The River Region — Montgomery, Prattville, Wetumpka, Pike Road, and the rest of Montgomery, Autauga, and Elmore counties — has real, credentialed help for kids with special needs, anchored by Auburn University at Montgomery's speech-and-hearing clinic and a growing set of accredited autism providers. Your local districts — Montgomery Public Schools, Autauga County, Elmore County, and Pike Road — each run special education. This is the River Region'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, COPAA, CCC-SLP, OTR-L, board-certification), never by reviews or who pays. In Alabama your free front door is Alabama's Early Intervention System (birth–3) and your school district's evaluation and IEP for ages 3+. 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 →
Independent K-12 school serving bright students with learning differences (autism, ADHD, language and learning disabilities) since 1996. Accredited by Cognia and the Alabama Independent School Association, with low ratios and individualized learning plans built alongside speech, OT and behavior therapists.
Long-standing Alabama nonprofit providing specialized day and residential education plus behavioral services for children with autism and developmental disabilities. Its Growing Independence Behavioral Services arm delivers BCBA-supervised ABA, with a campus serving the Montgomery region in nearby Tallassee.
Churchill Academy is a Montgomery private school serving students K–12 with learning disabilities, ADHD, and related differences who need small classes and specialized instruction — a specialized placement your IEP team can consider when the public setting can't meet the need.
Success Unlimited Academy is a Montgomery private school (K4–12) that began with a focus on children with special needs and now offers small, structured, inclusive classes — an option for families seeking a smaller, more individualized environment.
Montgomery Public Schools operates in-district specialized programs — autism support, resource, and life-skills classrooms — that your IEP team can place your child in. In the River Region many strong specialized placements are within the public districts; insist on the right program through the IEP process.
A Christ-centered private school (K4-12) in Montgomery that was originally founded specifically to serve children with special needs and still runs a dedicated special-needs program within an inclusive model. Cognia accredited K4-12 and named a Cognia School of Distinction, plus an Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) member and AISA Blue Ribbon School. Two campuses (Vaughn Road for K4-8, Fairlane Drive for 9-12).
A BHCOE-accredited (Behavioral Health Center of Excellence) autism provider delivering center-based and home-based ABA therapy for children with autism, staffed by Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs). Focused on communication, life-skills, social skills, and school-readiness — the credentialed autism/ABA option serving Montgomery families directly, meeting the brief's BHCOE bar.
The public school district's special-education department serving the City of Montgomery. Provides federally mandated (IDEA) services: initial evaluations and re-evaluations, IEPs, and a continuum of placements from preschool special education through high school, including programs for autism, specific learning disabilities, and hearing impairment. The default no-cost option families are legally entitled to, and the comparison baseline for any private placement.
Auburn University's autism program (CARTT, within the Psychological Services Center) is a BHCOE-accredited, research-based, intensive behavioral program for children with autism spectrum disorder, run as a training clinic supervised by Behavior Analysis faculty — covering skill acquisition, school readiness, social skills, toileting, and self-advocacy. Auburn also houses the Regional Autism Network serving 20 counties (including Montgomery), with a family navigator and translation services. Located ~55 miles east of Montgomery; included given the limited number of high-credential specialized options in the immediate Montgomery area.
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.
Above-average public district just east of Montgomery offering special services and preschool programs with strong overall reading proficiency. Free special-education and related services for eligible students under IDEA; programs change year to year, so verify current supports with the Central Office.
Licensed psychologist offering ADHD, autism and learning-disability evaluations as well as cognitive and neuropsychological assessment for children and adults in Montgomery. Useful for families needing a thorough diagnostic write-up to support school eligibility.
University-affiliated psychology clinic offering autism and developmental-disability evaluations with diagnostic write-ups and recommendations for families in surrounding communities including Montgomery. Sliding/low fees (capped well below private rates) and a research-based preschool autism program (CARTT).
Early Autism Services' Montgomery center provides autism diagnostic services alongside ABA therapy and is accredited by the Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (BHCOE) — a local diagnose-and-treat option. Confirm the evaluating clinician's licensure and the diagnostic instruments used.
Children's of Alabama in Birmingham (~90 minutes north) is the state's renowned academic referral for complex autism, ADHD, and developmental diagnoses — the place for the most thorough multidisciplinary evaluation when a local diagnosis is unclear.
