Philadelphia has CHOP — one of the world's great children's hospitals — plus standout LD schools and a free legal-advocacy powerhouse. The trick is knowing which help is genuinely excellent and near you. This is Philadelphia'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.
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's neuropsychology service is deep in board-certified pediatric neuropsychologists (Drs. Flynn, Krivitzky, Schofield, Black, Thomas, Powell — ABPP-CN, Penn faculty). Comprehensive, school-ready evaluations for learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism.
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 largest area school for language-based learning differences (~400 students, grades 1–12) — dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia — with its own literacy research/training institute.
A K–12 Main Line school offering a mainstream experience with tailored supports for students with dyslexia, ADHD, learning differences, and high-functioning autism.
An accredited grades 1–8 school for students with dyslexia, ADD/ADHD, and other learning differences — known for research-based reading and strategy instruction.
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 CHOP-affiliated center providing integrated, in-center care for young children — naturalistic ABA (ESDM), speech therapy, and occupational therapy together.
A BHCOE-accredited provider offering individualized ABA plus diagnostic evaluations, with board-certified supervision and data-driven goals — a Center City Philadelphia option.
For more options, the BHCOE directory lists every accredited ABA provider in Philadelphia — the real quality bar for choosing ABA.
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.
CHOP's division — the largest in the tri-state area — provides comprehensive, board-certified diagnosis and care for autism, ADHD, and developmental concerns (Drs. Wallis, Huang and team), with OT, PT, and speech on the team.
Nemours' developmental-behavioral pediatricians serve the greater Philadelphia/Delaware Valley region — another board-certified option for diagnosis and management.
A nonprofit legal-advocacy powerhouse that provides free information, advice, and advocacy on Pennsylvania special-education rights — an extraordinary free resource, especially for families who can't afford an attorney.
A Philadelphia public-interest law center with a dedicated special-education project — legal help enforcing your child's right to an appropriate education.
For more options, the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' directory lists active, vetted special-education advocates and attorneys serving Pennsylvania.
Temple's training clinic provides accessible, subsidized speech, language, and hearing services to the Philadelphia community, supervised by licensed clinicians.
Drexel's Speech-Language Institute provides low-cost speech-language services in Philadelphia, delivered by graduate clinicians under licensed supervision.
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.
A short message — your child, your Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia providers from the vetted directory above.
A clear written plan, plus a vetted Philadelphia 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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