Philadelphia has Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and a deep bench of language-based learning-differences schools — the hard part is knowing which help is genuinely excellent and how to reach the free options first. This is Philadelphia's own directory, ranked by real credentials (ABPP, BHCOE, Orton-Gillingham accreditation, COPAA, board-certification) — never by reviews or who pays. Start with the free Pennsylvania options, then the best evaluators, schools, therapists, doctors, and advocates near you.
✓ Every provider here is vetted by credentials, never pay-to-play. How we choose →
Approved Private School and licensed special-education program for students with autism and significant emotional/behavioral needs, ages 5-21, with a strong clinical and behavioral team. Long-established Philadelphia provider.
One of the largest Approved Private School providers of special education for children ages 5-21 with autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities; all educational programs are state-licensed and approved. Founded 1913.
Independent day school for students grades 1-12 with learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and ADHD, using Orton-Gillingham-based structured literacy and an in-house research institute. Established 2006.
Independent grades 7-12 day school accredited by the PA Association of Independent Schools and Middle States; provides robust learning and emotional support with full-time master's-level clinicians. Founded 1970.
Long-standing nonprofit providing education, behavioral health, and child-welfare services to children and youth with emotional, behavioral, and academic challenges; state-licensed special-education programming.
A national leader in educating bright students who learn differently — dyslexia, dysgraphia, executive-function disorders, and ADHD — across grades 1–12 in Paoli.
Serves neurodiverse, language-based-LD students through a structured, multisensory, Orton-Gillingham-accredited program with small class sizes (Newtown Square).
An accredited school in Media for bright children in grades 1–8 with dyslexia, ADHD, auditory processing, or other learning differences, using individualized instruction and small classes.
A nonprofit PA Department of Education–approved private school in Jeffersonville for students ages 5–21 with autism, intellectual disabilities, emotional disturbance, and neurological impairments.
A specialized learning community in the Manayunk area for students grades 1–12 (plus transition, ages 18–21) with autism, learning disabilities, and behavioral/emotional needs.
One of Pennsylvania's PDE Approved Private Schools, on the Valley Forge campus in Malvern, serving students ages 4–21 with autism, speech-language disorders, emotional disturbance, and other health impairments.
A PDE-approved private school in Berwyn providing ABA-based education and residential/rehabilitative services for children ages 5–21 with autism, intellectual, and developmental disabilities.
The only Waldorf school in North America serving exclusively children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities, on a rural Chester County campus K–12 plus a transition program.
A University City school providing education, therapy, and support for children and young adults up to age 21–22 with complex disabilities from cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, or neurological conditions (day and residential).
The largest area school for language-based learning differences (Conshohocken), serving ~400 students in grades 1–12 — backed by the AIM Institute for Learning & Research, translating dyslexia research into the classroom.
A K–12 Main Line school for bright students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, executive-function challenges, ADHD, or auditory processing disorder — structured, supportive, college-prep.
A grades 5–12 school educating neurodiverse students with learning differences such as autism, ADHD, and anxiety — with a specialized postgraduate program and a boarding option.
For 35+ years, this Horsham school has taught children with ADHD, learning disabilities, autism, expressive/receptive language disorders, and anxiety — an evidence-based, social-thinking, whole-child approach.
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.
The district's specialized-services office runs autism support classrooms (STAR/Links curricula), learning-support, and related-services programs across the city, supported by a decade-long University of Pennsylvania (Philly AIMS) training partnership. Programs and placements vary by school and change year to year.
State-chartered school founded in 1820 serving deaf and hard-of-hearing students ages 2-21 (preschool through high school) at no cost to families when placed via the IEP. One of the oldest schools for the deaf in the nation.
State-chartered school with 175+ years of history providing education and residential programs for students with visual impairment and multiple disabilities, including deaf-blindness; tuition is publicly funded through the IEP. Programs change year to year.
Regional public agency operating autism support, multiple-disabilities, emotional-support, and life-skills classrooms placed through local district IEPs across suburban Philadelphia. Strong long-standing track record; specific classrooms change year to year.
Public agency running specialized autism, life-skills, emotional-support, and multi-disability classrooms and the Child & Career Development Center for districts in the western Philadelphia suburbs, accessed via the IEP. Programs vary year to year.
Licensed outpatient clinic under the PA Department of Human Services providing comprehensive multidisciplinary autism evaluations (psychiatrist, psychologist, clinical social worker) for all ages. Long-established Philadelphia provider.
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine's training clinic offers psychological assessment and therapy delivered by clinical-psychology trainees under licensed-psychologist supervision, including learning and ADHD evaluations.
Long-running Philadelphia-area neuropsychology practice providing neuropsychological testing, learning-disability evaluations, and cognitive assessment with licensed clinicians.
Katherine Baum, PhD, a board-certified neuropsychologist on the Main Line, does psychoeducational and neuropsychological evaluations for dyslexia, ADHD, autism, and giftedness in children and teens.
A Bucks County practice led by Rosemarie Manfredi, PsyD, offering standard and comprehensive psychoeducational and neuropsychological evaluations for school-age children (K–12) to define educational needs.
