The Grand Strand — Myrtle Beach, Conway, North Myrtle Beach, Socastee, Surfside Beach, and Georgetown in South Carolina, plus Brunswick County across the line in North Carolina — has solid, credentialed help for kids with special needs, with strong local autism and therapy providers and MUSC Children's in Charleston as the regional academic anchor. Your local districts — Horry County Schools (one of South Carolina's largest, covering Myrtle Beach, Conway, North Myrtle Beach, and Socastee) and Georgetown County School District — each run a special-education department. This is the Grand Strand'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 South Carolina your free front door is BabyNet (early intervention, birth–3) and your school district's evaluation and IEP for ages 3+; North Carolina families in Brunswick County use the NC Infant-Toddler Program (CDSA). 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 →
Person-centered school and residential program for children and adolescents with autism and developmental delays in Myrtle Beach. Its educational programs are approved by Horry County Schools, and students can receive medical homebound instruction or attend an HCS campus.
Education consultancy in Myrtle Beach offering personalized 1-to-1 tutoring, homeschool support, and preparatory programs that specialize in students with dyslexia, autism, and ADHD, plus therapeutic placement consulting.
Horry County Schools' Department of Special Education provides a full continuum of programs, placements, and related services (speech, OT, PT, assistive technology, vision, orientation & mobility) for students ages 3–21 — ask what specialized classrooms and supports can meet your child's needs.
The South Carolina Department of Education's special-education and autism (ASD) resources explain your rights and the specialized programs your district must consider — useful when comparing what Horry County and Georgetown County can offer.
A searchable directory for comparing Grand Strand private and special-education school options by location, grades, and program — useful if you're seeking a specialized placement.
The large public district serving Myrtle Beach, Conway, and North Myrtle Beach, accredited by Cognia (System of Distinction) with 15 National Blue Ribbon schools. Its Special Education department provides the full IDEA continuum for students ages 3-21 — Child Find/evaluation, autism services, instructional programming, related services (speech, OT, PT), behavioral support, and a high-school credential pathway. This is the free, legally entitled (FAPE/IEP) starting point for any Myrtle Beach family and the placement most students will use.
Public district covering the southern Myrtle Beach metro (Pawleys Island, Murrells Inlet area, Georgetown), within roughly 35 miles of Myrtle Beach. Provides the full federally mandated continuum of special-education services and placements for eligible students ages 3-21, including evaluation/Child Find, IEP services, autism and disability-specific supports, and related therapies. The free public option for families on the south end of the metro.
Independent, nonprofit specialized school (grades 1-8) for students with language-based learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and ADHD, serving the Cape Fear region roughly 70 miles north of Myrtle Beach. Offers targeted, individualized instruction in reading, written language, math, and executive function with a low student-teacher ratio, structured so students can remain enrolled at their base school. A credible cross-border option for north-of-Myrtle (Calabash/Little River) families. Note: does not serve autism spectrum disorder.
South Carolina's flagship Orton-Gillingham school for dyslexia — one of only nineteen OGA-accredited model schools in the nation and one of just ten dually accredited OGA teacher-training and instructional programs. Serves bright students grades 1-12 with diagnosed language-based learning differences (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia) using the multisensory, structured-literacy Orton-Gillingham approach. Located in Columbia (~130 miles from Myrtle Beach); included as the nearest in-state, gold-standard dyslexia placement for families willing to relocate or board, given the local scarcity.
Established K-12 independent school for cognitively capable students with language-based learning differences, centered on the Orton-Gillingham approach for dyslexia. Accredited by the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS), a member of the LD Schools network, and aligned with the International Dyslexia Association (IDA). Located in Mount Pleasant near Charleston (~100 miles south of Myrtle Beach); included as a top-tier in-state specialized option for families on the southern end of the coast willing to travel, given how sparse credentialed dyslexia schooling is locally.
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.
Horry County Schools' Myrtle Beach High delivers special-education services through three instructional models — Resource, the South Carolina High School Credential, and Self-Contained — for students with IEPs. Programs change year to year.
Licensed clinical child psychologist in Myrtle Beach who uses psychological and neuropsychological testing to assess and treat learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism. In South Carolina, ASD diagnosis requires a licensed psychologist, LPES, or developmental pediatrician.
Coastal Autism Therapy Center in Myrtle Beach specializes in autism spectrum disorder evaluations and developmental assessments, alongside ABA therapy — a local diagnostic option so families don't have to travel to Charleston for an initial evaluation.
Luminous Evaluations provides psychoeducational and autism evaluations for children and adolescents across Horry County — Conway, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Garden City, and Socastee — by a licensed evaluator, the kind of comprehensive testing South Carolina requires for an ASD 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 across the Grand Strand, instead of trusting star ratings.
