San Diego has a top children's hospital with a board-certified pediatric neuropsychology service, a respected college-prep school for learning differences, and a renowned university speech clinic — but finding the genuinely excellent help near you is the hard part. This is San Diego'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.
Rady Children's pediatric neuropsychology service is led by Robert Gray, PhD, ABPP (clinical & training director), board-certified in clinical neuropsychology with pediatric subspecialty. Comprehensive, school-ready evaluations for learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism; its Developmental Evaluation Clinic has sites across San Diego County.
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.
A Del Mar college-preparatory independent day school (founded 1988 by pediatricians and parents) for bright students with learning differences — small classes and an individualized, strengths-based approach.
For more options, California's certified nonpublic-school (NPS) directory lists state-approved special-education schools your district can be required to fund — verify current certification and fit.
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 multidisciplinary provider with San Diego-area clinics integrating ABA, speech-language pathology, and occupational therapy — research-based, with personalized, family-centered care.
For more options, the BHCOE directory lists accredited ABA providers in the San Diego area — 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.
Rady Children's Developmental Evaluation Clinic provides comprehensive neurodevelopmental evaluations for autism, ADHD, and learning concerns, with developmental-behavioral specialists across several county locations.
UC San Diego's developmental-behavioral pediatricians evaluate and coordinate care for children with developmental delays, autism, ADHD, and learning disorders.
The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' directory lists active, vetted special-education advocates and attorneys serving the San Diego area — the field's real professional standard.
San Diego's free civil legal-aid program — for income-eligible families, a route to legal help (including some education matters) at no cost.
San Diego State University's clinic (since 1941) provides low-cost speech and language evaluation and therapy for children, with student clinicians supervised by ASHA-certified, state-licensed faculty.
For children birth to 5, First 5 San Diego's Healthy Development Services offers developmental screening, and speech, behavior, and parenting support at free or low cost — an early, no-barrier place to start.
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.
A short message — your child, your San Diego 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 San Diego providers from the vetted directory above.
A clear written plan, plus a vetted San Diego 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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