Greater Sacramento — Sacramento, Elk Grove, Roseville, Folsom, Davis, Rancho Cordova — is home to the world-renowned UC Davis MIND Institute, Sacramento State's free speech clinic, and Alta California Regional Center. The hard part is knowing which help is genuinely excellent and how to reach the free options first. This is Sacramento's own directory, ranked by real credentials (ABPP, BHCOE, Orton-Gillingham accreditation, COPAA, board-certification) — never by reviews or who pays. In California, your Regional Center is the free front door for an autism or developmental-disability diagnosis and services — so start there, 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 →
State-certified nonpublic school serving students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ages 5 to 22, on a five-acre campus. Builds an individualized educational program for each student from assessment data.
Year-round certified nonpublic school for students ages 5-22 (grades K-12) with autism, multiple disability, intellectual disability, emotional disturbance, other health impairment and specific learning disability. Provides educational plus related services per the IEP.
Long-established (founded 1993) certified nonpublic school serving students with a wide range of disabilities using state-approved, standards-aligned curriculum alongside behavioral and therapeutic supports.
A California-certified nonpublic school (NPS) serving students with autism spectrum disorder and significant mental-health needs, providing specialized special-education programming on an IEP. WASC-accredited.
A nonpublic special-education school serving K–12+ students with learning disabilities, autism, communication delays, and emotional/behavioral needs across structured pathways from academic-with-behavior-support to life-skills and significant-needs programs.
Sacramento's premier structured-literacy school, READ Academy teaches grades 1–12 students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and ADHD using Orton-Gillingham and Wilson Reading in small groups with a 4:1 student-to-teacher ratio. Teachers are certified in evidence-based methods.
WarmLine's parent specialists — themselves parents of children with disabilities — can help you compare additional Sacramento-area school options for dyslexia, autism, and learning differences at no cost.
A directory to compare additional special-education private schools across the Sacramento region — a verified starting point when you need a program beyond READ Academy.
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.
County-operated special day class program for students ages 3-22 with autism, emotional, cognitive, physical or medical disabilities. Provides vision, orientation-and-mobility, speech, nursing and psychology services. (Programs change year to year.)
Special Education Local Plan Area coordinating high-quality special-education programs and parent training across member districts and county programs. Best first stop for navigating public placements and IEP services. (Programs change year to year.)
The metro's largest district special-education department, offering a full continuum of services from inclusion to specialized programs and its own SELPA. Strong, long-standing infrastructure for IEP services. (Programs change year to year.)
One of California's largest districts, with an established, well-resourced special-education department serving the northeast Sacramento suburbs and a broad array of disability programs. (Programs change year to year.)
California's fifth-largest district, with a comprehensive special-education program and specialized autism, behavioral and learning-support classes across the south Sacramento area. (Programs change year to year.)
Licensed Educational Psychologist offering Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs), autism and ADHD assessments, and dyslexia testing with detailed cognitive, academic and social-emotional batteries.
Licensed Educational Psychologist providing comprehensive psychoeducational and neurodevelopmental assessment and counseling for children and adolescents ages 3-24.
A board-certified clinical neuropsychologist (American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology) who provides pediatric neuropsychological evaluation for children with ADHD, learning disabilities, concussion, and other neurodevelopmental concerns affecting learning and daily function.
A specialty psychology clinic providing neuropsychological assessment by a board-certified neuropsychologist for children ages six and up, including autism spectrum, ADHD, and learning evaluations to inform school planning.
A pediatric neuropsychologist offering comprehensive neuropsychological testing, autism spectrum evaluation, and independent educational evaluations (IEE) for ADHD, learning disorders, and neurodevelopmental concerns.
A team of licensed clinical psychologists providing comprehensive, neurodiversity-affirming evaluations — cognitive and academic testing, learning-disability, ADHD, and autism assessment, plus independent educational evaluations (IEE).
Led by Dr. Brennan Whitley, this Elk Grove practice provides educational and neuropsychological evaluation for dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, autism, ADHD/executive functioning, and giftedness/twice-exceptionality in children and teens.
The UC Davis MIND Institute is one of the world's leading autism and neurodevelopmental research and care centers. Its Massie Family Clinic provides comprehensive, evidence-based assessment of autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, and learning concerns for children birth to 18, by developmental-behavioral pediatricians and clinical psychologists.
UC Davis Health's developmental-behavioral pediatrics team evaluates autism, ADHD, developmental delay, and learning disabilities — academic, board-certified diagnostic care that informs your child's school plan.
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.
Founder Lauren Bell (M.Ed., special education) provides one-on-one dyslexia tutoring using the Barton Reading & Spelling System and Orton-Gillingham approach for students with reading and spelling challenges. By appointment / online.
Dr. Leah Skinner, Ed.D. — a Certified Dyslexia Therapist with a doctorate in Reading, Literacy & Assessment and a master's in dyslexia specialization — founded READ Learning Center and READ Academy after raising five neurodivergent sons. Her Sacramento center delivers structured-literacy, writing, and multisensory-math tutoring rooted in Orton-Gillingham and the Science of Reading for students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and ADHD.
