The Twin Cities have a major academic children's hospital, Minnesota's only school built for dyslexia and learning differences, and the nation's leading parent-training center (PACER) — but finding the genuinely excellent help near you is the hard part. This is the Minneapolis area's own credential-vetted directory of the best evaluators, schools, therapists, and doctors, plus free and low-cost options. Then, if you want it, an expert reads your child's records and builds your plan.
We don't rank by star ratings — they're noisy and easy to game. Every group below earns its place by credentials: board certification, school accreditation, professional licensure, and standing in the field's real professional bodies. The honest bar, not the loudest reviews.
The University of Minnesota Masonic Children's neuropsychology service (M Health Fairview) provides comprehensive pediatric neuropsychological evaluations for learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism — academic-grade testing that translates into school recommendations.
The American Board of Professional Psychology's directory lists clinicians who passed board certification in clinical neuropsychology — the real credential to look for in a private evaluator near you (the Twin Cities have several in private practice).
Minnesota's school dedicated to grades 1–12 students with dyslexia, ADHD, and learning differences (St. Louis Park) — direct, sequential, multisensory (Orton-Gillingham-aligned) instruction, plus a respected training and research arm.
For autism-specific school options (such as Lionsgate Academy and others), the State of Minnesota's Autism Portal points families to programs and services — an official, no-cost starting point. Always tour and confirm current fit.
The Academy's directory lists accredited Orton-Gillingham practitioners — the gold-standard credential for a private dyslexia tutor near you.
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.
Minnesota's oldest and largest autism provider — its Autism Center of Excellence delivers intensive ABA in partnership with speech and occupational therapy at multiple Twin Cities clinics, with sliding-scale and insurance options.
A BHCOE-accredited ABA provider with Twin Cities centers led by Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA), with speech-therapy collaboration.
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.
The University of Minnesota's developmental-behavioral pediatrics clinic (faculty including Drs. Barnes, Murray, Reiff, and Strachan) evaluates and supports children with autism, ADHD, and developmental differences.
Children's Minnesota's developmental pediatrics team takes a holistic approach to autism, developmental delays, and related conditions, coordinating diagnosis and care.
The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' directory lists active, vetted special-education advocates and attorneys serving the Minneapolis area — the field's real professional standard.
PACER (Minnesota's federally-funded Parent Center, and a national leader) offers free help understanding your rights, preparing for IEP meetings, and resolving disputes — often all the support a family needs.
The University of Minnesota's training clinic provides low-cost speech, language, and hearing evaluation and therapy for children, supervised by ASHA-certified faculty.
Minnesota's free early-intervention/early-childhood special-education referral system — a no-cost way to get your young child screened and connected to evaluations and services.
Federally funded and free — they help Minnesota families understand their rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings. A great first call.
Minnesota's protection & advocacy agency — free legal-rights information and help if your child's rights are being denied.
A short message — your child, your Minneapolis district, and what you're facing. We set up a secure way to share the IEP.
We review the records against your rights and match your child to the right Minneapolis providers from the vetted directory above.
A clear written plan, plus a vetted Minneapolis advocate, found and recommended for you, for the in-person help.
Free first reply with honest next steps. No pressure, no surprises — just an expert in your corner.
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