The South Bay and Long Beach — Torrance, Long Beach, Redondo Beach, San Pedro, Carson, the Palos Verdes Peninsula — has board-certified evaluators, a 60-year-old special-education school, public developmental clinics, and a free university speech clinic, but families struggle to find the genuinely good help. This is the South Bay'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 →
Long-established (since 1969) nonprofit nonpublic school certified by the California Department of Education, serving students ages 5-22 with autism and developmental disabilities under contract with 30+ Bay Area districts. Adult day program as well.
Nonprofit nonpublic school certified by the California Department of Education and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), serving students ages 6-22 with moderate-to-severe autism, including nonverbal students. Campuses in Santa Clara and Sunnyvale.
Nonprofit nonpublic school certified by the California Department of Education to serve students K-12 who are profoundly impacted by autism, operating under contract with the Santa Clara County SELPA.
California-certified nonpublic therapeutic day school run by Children's Health Council, serving K-12 students with significant emotional and behavioral challenges; each classroom is staffed by a special-education teacher, therapist, behavioral specialist and aide. San Jose campus serves grades 5-10.
Long-standing nonprofit nonpublic school (founded 1960) certified by the California Department of Education, serving students ages 5-22 on the autism spectrum and with emotional disturbance and developmental disabilities.
The South Bay's integrated Orton-Gillingham learning program for children with dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia, housed within accredited Almaden Country Day School, with a small 4:1 student-to-teacher ratio.
Independent nonprofit school (grades 2-8) for students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences, using the internationally recognized Slingerland multisensory (Orton-Gillingham-based) approach. Serves East Bay/South Bay families.
Renowned, long-established Bay Area school for students grades 2-8 with language-based learning differences, particularly dyslexia, using the Slingerland (Orton-Gillingham-based) approach; a UCSF Dyslexia Center partner school drawing students from across the region.
A Torrance certified nonpublic school for nearly 60 years (grades 5–12) — small classes, 1:1 support, and therapy-integrated programs for students with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other learning differences who struggle in traditional classrooms.
The California Association of Private Special Education Schools lists state-certified nonpublic schools across the South Bay and Long Beach — the verified way to find specialized placements beyond Switzer.
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.
Coordinates the public continuum of special-education programs and services (birth to age 22) across the county's districts and county office; the gateway to free, district-run IEP services. Programs change year to year.
The county's large urban district provides a free continuum of special-education programs and related services to eligible students across its San Jose schools. Programs and placements change year to year.
District-run special-education and related services for eligible students from preschool through transition age, including specialized autism and learning-disability supports. Free and public; programs change year to year.
Well-resourced peninsula district offering a free continuum of special-education programs and related services, including specialized programs for autism and learning disabilities. Programs change year to year.
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital / Stanford Medicine developmental-behavioral pediatrics provides comprehensive, physician-led autism and developmental diagnostic evaluations for children, with age-specific programs from infancy through middle childhood.
South Bay/Peninsula clinic of licensed clinical psychologists and neuropsychologists (including Stanford-affiliated clinicians) providing pediatric and adult neuropsychological and autism diagnostic assessments.
Kaiser Permanente's San Jose ASD Center provides psychologist-led diagnostic assessment of autism spectrum disorders for members, integrated with behavioral health care.
Bay Area practice led by a licensed psychologist with prior Stanford Children's Health pediatric neuropsychology experience, providing neuropsychological and psychoeducational evaluations for autism, ADHD and learning disabilities.
A pediatric neuropsychologist board-certified by ABPP (and ABPdN) providing comprehensive evaluations for learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism — serving South Bay and greater Long Beach families.
A licensed neuropsychologist serving Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and the South Bay, and an Assistant Clinical Professor at UCLA — comprehensive pediatric and adolescent evaluations. Ask about board certification in clinical neuropsychology.
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 South Bay and Long Beach — the gold-standard credential for a private dyslexia tutor, verified by training rather than advertising.
A Torrance educational-therapy practice providing personalized remedial instruction for children with dyslexia, ADHD, executive-function deficits, and language/visual/auditory processing challenges.
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.
Research-based applied behavior analysis (ABA) for autism delivered with Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) supervision and individualized treatment plans, home- and center-based.
ABA provider founded by a doctoral-level BCBA (Psy.D, BCBA, LBA), offering 1:1 ABA at home, school, in the community and via telehealth across San Jose.
Pediatric clinic providing speech-language therapy from ASHA-certified (CCC-SLP) clinicians and occupational therapy from licensed OTs, including sensory-processing support, for children ages 1-22.
Multidisciplinary clinic delivering speech-language pathology (licensed SLPs), occupational therapy (licensed OTs) and behavior therapy for movement, sensory and communication disorders in children and teens.
Central San Jose pediatric clinic providing occupational therapy by licensed OTs for children with a wide range of developmental and sensory needs.
A BHCOE-accredited ABA practice with clinics in both Torrance and Long Beach — applied behavior analysis for neurodiverse children, accredited for clinical quality rather than chosen by ad spend.
A BHCOE-accredited ABA provider in Long Beach with 20+ years delivering personalized, data-based applied behavior analysis for autistic children.
Cortica's Torrance center provides comprehensive autism therapy and neurodevelopmental care for children up to 17 — medical care, ABA, speech, and occupational therapy in one coordinated model.
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.
The Developmental-Behavioral Clinic at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (Torrance), directed by Geeta Grover, MD, FAAP, diagnoses and treats learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, and developmental concerns — a public academic clinic serving the South Bay.
Children's Hospital LA's developmental-behavioral pediatrics — board-certified diagnosis and care for autism, ADHD, and neurodevelopmental concerns, accessible to South Bay families.
The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' directory lists active, vetted special-education advocates and attorneys serving the South Bay and Long Beach — the field's real professional standard.
A Long Beach special-education attorney guiding families through placement disputes, denied evaluations, due process, and compensatory education when a district fails a child.
A special-education law firm serving Long Beach families — guidance through resolution sessions, mediation, and due process for students not receiving legally required services.
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 Long Beach's university teaching clinic provides diagnostic and therapy services for children's speech, language, and communication disorders free of cost, supervised by licensed/certified speech-language pathologists (waitlist as openings allow).
A Scottish Rite-supported childhood language center providing free or low-cost speech-language therapy for children with language and learning challenges in the Long Beach area.
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.
Harbor Regional Center serves the Bellflower, Harbor, Long Beach, and Torrance health districts, with offices in Torrance and Long Beach — one of 21 California Regional Centers. Most services are free regardless of age or income, and the evaluation to determine eligibility is free. If your child has (or may have) autism, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or a related condition, start here — 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 South Bay & Long Beach?
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 South Bay & Long Beach?
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.