The Academy's directory lists accredited Orton-Gillingham practitioners across greater Sacramento — 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.
Pediatric therapy clinics in Sacramento and Roseville providing speech, occupational and physical therapy plus in-home early intervention, staffed by licensed CCC-SLP and OTR/L therapists.
A BHCOE-accredited Sacramento ABA provider with Bradshaw and Natomas centers offering early intensive, center-based applied behavior analysis for autistic children, with peer-socialization and school-readiness focus.
A BHCOE-accredited ABA provider serving greater Sacramento with research-based, data-driven home- and center-based autism treatment, plus school-district and regional-center services.
A multidisciplinary Sacramento pediatric clinic offering speech-language pathology (CCC-SLP), occupational therapy, and ABA (Autism Commission on Quality accredited) for children's language, social, motor, and adaptive skills.
A pediatric therapy clinic using a developmental, sensorimotor approach for children with fine/gross-motor, sensory-processing, visual-motor, executive-function, speech/language, and feeding needs, staffed by California-licensed, board-certified therapists.
A pediatric therapy clinic providing occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, feeding therapy, and small-group therapies for children of all ages in the greater Sacramento area (East Sacramento and Dixon clinics).
A BHCOE-accredited Sacramento ABA provider with Bradshaw and Natomas centers — early intensive, center-based applied behavior analysis for autistic children, accredited for clinical quality rather than chosen by ad spend.
A BHCOE-accredited ABA provider serving Sacramento with home- and center-based autism treatment — research-based applied behavior analysis, accredited for clinical quality.
The Behavioral Health Center of Excellence directory lists accredited ABA providers across greater Sacramento (including Autism Spectrum Therapies and others) — the real quality bar for autism therapy.
Yelena Gerez is an ASHA-certified, state-licensed bilingual (English/Russian) speech-language pathologist with specialized training in orofacial myology. Her practice, Honeycomb Speech Therapy, serves children across Placer and Sacramento counties from clinics in Rocklin and Sacramento.
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.
Sutter's pediatric neurology and autism program, led by Dr. Michael Chez, provides diagnosis and medical management of autism and neurodevelopmental disorders, including the STAND clinic for transition-age teens.
UC Davis MIND Institute and UC Davis Children's developmental-behavioral pediatricians provide expert diagnosis and management of autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, and developmental delay — among the most respected academic teams in the country.
The American Academy of Pediatrics' directory helps you find board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians in greater Sacramento — the credential to verify for a formal autism or ADHD diagnosis.
Founded by Phil Winston (M.A. Special Education; M.A. Educational Administration) with 25+ years as teacher, principal, and Director of Special Education. Offers direct advocacy at IEP/504/transition meetings, document review, parent coaching, and mediation. By appointment.
Licensed Educational Psychologist Meghan Magee provides independent educational evaluations (IEE), IEP/504 file reviews, IEP-meeting attendance, expert-witness services, and nonpublic-school/RTC placement support across Sacramento, El Dorado, and Placer counties. By appointment.
Attorney Molly Watson represents Sacramento-area families in IEP meetings, mediations, OAH due-process hearings, CDE complaints, and federal discrimination claims, with pro bono services for qualifying families. By appointment (Grass Valley office).
The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' directory lists active, vetted special-education advocates and attorneys serving greater Sacramento — the field's real professional standard.
California's Office of Administrative Hearings publishes lists of attorneys and advocates who self-certify they offer special-education representation free or at low cost — an official starting point for Sacramento families seeking help.
Legal Services of Northern California provides free civil legal help to income-eligible families across the Sacramento region — a no-cost route to legal assistance, including some education and benefits matters.
Sacramento State's Maryjane Rees Center provides speech-language and audiology assessment and therapy for children on a donations-only basis (no fees), so low-income families can access care — delivered by graduate clinicians under ASHA-certified supervisors.
WarmLine offers free workshops, peer-to-peer support, and resource navigation for Sacramento families — a rich free resource for learning your rights alongside clinical services.
For children birth to 3, California's Early Start program (accessed through Alta California Regional Center) provides free developmental evaluations and early-intervention therapies — the earliest, no-barrier place to start.
In California, your Regional Center is the free front door for a developmental-disability or autism diagnosis and services. Alta California Regional Center serves Sacramento and surrounding counties — including free California Early Start early-intervention services for infants and toddlers birth to 36 months. The first place to start.
California's federally mandated protection & advocacy agency — its Legal Advocacy Unit gives free legal advice on education and disability rights when a child's special-education rights are denied. A powerful free resource before you pay anyone.
WarmLine is Sacramento's Family Empowerment Center — free training, information, referrals, and peer-to-peer support for families of children with disabilities ages 3–22, from staff who are themselves parents of children with special needs. A great, no-referral first call for IEP help.
Federally funded and free — they help California families understand their rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings. A great first call.
California'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 Sacramento?
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 Sacramento?
A New Story lists credential-vetted schools, evaluators, therapists, advocates, and the free public programs and parent centers in California — searchable by ZIP, and free forever.