New Jersey families navigate some of the most contested — and most expensive — special-education environments in the country, especially in the affluent northern suburbs. Below is a full directory of the best special-education providers across New Jersey — named, credential-vetted, and including free and sliding-scale options.
✓ Every provider here is vetted by credentials, never pay-to-play. How we choose →
A Mountain Lakes day school (45+ years) for students with learning differences, with teachers trained in Orton-Gillingham and structured-literacy strategies, aligned to NJ standards.
A NJ state-approved school for children with dyslexia, autism, and non-verbal learning disorders — teachers certified in Orton-Gillingham, the Wilson Reading System, and other multisensory methods.
A long-established K–12 school in Princeton for students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences, built on multisensory, structured instruction.
A nonprofit, NJ Department of Education-approved day school founded in 1954 serving students K-21 with autism and related learning, language, behavioral, and social challenges.
A state-approved, therapeutic K-12-Plus day school in Morris County for students with multiple learning disabilities, ADHD, anxiety, mood, behavioral, and autism spectrum disorders, including twice-exceptional learners.
State-approved schools in Union County for academically capable students ages 5-21 living with autism spectrum, mood, anxiety, and attention disorders, with small classes plus counseling, OT, and speech therapy.
An accredited, nonprofit school (founded 1970) educating students ages 5-21 with autism, Down syndrome, and other developmental disabilities, balancing academics with social-emotional learning and ABA-based supports.
NJ DOE-approved and the only school in NJ and PA accredited by the Academy of Orton-Gillingham, serving students ages 8-18 with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, auditory processing disorder, and ADHD.
A nonprofit, state-approved school serving since 1950 for students with significant physical and cognitive disabilities and medically fragile needs, with integrated physical, occupational, speech, and feeding therapies.
A countywide public special-education district running six schools across continuums for students pre-K through 21, including the largest deaf/hard-of-hearing program in NJ plus autism, emotional, and multiple-disability programs.
An approved NJ private school providing preschool, autism, and behaviorally-disabled programs for students in the Essex County area.
A nonprofit alliance of more than 30 state-approved private special-education schools across Northern and Central NJ that helps parents understand options and find a school by county and disability.
NJ's leading pediatric rehabilitation hospital (RWJBarnabas Health) — board-certified pediatric neuropsychologists providing comprehensive, school-ready evaluations for ADHD, learning disabilities, and autism across multiple NJ locations.
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson's academic team evaluating and diagnosing learning, attention, and developmental differences — the kind of rigorous workup that anchors a strong IEP.
A dedicated private pediatric neuropsychology practice doing in-depth evaluations for learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism — with reports written to be usable in the IEP/504 process.
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.
A BHCOE-accredited ABA provider serving Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Morris, Union, and Hudson counties — home, community, and clinic-based therapy supervised by Board Certified Behavior Analysts.
A Cedar Grove pediatric practice (led by a CCC-SLP director) offering speech therapy, occupational therapy, sensory integration, handwriting, and social-skills groups under one roof.
A West Caldwell pediatric speech-language practice with certified CCC-SLP clinicians providing individualized speech and language therapy for children.
For more options, the Behavioral Health Center of Excellence directory lists every BHCOE-accredited ABA provider in New Jersey — the real quality bar for choosing ABA.
Board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians (the Rutgers RWJ fellowship's training site) who diagnose and guide care for autism, ADHD, and developmental concerns.
Dr. Alison Smoller (NYU-trained, formerly Children's Specialized Hospital) is a board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatrician and Castle Connolly Top Doctor, in private practice in Monmouth County.
An established NJ firm with a dedicated special-education practice — IEP/504 disputes, eligibility, placement, mediation, and due process before the NJ Office of Special Education.
A NJ special-education law practice handling IEP and 504 disputes, eligibility, placement, and due-process representation for families across the state.
For more options, the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' directory lists active, vetted special-education advocates and attorneys serving New Jersey.
Rutgers' graduate psychology training clinic (Piscataway) provides psychological, learning-disability, and neuropsychological assessments for ages 2 through adulthood on a sliding fee scale — high-quality testing at a fraction of private cost.
NJ's federally funded Parent Center — free workshops, one-on-one help understanding your rights and the IEP process, and guidance navigating evaluations and meetings.
Federally funded and free — they help New Jersey families understand their rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings. A great first call.
New Jersey'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 Northern New Jersey?
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 Northern New Jersey?
A New Story lists credential-vetted schools, evaluators, therapists, advocates, and the free public programs and parent centers in New Jersey — searchable by ZIP, and free forever.