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 River Region, instead of trusting star ratings.
The Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators lists accredited O-G practitioners across central Alabama — searchable near Montgomery, Prattville, or Wetumpka. The gold-standard credential for a private dyslexia tutor, instead of trusting ads.
Alabama law requires schools to screen for dyslexia and provide structured-literacy intervention. Montgomery Public Schools and every River Region district must offer this free — request dyslexia screening and services in writing, and know your rights before paying for private tutoring.
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.
Multidisciplinary pediatric clinic offering speech, occupational, physical, feeding and ABA therapy across Montgomery and Prattville. Convenient for families needing several credentialed services coordinated in one place.
University-run training clinic providing free speech, occupational and physical therapy plus mental-health counseling, supervised by faculty clinicians. A strong no-cost option for families who need credentialed therapy on a budget.
Works of Wonder Therapy provides applied behavior analysis for children with autism in Montgomery and is accredited by the Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (BHCOE) — the quality credential to verify in any ABA provider, rather than relying on reviews.
Beyond diagnosis, Early Autism Services provides BHCOE-accredited ABA therapy for children with autism in Montgomery — a coordinated diagnose-and-treat program under one organization.
Excel Pediatric Therapy Services offers play-based occupational and speech therapy in Montgomery, and Little Peach Pediatric Therapy provides speech, feeding, occupational, physical, and ABA therapy in Montgomery and Prattville — credentialed local pediatric therapy options.
The BHCOE directory lists accredited ABA providers across the River Region (Key Autism Services and Full Spectrum ABA also serve Montgomery), ASHA ProFind lists CCC-SLP speech therapists, and AOTA lists OTR/L occupational therapists — searchable by zip so families in Montgomery, Prattville, or Wetumpka find the nearest credentialed clinician.
Baptist Health and Jackson Hospital provide pediatric care in Montgomery — a strong local medical starting point for developmental concerns and referrals, with Children's of Alabama (Birmingham) as the academic referral for complex autism, ADHD, and developmental diagnoses.
Children's of Alabama in Birmingham offers nationally regarded developmental-behavioral pediatrics and autism diagnostics — the state's academic referral for complex cases, about 90 minutes north of Montgomery.
The American Academy of Pediatrics' directory helps you find board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians serving the Montgomery area — 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 River Region — the field's real professional standard.
The Alabama Parent Education Center (in nearby Wetumpka) is Alabama's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center — free help understanding your rights, evaluations, and the IEP process, with trained parent mentors. A respected statewide free resource before hiring a private advocate.
Alabama'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.
Auburn University at Montgomery's Speech and Hearing Clinic provides low-cost speech-language and hearing evaluation and therapy delivered by supervised graduate clinicians, right in Montgomery — a strong-value local option (Auburn University's clinic in Auburn, ~50 minutes east, is another option).
Easterseals Central Alabama provides pediatric occupational and speech therapy and disability services in Montgomery — a nonprofit, accessible option with help for families regardless of ability to pay, and a good hub for navigating services.
For children birth to 3, Alabama's Early Intervention System provides free developmental evaluations and early-intervention therapies — the earliest, no-barrier place to start in the River Region.
The Alabama Parent Education Center offers free help understanding evaluations, IEPs, and your rights — a no-cost first call for any River Region family navigating special education.
For children birth to 3 with a developmental delay or disability, Alabama's Early Intervention System (through the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services) provides free evaluation and early-intervention services (speech, OT, PT, developmental). Call the Montgomery district office to start (334-293-7375 or statewide 800-543-3098). The earliest, no-barrier place to begin.
Request a special-education evaluation in writing from your district — Montgomery Public Schools, Autauga County (Prattville), Elmore County, or Pike Road. The district must evaluate and, if eligible, write an IEP under IDEA. This is the free legal route to services. (Montgomery Public Schools special education: 1153 S Lawrence St.)
Alabama's federally mandated protection & advocacy agency (based at the University of Alabama) — 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 Alabama families understand their rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings. A great first call.
Alabama'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 Montgomery?
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 Montgomery?
A New Story lists credential-vetted schools, evaluators, therapists, advocates, and the free public programs and parent centers in Alabama — searchable by ZIP, and free forever.