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's neuropsychology service has many board-certified clinicians — Lauren Krivitzky, PhD, ABPP-CN; Hannah-Lise Schofield, PhD, ABPP-CN; Chelsea Black, PhD, ABPP-CN; and director Thomas Flynn, PhD, ABPP-CN — for comprehensive evaluations of learning, attention, autism, and neurodevelopmental conditions.
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, instead of trusting star ratings.
The Academy's directory lists accredited Orton-Gillingham practitioners across the Philadelphia area — the gold-standard credential for a private dyslexia tutor, verified by training rather than advertising.
Lindamood-Bell's intensive, research-based reading and comprehension programs (with Philadelphia-area learning centers) are a well-established option for dyslexia and reading struggles — ask about an evaluation and intensive blocks.
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.
Collaboration between CHOP and Soar Autism Center delivering speech, occupational, and behavioral (ABA) therapy under one roof for young children; ABA delivered 1:1 by RBTs supervised by Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs).
Provides individualized ABA, speech, and occupational therapy in clinic, home, school, and community settings across the western/southern Philadelphia suburbs, supervised by Board Certified Behavior Analysts.
Clinic-based, evidence-based ABA for toddlers through school-age children with autism; each child's individualized treatment plan is developed and supervised by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
Center-based ABA provider serving over 100 children across Philadelphia County with individualized, behavior-analyst-supervised programs.
Established pediatric outpatient clinics providing speech-language therapy by ASHA-certified SLPs and occupational therapy by licensed OTs for children with developmental, sensory, and language needs.
A Northern Liberties multidisciplinary pediatric practice whose team of occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and behavior analysts delivers science-based OT, speech, and ABA under one roof.
A family-friendly pediatric therapy and child-development center serving Philadelphia and Bucks County with occupational, speech, physical, and behavioral (ABA) therapy plus early intervention.
A BHCOE-accredited provider with a Center City Philadelphia location — center-based ABA building school-readiness skills for autistic children, alongside diagnostic and neurology services.
A BHCOE-accredited ABA provider serving the Philadelphia region (PA and NJ) — evidence-based applied behavior analysis for autistic children, accredited for clinical quality rather than ad spend.
The Behavioral Health Center of Excellence directory lists accredited ABA providers across Philadelphia — the real quality bar for choosing ABA, instead of guessing from ads or stars.
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.
Devereux's diagnostic clinic in Malvern conducts comprehensive autism assessments using clinical interviews, observation, and gold-standard measures (ADOS-2, MIGDAS-2), also evaluating ADHD, anxiety, and learning/intellectual disabilities.
A Philadelphia nonprofit providing trauma-informed mental-health evaluation and treatment for children, in-center, in the community, and in schools — a key resource for behavioral and emotional needs.
CHOP's Division of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics — the largest in the tri-state region — includes the Autism Integrated Care Program led by Amanda E. Bennett, MD, MPH and Patty Huang, MD, for diagnosis and care of autism, ADHD, and developmental concerns.
St. Christopher's Hospital for Children offers developmental-behavioral pediatric evaluation and care for autism, ADHD, and developmental delay — a North Philadelphia option serving many public-insurance families.
A special-education law firm whose attorney Leah Snyder Batchis is a COPAA member — handling IEP disputes, due-process and discipline hearings, tuition reimbursement, and appeals from early intervention through age 22.
A Greater Philadelphia special-education attorney offering record review, IEP/504 meeting prep and representation, and dispute-resolution guidance — often at no charge to families since IDEA shifts fees to prevailing parties.
The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' directory lists active, vetted special-education advocates and attorneys serving Philadelphia — the field's real professional standard.
Founded in 1983, McAndrews Law Offices is one of Pennsylvania's leading special-education and disability-law firms — IEP disputes, due process, and litigation, with attorneys holding advanced degrees in psychology and education (free initial consult in most cases).
Pennsylvania's Office for Dispute Resolution provides free IEP facilitation, mediation, and due-process support — a no-cost way to resolve disagreements with your district before (or instead of) litigation.
Temple University's training clinic provides low-cost speech, language, and hearing evaluation and therapy for children (including autism and apraxia), delivered by graduate clinicians under ASHA-certified faculty.
The Public Interest Law Center secures fair, appropriate public education for children with disabilities — due-process complaints, appeals, and family rights education across the Philadelphia region, at no charge to clients.
Elwyn runs Philadelphia's preschool Early Intervention (ages 3–5) — free developmental and educational services for eligible children. (If you hit delays, your free Parent Center and Disability Rights PA can help push it forward.)
For children birth to 3, Pennsylvania's Early Intervention provides free developmental evaluations and therapies (speech, OT, PT, developmental). The earliest, no-barrier place to start if you have any concern about your baby or toddler.
Pennsylvania's federally mandated protection & advocacy agency — free legal information, a special-education helpline, and representation when a child's rights are denied. A powerful free resource before you pay anyone.
Pennsylvania's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center — free help understanding your rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings. A great first call.
Federally funded and free — they help Pennsylvania families understand their rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings. A great first call.
Pennsylvania'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 Philadelphia?
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 Philadelphia?
A New Story lists credential-vetted schools, evaluators, therapists, advocates, and the free public programs and parent centers in Pennsylvania — searchable by ZIP, and free forever.