Greater Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, Mount Lebanon, Sewickley, Bridgeville, Cranberry, plus Allegheny and Beaver counties — is home to UPMC Children's Hospital, the nation's PEAL parent center, and dedicated dyslexia and autism schools. The hard part is knowing which help is genuinely excellent and how to reach the free options first. This is Pittsburgh's own directory, ranked by real credentials (ABPP, BHCOE, Orton-Gillingham/Wilson 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 →
Co-educational special-education day school licensed by the PA State Board of Private Academic Schools and approved by the PDE Bureau of Special Education. Serves ages 5–21 with autism, specific learning disabilities, and neurological impairments across a seven-county region.
Licensed Private Academic School providing intensive social, behavioral, and academic intervention to children ages 6–21 with autism, plus an Approved Private School and Partial Hospitalization day program with high staff-to-student ratios and certified special-education teachers.
Accredited PA Approved Private School (founded 1958) licensed to educate children ages 4–21 classified with serious emotional disturbance, autism/pervasive developmental disorder, or traumatic brain injury.
Privately licensed K–12 school serving students on the autism spectrum and those with learning disabilities, social/emotional impairments, and developmental delays.
Approved Private School (APS) sites licensed by the PA Department of Education in special education for autism, learning disabilities, and emotional disturbance — serving K–12 students who face behavioral, emotional, or academic barriers to learning.
A long-established (founded 1908) listening-and-spoken-language school serving children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have severe speech/language delays from birth through 8th grade, including its SAILL preschool program.
A small day school for children with dyslexia and language-based learning disabilities using explicit, sequential Orton-Gillingham multisensory instruction; its Multi-Sensory Institute also trains teachers in the method.
Pennsylvania's first public school designed for students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences, Provident Charter School (two Western PA campuses) delivers daily reading intervention from teachers certified in Wilson Reading or as Orton-Gillingham practitioners — tuition-free.
The Watson Institute operates licensed approved private special-education schools (Sewickley and Bridgeville campuses) using Applied Behavior Analysis and the TEACCH autism program, plus its integrated LEAP preschool for young children with autism and developmental disabilities.
Pace School is one of only 33 Approved Private Schools licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to provide a free, appropriate special-education program — serving K–21 students with autism or significant emotional challenges.
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.
Public, no-cost special-education schools operated by the AIU for students with significant disabilities across Allegheny County, with individualized/adapted curriculum and vocational training. Specific programs and placements change year to year.
The district's special-education department providing a continuum of IEP services and specialized centers/classrooms across city schools. Offerings vary by building and change year to year.
Publicly funded Approved Private School program (no tuition cost to families when placed by a district/IU) serving students with significant developmental and physical disabilities. Programs change year to year.
Academic autism evaluation and care program affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry, providing comprehensive diagnostic assessment for autism spectrum disorder.
Pittsburgh practice led by board-certified neuropsychologist Dr. Glen Getz, providing thorough neuropsychological assessments for memory, attention, learning, and neurological concerns — serving elementary-aged children through adults.
Dr. John Carosso, Psy.D., a licensed child clinical and certified school psychologist with 30+ years of experience, conducts family-centered diagnostic evaluations for autism, ADHD, learning, and behavioral issues with short wait times. By-appointment offices in Monroeville, Greensburg, and the North Hills.
UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh's Pediatric Neuropsychology Service is led by a board-certified neuropsychologist overseeing a board-eligible staff — evaluating how medical and neurodevelopmental conditions affect a child's thinking, learning, and attention (referral via a UPMC Children's specialty physician).
A Pittsburgh private practice — whose clinicians include a former Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC pediatric neuropsychologist — offering comprehensive evaluations for autism, learning disabilities, and other neurodevelopmental concerns without the hospital-patient referral requirement.
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.
A Greater Pittsburgh learning center (25+ years) serving children with dyslexia, ADHD, autism, and other learning disabilities; its World of Reading Program is an individualized, multisensory Orton-Gillingham approach, plus evaluations and executive-function coaching.
Part of the Scottish Rite Masons' national network, the Children's Dyslexia Center of Pittsburgh (North Hills) provides free, one-on-one Orton-Gillingham structured-literacy tutoring for children with dyslexia — no cost to families. Co-directed by Amy Brazill and Kathleen Kirk. One of the best-kept free secrets in the region.
The Academy's directory lists accredited Orton-Gillingham practitioners across greater Pittsburgh — the gold-standard credential for a private dyslexia tutor, verified by training rather than advertising.
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.
Pittsburgh ABA practice providing one-on-one, play-based applied behavior analysis tailored for children with autism and intellectual disabilities, supervised by Board Certified Behavior Analysts.
Provides applied behavior analysis along with speech and occupational therapy for children with autism ages 0–18, overseen by Board Certified Behavior Analysts.
