The Bay Area has extraordinary help — world-class hospitals, renowned dyslexia schools, and a famous UCSF dyslexia center — but it's spread across a huge region and costs add up fast. This is the Bay Area's own credential-vetted directory of the best evaluators, schools, therapists, and doctors, plus free and low-cost options.
✓ Every provider here is vetted by credentials, never pay-to-play. How we choose →
Fully accredited (Western Association of Schools and Colleges and California Association of Independent Schools) K-12 school for students with mild-to-moderate learning differences, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorders, with a roughly 5:1 student-teacher ratio.
Day school for students with dyslexia and language learning differences built on the Orton-Gillingham structured-literacy approach delivered by trained specialists. Serves the East Bay and broader Bay Area.
Small day school teaching students with dyslexia and related learning differences in grades 2-8 using structured, multisensory reading instruction in a low student-teacher-ratio setting.
California Department of Education certified Nonpublic School operated by Edgewood, providing specialized academic instruction with intensive behavioral and therapeutic mental-health support for students (grades 9-12) with significant emotional and behavioral challenges.
Network of CDE-certified Nonpublic Schools across the Bay Area providing highly integrated therapeutic, mental-health, and special-education services for students with significant behavioral and emotional needs; programs meet state academic standards.
WASC-accredited nonpublic school serving students ages 6-22 with moderate-to-severe autism, with emphasis on nonverbal students and those with complex communication and behavioral needs.
Fully accredited private school delivering one-to-one instruction (one teacher per student) for grades 6-12, frequently serving students with ADHD, dyslexia, autism, and anxiety who need a personalized, low-stimulation setting.
A WASC-accredited, UC-approved Berkeley school for grades 7-12 with diagnosed learning disabilities — dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD, processing disorders, and executive-function challenges.
A Belmont college-prep high school for students with learning differences — ADHD, autism (level 1), dyslexia, or executive-function challenges (WASC/NAIS member).
The Marin campus of Winston Prep serves neurodivergent students in grades 3-12 with dyslexia, ADHD, and nonverbal learning disorders through its individualized Focus Program.
A Mill Valley school dedicated to dyslexic learners in grades 2-8, providing a structured, supportive environment built around the science of reading.
A San Bruno school for students with moderate to severe autism and communication disorders, blending individualized education with integrated therapies and life-skills instruction.
A premier Belmont school for students with dyslexia and specific learning differences in reading, writing, or math (also dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD) — research-based instruction, a UCSF Dyslexia Center partner, drawing families from across the Bay.
A San Francisco school for students with learning differences — small classes and individualized instruction for bright students who learn differently.
The UCSF Dyslexia Center maintains a list of partner schools and a wealth of free, science-based dyslexia resources — a trusted way to find more vetted Bay Area options.
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.
San Francisco Unified's autism-focused special day classes (Pre-K through age 22) use evidence-based practices with regular consultation from a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Speech-Language Pathologist. Programs and placements change year to year, so confirm current offerings with the district.
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital center offering evidence-based comprehensive diagnostic evaluations led by a licensed psychologist with a multidisciplinary clinical team (developmental, cognitive, speech-language, and psychiatry components).
Practice offering comprehensive and focused psychoeducational and neuropsychological evaluations for learning differences, ADHD, and autism; assessments are conducted by licensed psychologists qualified to diagnose.
Neuropsychological evaluation practice assessing learning disabilities (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, written expression), autism, ADHD, anxiety, and OCD, conducted by licensed clinicians.
A board-certified clinical neuropsychologist (ABPP-CN) with 20+ years of experience evaluating ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and specific learning disabilities in children, teens, and adults.
A San Francisco pediatric neuropsychologist (PSY 24454) running a specialized autism clinic plus comprehensive diagnostic evaluations for ADHD, learning disorders, and genetic conditions, ages 2-21.
A clinical neuropsychologist with 25+ years assessing children and young adults in English and Spanish — ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and dyscalculia — using Spanish-normed batteries, with IEP-meeting support.