The Academy of Orton-Gillingham and the Academic Language Therapy Association list accredited O-G practitioners and CALTs across the Grand Strand — searchable near Myrtle Beach, Conway, or North Myrtle Beach. The gold-standard credentials for a private dyslexia tutor.
The International Dyslexia Association's Carolinas branches list structured-literacy providers and resources — a reliable way to find evidence-based (Orton-Gillingham, Wilson, Barton) dyslexia help near Myrtle Beach, and to avoid unproven methods.
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.
Locally and BCBA-owned practice offering Applied Behavior Analysis, occupational therapy, and speech-language therapy under one roof in Myrtle Beach, with clinic, home, and school-based options.
Provides center-based ABA therapy for individuals ages 2–21 in its Myrtle Beach clinic, with structured morning and afternoon sessions delivered under BCBA supervision.
Long-established Horry County nonprofit serving children and adults with autism and intellectual disabilities; its Building Futures clinic in Surfside Beach delivers BCBA-supervised ABA therapy.
Dedicated pediatric speech-language and feeding therapy clinic in Myrtle Beach staffed by certified (CCC-SLP) speech-language pathologists.
Provides occupational and speech-language therapy for children and adolescents in Myrtle Beach, delivered by licensed pediatric therapists.
Already Autism Health provides clinic- and home-based ABA therapy and diagnostic assessments for children with autism in Myrtle Beach, and is certified by the Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (BHCOE) — the real quality marker for ABA.
One Stop Therapy has served the Grand Strand (Horry and Georgetown counties) for nearly 20 years, providing pediatric speech, occupational, and physical therapy with licensed and nationally certified (CCC-SLP, OTR/L) clinicians — coordinated, all-in-one care.
Communication Cottage Therapy provides pediatric speech-language (plus occupational and physical) therapy in Myrtle Beach, with clinician Kristin Weingart, M.S., CCC-SLP specializing in augmentative-alternative communication (AAC), autism, and language development.
The BHCOE directory lists accredited ABA providers across the Grand Strand (including Carolina Behavioral Innovation), ASHA ProFind lists CCC-SLP speech therapists, and AOTA lists OTR/L occupational therapists — searchable by zip so families in Conway, North Myrtle Beach, or Georgetown find the nearest.
About 90 minutes south, MUSC Children's Health in Charleston provides board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatrics and interdisciplinary autism diagnostic evaluation — the regional academic referral for complex cases when local options have long waits.
The American Academy of Pediatrics' directory helps you find board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians serving the Grand Strand — 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 Grand Strand (SC and NC) — the field's real professional standard.
Family Connection of South Carolina is the state's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center — free, parent-to-parent help understanding your rights, evaluations, and the IEP process. A respected statewide free resource before hiring a private advocate.
South Carolina'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.
The Champion Autism Network offers free family support, resources, and community navigation for autism families across the Grand Strand — a warm, no-cost first point of connection (and a leader in autism-friendly community programs).
The Arc of Coastal Carolina provides free advocacy, information, and family support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the Grand Strand — a no-cost local resource for navigating services and rights.
South Carolina Legal Services provides free civil legal help to income-eligible families across the Grand Strand — a no-cost route to legal assistance, including some education and benefits matters.
For South Carolina children birth to 3, BabyNet provides free developmental evaluations and early-intervention therapies — call 1-877-621-0865, the earliest no-barrier place to start in the Grand Strand.
For South Carolina children birth to 3 with a delay or disability, BabyNet provides free evaluation and early-intervention services (speech, OT, PT, developmental) — call 1-877-621-0865 to refer or schedule a screening; the Horry County program is delivered locally. North Carolina families in Brunswick County use the NC Infant-Toddler Program (CDSA). The earliest, no-barrier place to start.
At age 3, request a special-education evaluation in writing from your district — Horry County Schools or Georgetown County School District in SC (Brunswick County Schools in NC). Horry County Schools provides a full continuum of special-education programs and related services for students ages 3–21. This is the free legal route to an IEP and services under IDEA.
Disability Rights South Carolina is the state's federally mandated protection & advocacy agency — free legal information and advocacy when a child's special-education rights are denied. North Carolina families use Disability Rights NC. A powerful free resource before you pay anyone.
Federally funded and free — they help South Carolina families understand their rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings. A great first call.
South Carolina'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 Myrtle Beach?
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 Myrtle Beach?
A New Story lists credential-vetted schools, evaluators, therapists, advocates, and the free public programs and parent centers in South Carolina — searchable by ZIP, and free forever.