you compare additional Louisville-area school options for dyslexia, autism, and learning differences at no cost — including district special-education programs and Indiana-side options for Southern Indiana families.
The Academy of Orton-Gillingham's directory of accredited instructional programs (including OGA-accredited programs at area schools such as Holy Trinity's Clifton Campus) is a verified way to find structured-literacy dyslexia education near you.
One of the nation's preeminent independent day schools for K-8 students with language-based and attention-based learning differences (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD, processing disorders). Accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS), NAIS member, and a member of the Association of Learning Disabled Schools. Note: not designed for students on the autism spectrum.
Independent nonprofit day school for students who learn differently — ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, sensory integration, central auditory processing disorder, nonverbal learning disorder, Asperger's. Accredited by the Independent School Association of the Central States (ISACS) and the Kentucky Department of Education, member of KAIS and the International Dyslexia Association.
Jefferson County Public Schools' dedicated Exceptional Child Education special school for students with moderate-to-significant and low-incidence disabilities, including autism and multiple/severe disabilities. Highly structured, supportive placement determined by a student's ARC, with certified special-education staff and a goal of transitioning students back to a comprehensive school.
State-operated K-12 public school (a Kentucky Department of Education agency) serving blind and visually impaired Kentucky students through age 21. Provides specialized instruction, certified teachers of the visually impaired, orientation and mobility services, and statewide instructional and diagnostic outreach.
Nonprofit center-based program providing intensive individualized 1:1 ABA programming for children and young adults (ages 3-21+) with autism spectrum disorder, across its Kosair Charities East and Mid City campuses. Accredited as a Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (BHCOE) against its Standards of Excellence in ABA therapy.
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.
A Jefferson County Public Schools specialized school for students with moderate and significant disabilities whose Admissions and Release Committee (ARC) determines need for a highly structured, supportive setting. Part of JCPS Exceptional Child Education services. Programs change year to year — confirm current offerings with the district.
Founded in 2006 by Dr. Maggie Wright, this practice provides neuropsychological and psychological evaluations for autism (from 16 months), dyslexia, ADHD and anxiety using gold-standard assessment tools, conducted by licensed psychologists.
Norton Children's Neuropsychology in Louisville — including Bradley S. Folley, PhD, ABPP (board-certified in clinical neuropsychology) — provides comprehensive evaluation of learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism, with advanced services through the Norton Neuroscience Institute.
The University of Louisville's Weisskopf Child Evaluation Center (with Norton Children's), established 1966, provides interdisciplinary diagnostic evaluation — developmental-behavioral pediatricians, psychologists, SLPs, and OTs together — for autism, developmental delay, learning disability, ADHD, and more.
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 (in St. Matthews, Jeffersontown, or across the river in Southern Indiana), instead of trusting star ratings.
Sheila Blandford, a lifelong speech-language pathologist and founder of Louisville/Kentucky Dyslexia Associates, has evaluated and tutored 150+ children and adults for dyslexia — a named, dual-discipline reading and language specialist.
The Orton-Gillingham Center of Pewee Valley (Jill MacNiven) provides certified Orton-Gillingham dyslexia tutoring on the east side of the metro in Oldham County — important coverage for families outside the city center.
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.
A nonprofit ABA provider established in 2010 offering individualized 1:1 programming for children and young adults with autism, accredited by the Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (BHCOE). Staff includes Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), SLPs and RBTs across multiple Louisville campuses.
A family-centered outpatient clinic providing pediatric speech (CCC-SLP), occupational (OTR/L) and physical therapy to children with special needs since 1958, serving over 1,200 children a year regardless of insurance or financial situation.
A BHCOE-accredited Louisville autism provider offering individualized 1:1 ABA — the Kosair Charities East Campus serves ages 3–11 and the Mid City location serves teens and young adults 12–21+ building life skills. Accredited for clinical quality rather than ad spend.
A BHCOE-accredited autism therapy provider with Louisville East and South centers offering ABA alongside feeding, occupational, and speech therapy — coordinated care on both sides of the metro.
The BHCOE directory lists accredited ABA providers across the metro (including Adapt For Life and Cultivate in Louisville), ASHA ProFind lists CCC-SLP speech therapists, and AOTA lists OTR/L occupational therapists — searchable by zip so families in Shively, Pewee Valley, or Southern Indiana find the nearest.
UofL Physicians Speech-Language Pathology provides testing and therapy for children with speech, language, swallowing, and cognitive disorders — CCC-SLP clinicians with extensive pediatric experience.
Norton Children's Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics (the UofL Weisskopf Center) provides expert diagnosis and management of autism, ADHD, developmental delay, and learning disorders by board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians — the metro's leading academic program.
The American Academy of Pediatrics' directory helps you find board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians across greater Louisville — 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 greater Louisville — the field's real professional standard.
Beyond information, KY-SPIN's trained staff help you prepare for and understand IEP meetings at no cost — a respected free alternative to hiring a private advocate first.
The Legal Aid Society provides free civil legal help to income-eligible families across the Louisville region — a no-cost route to legal assistance, including some education and benefits matters.
Spalding University's speech-language clinic in Louisville offers low-cost evaluation and therapy for children with communication needs — delivered by graduate clinicians under licensed, ASHA-certified supervisors, right in the metro.
FEAT of Louisville provides free family support, resources, and connection for families affected by autism across the metro — a warm, no-cost community resource alongside clinical care.
For children birth to 3, Kentucky's First Steps provides free developmental evaluations and early-intervention therapies (Southern Indiana families use Indiana First Steps) — the earliest, no-barrier place to start.
For children birth to 3 with developmental delay or a qualifying condition, Kentucky's First Steps (KEIS) provides free developmental evaluation and early-intervention services — speech, OT, PT, developmental intervention, playgroups, social work. (Southern Indiana families use Indiana First Steps.) The earliest, no-barrier place to start.
Kentucky's federally mandated protection & advocacy agency — free legal-based individual advocacy and education when a child's special-education rights are denied. A powerful free resource before you pay anyone.
Kentucky's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center — free help understanding your rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings, plus webinars and resources linking families to disability supports. A great first call.
Federally funded and free — they help Kentucky families understand their rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings. A great first call.
Kentucky'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 Louisville?
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 Louisville?
A New Story lists credential-vetted schools, evaluators, therapists, advocates, and the free public programs and parent centers in Kentucky — searchable by ZIP, and free forever.