A team of licensed psychologists providing comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological testing for ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia for children, teens, and young adults.
A board-certified clinical neuropsychologist (ABPP/ABCN — the field's highest credential), with offices in San Francisco, providing thorough child and adolescent evaluations for learning, attention, and developmental concerns.
A bilingual (English/Spanish) pediatric neuropsychologist (Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCSF/UCLA training) providing comprehensive assessments in both languages across the Bay Area.
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.
An intensive, research-based reading and comprehension intervention center (LiPS, Seeing Stars, Visualizing & Verbalizing) for struggling readers, including dyslexia.
A free, volunteer-staffed Orton-Gillingham reading program at the San Francisco Public Library, teaching reading in small multisensory steps for children who struggle to decode.
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.
Long-established Bay Area multidisciplinary clinic (founded 1980) providing speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and applied behavior analysis for children and adults, including an early-intervention program.
San Francisco ABA provider that staffs Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) as direct therapists, offering in-home and clinic behavior services for children with autism across the Bay Area.
ABA therapy provider founded in 2012, led by Board Certified Behavior Analysts with decades of combined experience, serving children with autism across the greater Bay Area.
Pediatric speech, language, and feeding therapy practice offering early intervention, bilingual evaluations, and parent coaching with licensed speech-language pathologists.
Pediatric occupational and speech therapy clinic (founder is an MOT, OTR/L) serving children and teens ages 0-18 with autism, developmental delays, sensory processing disorders, and self-regulation challenges.
Pediatric occupational therapy clinic for children ages 2-14 focused on sensory, motor, and emotional skill-building, led by a clinician with an MS, OTR/L and two-plus decades of pediatric OT experience.
A BHCOE-accredited (3-year) provider delivering early-intervention ABA in the home plus speech, occupational, and feeding therapy for young children with autism across the Bay Area.
A BHCOE-accredited ABA provider with Bay Area clinics (San Carlos, San Jose) delivering evidence-based, BCBA-led behavior therapy for children with autism.
A leading San Francisco pediatric clinic offering speech, occupational, and ABA therapy plus social-skills groups for autism, ADHD, anxiety, and sensory and developmental needs — all under one roof.
Medical care, ABA, speech, and occupational therapy under one roof for children with autism — a coordinated, whole-child model with Bay Area locations (incl. Marin).
For more options, the BHCOE directory lists every accredited ABA provider in the Bay 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.
A highly specialized UCSF Benioff pediatric center for diagnosing autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders, with particular expertise in diagnosing children under age 3.
UCSF's board-certified developmental-behavioral team diagnoses and manages developmental delay, ADHD, and autism — a top academic option (campuses in SF and Oakland).
Lucile Packard / Stanford developmental-behavioral pediatricians (board-certified by the American Board of Pediatrics) — comprehensive diagnosis and care for autism, ADHD, and developmental concerns.
A Bay Area education and disability-justice nonprofit (40+ years) offering a free 45-minute consult, file reviews, training, and direct advocacy at IEP and Section 504 meetings.
A San Francisco special-education law firm representing parents across all 13 IDEA categories — IEP and 504 disputes, eligibility, and due-process complaints.
A Marin-based special-education attorney representing children with disabilities at IEP meetings, mediation, due-process hearings, and compliance complaints against districts.
A nationally respected Berkeley-based disability-rights nonprofit offering free and low-cost special-education parent advocacy, training, and support — a powerful Bay Area ally.
For more options, the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' directory lists active, vetted special-education advocates and attorneys serving California.
A renowned Bay Area nonprofit (Palo Alto/San Jose) providing assessments and therapy for learning, ADHD, and autism — with a sliding scale and financial aid so cost isn't a barrier.
SF State's training clinic offers low-cost speech and language evaluation and therapy supervised by licensed clinicians — quality care at a fraction of private rates.
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 the San Francisco Bay Area?
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 the San Francisco Bay Area?
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.