Locally owned practice providing occupational, physical, and speech therapy in the greater Pittsburgh region for over 30 years.
Family-centered pediatric occupational therapy private practice in the South Hills of Pittsburgh using a DIR/Floortime, individualized approach.
A long-established nonprofit offering Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) alongside outpatient occupational, physical, speech, and behavioral-health therapy — coordinated, multidisciplinary pediatric care for children with special needs.
A multidisciplinary pediatric practice founded by occupational therapist Shari Habovick, M.Ed., OTR/L, offering occupational, speech, physical, and sensory-based therapy for infants and children up to age 18, with locations north and east of Pittsburgh.
A Pittsburgh-area pediatric clinic providing speech, occupational, and physical therapy plus early intervention, autism support services, social groups, and transition services for children of all ages.
A BHCOE-accredited ABA provider with Pittsburgh and Mount Lebanon centers — research-based applied behavior analysis for autistic children, accredited for clinical quality rather than chosen by ad spend.
Established in 1902, The Children's Institute of Pittsburgh is a BHCOE-accredited nonprofit offering ABA alongside outpatient physical, occupational, speech, and behavioral health therapy — coordinated, multidisciplinary pediatric care.
The Behavioral Health Center of Excellence directory lists accredited ABA providers across greater Pittsburgh (including Verbal Beginnings) — the real quality bar for autism therapy.
Deb Wygant, M.A., CCC-SLP, founded Reach for Speech in 2013, an outpatient pediatric center offering speech, occupational, physical, and feeding therapy across three locations in the Pittsburgh Airport region (Robinson, Moon/Coraopolis, Center Township) — care for children of all abilities under one roof.
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.
Allegheny Health Network's pediatric developmental and behavioral health program offers evaluation and care for developmental, behavioral, autism, and ADHD concerns within a major Pittsburgh hospital system (call to be matched to the right location).
UPMC Children's developmental medicine team and autism evaluation clinic (seeing children 18 months to 7 years) provide expert diagnosis and management of autism, ADHD, and developmental concerns — academic, board-certified care that informs your child's school plan.
The American Academy of Pediatrics' directory helps you find board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians in greater Pittsburgh — the credential to verify for a formal autism or ADHD diagnosis.
An independent Pittsburgh special-education advocate (Institute of Special Education Advocacy-trained; appointed member of PA's Special Education Advisory Panel) who supports families with evaluations, eligibility, IEP goals, and school compliance.
LEAF provides free assistance to Southwestern Pennsylvania families with children who have special needs — helping parents understand IEPs and educational planning and connecting them with community and medical resources.
Achieva, through The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh, offers information, support, and advocacy for families navigating special education and the disability service systems (not a legal-services agency).
A Pittsburgh-area special-education attorney representing parents at IEP, gifted, and 504 meetings and in due-process hearings under IDEA and Section 504.
A Pittsburgh law firm representing parents and students in special-education matters, including securing IEPs and handling disability-related school discipline.
An Allegheny County education-law firm representing parents from the initial evaluation request through enforcement of a 504 Plan or IEP, serving the Pittsburgh region.
KidsVoice serves as the court-appointed Educational Decision Maker for children in Allegheny County; its education advocates and attorneys ensure students with IEPs and 504 plans receive the support and services they are legally entitled to.
The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' directory lists active, vetted special-education advocates and attorneys serving greater Pittsburgh — the field's real professional standard.
Beyond information, PEAL's parent advisors help you prepare for and understand IEP meetings and special-education problem-solving at no cost — a respected free alternative to hiring a private advocate first.
Neighborhood Legal Services provides free civil legal help to income-eligible families across the Pittsburgh region — a no-cost route to legal assistance, including some education and benefits matters.
Duquesne University's Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic (Fisher Hall) offers low-cost outpatient evaluation and therapy — including its Language Disorders and Autism Clinic with individualized, evidence-based treatment for children — delivered by graduate clinicians under ASHA-certified supervisors.
PEAL offers free workshops, training, and one-on-one parent advisor support for Pennsylvania families — a rich free resource for learning your rights alongside clinical services.
For children birth to 3 in Allegheny and Beaver counties, The Alliance provides free developmental evaluations and early-intervention therapies — the earliest, no-barrier place to start.
For children birth to 3 in Allegheny and Beaver counties, The Alliance for Infants & Toddlers provides free developmental evaluations and early-intervention services (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 and advocacy when a child's special-education rights are denied. A powerful free resource before you pay anyone.
Pittsburgh-based PEAL is Pennsylvania's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center — free workshops, training, and parent advisors who help with early intervention, the IEP/504 process, and inclusive education. 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 Pittsburgh?
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 Pittsburgh?
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.