The San Fernando Valley — Encino, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Tarzana, Woodland Hills, Northridge, Van Nuys, Granada Hills — holds one of the densest clusters of special-education expertise in California, but it's scattered and hard to sort. This is the Valley'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 Regional Center entitlement, 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 →
K-12 STEM-focused school of The Help Group for students with autism and social/learning differences. CARF-accredited and recognized by the California Department of Education.
Long-established (since 1983) certified nonpublic school and agency staffed by speech-language pathologists, educational therapists, psychologists, OTs and behaviorists. CAPSES member listed in the San Fernando Valley region.
An Encino college-prep school built for bright students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and language-based learning differences — every teacher (not just the reading teacher) is trained to teach the way these students learn.
One of the nation's largest nonprofits for children with autism, learning differences, and special needs — its Village Glen School serves students with autism and social-communication needs, among several specialized Valley campuses.
A Studio City school built specifically for twice-exceptional students — gifted children who also have learning differences — a rare and genuine specialty.
Frostig (Pasadena, with a West LA campus opened to serve West Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley) teaches students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, processing disorders, dyscalculia, ADHD, high-functioning autism, and anxiety.
Part of The Help Group, the largest nonprofit of its kind in the U.S. Village Glen is a K-12 college-preparatory day school for students with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder, ADHD and social/communication differences, offering UC/CSU a-g, Honors and AP courses with specialized social-cognition support.
Comprehensive special-education day school for students ages 5-22 with moderate-to-severe global delays associated with autism and other developmental disabilities. Functional academics, vocational/community-safety training, plus embedded speech-language and occupational therapy. Valley and Culver City campuses.
Nonprofit with 70+ years educating children with learning differences. Grades 1-12 day school for students with dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD and high-functioning autism; ~6:1 student-teacher ratio and fully special-education-credentialed staff. Roughly 20 miles from the Valley with a West LA campus as well.
Long-established Westside nonprofit operating a certified nonpublic school (Vista NPS) plus the Julia Ann Singer therapeutic program for children with autism, emotional/behavioral, learning and developmental disorders. Individualized academics in a therapeutic milieu with integrated speech-language and counseling services.
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.
District-run Special Day Programs and a High-Functioning Autism Core Program embedding communication-skills instruction across LAUSD San Fernando Valley schools. Free to eligible students with an IEP. Programs change year to year.
Long-running LAUSD special-education and career-transition center (roots to the 1960s) serving students with significant disabilities, including the 18-22 transition population, toward independence. Free; programs change year to year.
The Region North special-education office coordinates IEP-driven services, related services and placements across San Fernando Valley public schools. Free to eligible students; specific program offerings change year to year.
Cedars-Sinai developmental-behavioral pediatrics and pediatric neuropsychology service providing autism and learning evaluations by hospital-based, licensed clinicians. Serves families across LA and the Valley.
San Fernando Valley practice led by a licensed psychologist trained in the UCLA Child Study Laboratories, Lovaas Autism Project and UCLA NPI Early Childhood program, offering autism and psychoeducational evaluations.
A clinical neuropsychologist with 20+ years' experience, board-certified by ABPP in both clinical psychology and clinical neuropsychology — based in Encino, with thorough, school-ready pediatric evaluations.
An Encino practice offering pediatric neuropsychological assessment and educational therapy for children across Sherman Oaks, Calabasas, and the Valley — confirm the evaluator's ABPP board certification when you book.
UCLA's pediatric neuropsychology clinic, directed by Dr. Vindia Fernandez, PhD, ABPP-CN — rigorous, school-ready evaluations for ADHD, autism, and learning disabilities, a short drive from the Valley.
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 Valley — the gold-standard credential for a private dyslexia tutor, verified by training rather than advertising.
Lindamood-Bell's research-based, intensive reading and comprehension programs (with San Fernando Valley-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.
Established national nonprofit providing science-based ABA and related autism therapies under BCBA supervision at its Northridge service center. Long-standing reputation in disability services.
Encino-based pediatric center offering speech-language pathology (CCC-SLP), occupational therapy (OTR/L) and child-development services, in-clinic and in-home, across the San Fernando Valley.
Medical care, ABA, speech, and occupational therapy under one roof for children with autism — a coordinated, whole-child model with San Fernando Valley-area locations.
A BHCOE-accredited ABA provider offering research-based home- and center-based autism treatment in the San Fernando Valley — accredited for clinical quality, not chosen by ad spend.
The Behavioral Health Center of Excellence directory lists accredited ABA providers across the Valley (such as Inizio Interventions in Granada Hills and Autism Learning Partners) — the real quality bar, 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.
Board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians at UCLA — including Dr. Irene Koolwijk and Dr. Joshua Mandelberg (a Valley native) — diagnose autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, and developmental differences. The medical anchor for a strong IEP.
For Kaiser members in the Valley, board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians (such as Kek-Khee Loo, MD, UCLA-fellowship trained) evaluate and diagnose autism and developmental concerns within the Kaiser system.
Children's Hospital LA's developmental-behavioral clinic (led by Dr. Douglas Vanderbilt) — comprehensive diagnosis for autism, ADHD, and neurodevelopmental concerns.
The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' directory lists active, vetted special-education advocates and attorneys serving the Valley — the field's real professional standard.
A Sherman Oaks firm focused exclusively on special education, disability discrimination, and student-rights cases — from IEP representation through due process hearings and into federal court.
A Sherman Oaks special-education attorney providing the full range of representation — from IEP advocacy through due process hearings — for Valley families.
California's Office of Administrative Hearings publishes an official list of free and reduced-cost special-education advocates and attorneys statewide — a verified, no-cost starting point if money is tight.
Cal State Northridge's nonprofit university clinic has provided low-cost speech, language, and hearing evaluation and therapy since 1960 — supervised graduate clinicians, right in the Valley.
ECF's San Fernando Valley Early Start program provides free early-intervention and educational services for children 0–3 who are delayed or at risk — plus parent support groups, social-work help, and referrals.
UCLA's training clinic provides comprehensive neuropsychological and psychoeducational assessments with income-based fees — gold-standard testing well below typical private cost (ask about current availability).
For eligible residents, LA County DMH provides free or low-cost mental-health assessments and services — a safety net when private evaluation isn't affordable.
NLACRC serves the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, and Antelope Valleys — one of 21 California Regional Centers. Most services are free regardless of age or income, and the diagnosis/eligibility assessment is free too. If your child has (or may have) autism, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or a related condition, this is the first call — it's a state entitlement, not charity.
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 San Fernando Valley?
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 San Fernando Valley?
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.