Special-education help for South Carolina families.

BabyNet is South Carolina's IDEA Part C system, run through the Department of Health and Human Services. It gives free developmental evaluation and services — speech, occupational, physical, and developmental therapy — to any child birth to 3 with a delay or qualifying condition, anywhere in the state, often in your home. There is no income test and no diagnosis required. Anyone (parent, doctor, caregiver) can refer; call 1-866-512-8881. This is the single best first call for a baby or toddler.

You don't need a referral from a doctor — a parent can self-refer to BabyNet by phone or online. Local service coordinators across all 46 counties then arrange your child's evaluation and services. The sooner you call, the sooner therapy can start.

Family Connection has been South Carolina's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center since 2015, serving families in all 46 counties. Its free Education Partners — trained, experienced parents of children with disabilities — give one-to-one help understanding your rights, the evaluation, and the IEP process. Spanish line: 1-888-808-7462. Call before you pay any private advocate.

Through the Education Partners program you can be matched with a trained parent mentor who has navigated special education themselves — to help you prepare for, and even attend, your child's IEP meeting at no cost.

Disability Rights South Carolina is the state's federally mandated protection & advocacy agency. It provides free legal information and advocacy when a child's special-education rights are being denied — including help with evaluations, school transition, restraint/seclusion, and discipline. A powerful no-cost resource before you ever hire a lawyer.

SCVRD provides free Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to any student ages 13–21 with an IEP, 504 plan, or documented disability — no formal application needed. Services include career exploration, work-based learning, help planning for college or training, independent-living skills, and self-advocacy. Counselors visit schools across the state; ask yours to join your child's transition IEP meeting.

South Carolina DOES offer the Katie Beckett / TEFRA pathway. It lets a child with significant disabilities qualify for Medicaid based on the child's own income and resources — not the parents' — when the child needs an institutional level of care but can be cared for at home. That Medicaid card can then pay for speech, OT, ABA, and other medically necessary therapy. You can get the application from SCDHHS or call 1-800-578-8750 for help completing it.

South Carolina's Medicaid home-and-community-based waivers — including the Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) waiver for young children with autism, the Intellectual Disability/Related Disabilities (ID/RD) waiver, and Community Choices — can pay for therapies, respite, and supports based on the child's needs, not just family income. The waiting lists are long (tens of thousands of South Carolinians are on them), so the single most important move is to get on every interest/waiting list TODAY. Call SCDDSN or your local intake to add your child's name.

You can ask your school district in writing for a full special-education evaluation at any time. Once you sign consent, South Carolina districts must complete the evaluation within 60 calendar days (weekends and school breaks count). Put the request in writing and date it — that's when the clock starts. You have the right to everything in your language, to bring anyone to the meeting, and to disagree with the results.

Under IDEA you have the right to a free, appropriate public education (FAPE), to a full evaluation at no cost, to be an equal member of the IEP team, to an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) if you disagree, and to dispute resolution (mediation, state complaint, or due process). Your PTI above — Family Connection — explains all of it for free.

The South Carolina Department of Education's Office of Special Education Services (OSES) sets the rules every district must follow, oversees IDEA across the state, and runs the complaint, mediation, and due-process systems. South Carolina law also requires dyslexia screening and structured-literacy supports — OSES publishes the state's guidance. Start here to know what the state requires of your school.

Use the ZIP finder to pull the nearest evaluators, therapists, and special-education schools to your address, plus your metro's full directory — and these statewide free programs are always shown, no matter how rural your town.

Several reputable practices provide autism/ADHD evaluation and speech/OT/ABA by telehealth across South Carolina — vital for rural Lowcountry and Upstate families. Nationally, COPAA (advocates/attorneys), the Academy of Orton-Gillingham (dyslexia), ABPP (board-certified evaluators), BHCOE (ABA), and Bookshare (free accessible books) round out your options.