Spartanburg County — Spartanburg, Boiling Springs, Duncan, Inman, Lyman, and the rest of the Upstate east of Greenville — has solid, credentialed help for kids with special needs, anchored by Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System and Prisma Health's Upstate children's services. Spartanburg is unusual: the county is divided into SEVEN school districts (Spartanburg County School Districts 1–7, with District 7 serving the city of Spartanburg) — each runs its own special-education department, so know which district you're in. This is Spartanburg's own yellow pages of the best, most relevant help — named experts and clinics where we can verify them, ranked by real credentials (ABPP, BHCOE, Orton-Gillingham, COPAA, CCC-SLP, OTR-L, board-certification), never by reviews or who pays. In South Carolina your free front door is BabyNet (early intervention, birth–3) and your school district's evaluation and IEP for ages 3+. Start there, then the best evaluators, schools, reading specialists, therapists, doctors, and advocates near you.
✓ Every provider here is vetted by credentials, never pay-to-play. How we choose →
A private, SCISA-accredited K-12 school for students on the autism spectrum, run by Project Hope Foundation (serving Upstate families since 1998). Classrooms are purpose-built for autism and integrate Applied Behavior Analysis into the school day.
A farm-based therapeutic day school in the Upstate for middle and high school students diagnosed with autism and/or ADHD, with educators trained to work with neurodivergent students and embedded therapeutic and social-skills support. Nonprofit 501(c)(3).
A long-standing Upstate nonprofit providing combined special education and intensive speech, occupational and physical therapy for young children with disabilities including autism, developmental delay and multiple disabilities — the only place in Upstate SC offering education and therapies together for preschool-age children.
Each of Spartanburg County's seven school districts runs its own special-education department with specialized classrooms, autism and behavior programs, and a continuum of placements — confirm your district (1–7) and ask what specialized options can meet your child's needs.
Lakes and Bridges Charter School is a tuition-free public charter school in the Upstate built specifically for students with dyslexia, using the Orton-Gillingham approach — a no-cost specialized option that Spartanburg-area families can apply to.
A searchable directory for comparing Spartanburg-area private and special-education school options by location, grades, and program — useful if you're seeking a specialized placement.
State-operated specialized school on a 160-acre Spartanburg campus serving students who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, low vision, or sensory multi-disabled, preschool through grade 12. Offers on-campus day and residential programs, early intervention, assistive technology, ASL/Braille instruction, prevocational/vocational training, and statewide outreach. The flagship deaf/blind option in the region with certified teachers of the deaf and visually impaired.
Nationally recognized language-based school for students with dyslexia and related language-based learning differences, grades 1-8, founded 1986. One of only a handful of schools nationwide accredited by the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators as both a teaching AND training site, plus SAIS member. 3:1 student-teacher ratio with specialist faculty. ~35 miles from Spartanburg in Greenville.
Non-profit private school (SCISA-accredited, founded 2005) for students with average to above-average intelligence diagnosed with ADHD/ADD, autism, and related learning differences, roughly grades 4-8. Small specialized classes and individualized instruction. Also provides the educational direction/accreditation oversight for Springbrook's autism school program. About 30 miles from Spartanburg in Greenville.
Therapeutic/residential and day behavioral-health program for children and adolescents with autism, including acute stabilization and assessment. Its on-site Springbrook Opportunity School (K-12) is SCISA-affiliated and operates under the educational direction and accreditation of Einstein Academy; the autism programs are accredited by The Joint Commission. Serves higher-acuity needs than a typical day school. ~30 miles from Spartanburg in Travelers Rest.
The public special-education program serving the city of Spartanburg, providing free appropriate public education to students with disabilities ages 3-21 under IDEA. Offers Child Find screenings, evaluations, IEPs, the full continuum of placements (least restrictive environment), autism supports, and related services with certified special educators and a dedicated Special Services leadership team. The default public option for families inside the district.
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.
South Carolina's only state-run specialized school for deaf, blind, or sensory multi-disabled students, serving ages 3-21 on a 160-acre Spartanburg campus plus statewide outreach. Includes Cedar Springs Academy for students with a vision/hearing disability plus another physical or intellectual disability. Free to eligible SC students.
A long-established public school operated within Spartanburg District 7 serving students with significant disabilities, with a dedicated Lead Autism Specialist and specialized autism programming. Free public placement; programs change year to year.
An Upstate practice specializing in autism, ADHD and specific-learning-disorder evaluations for children 30 months and up. Psychologists hold PhDs and completed APA-accredited internships and postdoctoral fellowships in psychological and neuropsychological assessment.
Prisma Health Children's (Upstate) Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics evaluates and helps manage autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, and developmental conditions — the region's largest health-system developmental-medicine team, serving Spartanburg and Greenville.
The Breakwater Center for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics provides comprehensive autism and developmental evaluations for children in the Upstate — a dedicated diagnostic practice for the formal diagnosis that anchors a strong IEP.
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 across the Upstate, instead of trusting star ratings.
The Academy of Orton-Gillingham and the Academic Language Therapy Association list accredited O-G practitioners and CALTs across the Upstate — searchable near Spartanburg, Boiling Springs, or Greer. The gold-standard credentials for a private dyslexia tutor.
The International Dyslexia Association's Carolinas branches list structured-literacy providers and resources — a reliable way to find evidence-based (Orton-Gillingham, Wilson, Barton) dyslexia help near Spartanburg, and to avoid unproven methods.
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.
Spartanburg-founded provider (since 2017) offering Applied Behavior Analysis, occupational therapy and speech-language therapy together in one integrated program. Founded by a clinician with a master's in ABA specializing in autism spectrum disorders.
ABA therapy for children and young adults with autism and related diagnoses in Spartanburg, owned and clinically directed by BCBAs and BCBA-Ds with a focus on quality clinical care.
BCBA-led, play-based in-home ABA for kids and teens ages 2-18 across Spartanburg County since 2015, accepting SC Healthy Connections Medicaid and private plans under Ryan's Law with short start times.
MTS Kids' Spartanburg clinic provides ABA therapy and speech therapy for children with autism, with BCBA-led programming and ASHA-certified (CCC-SLP) speech-language pathologists — a coordinated local autism-therapy option.
Prisma Health Kidnetics provides pediatric occupational, speech, and physical therapy for children birth to 21 in Spartanburg — a health-system therapy program with licensed and nationally certified (CCC-SLP, OTR/L) clinicians, accepting Medicaid.
Pediatrics Unlimited offers occupational, physical, speech, feeding, and aquatic therapy for children at its Spartanburg and Greenville clinics — a multidisciplinary option with licensed and nationally certified clinicians.
The BHCOE directory lists accredited ABA providers across the Upstate, ASHA ProFind lists CCC-SLP speech therapists, and AOTA lists OTR/L occupational therapists — searchable by zip so families in Boiling Springs, Duncan, Inman, or Lyman find the nearest.
Prisma Health Children's developmental-behavioral pediatricians diagnose and help manage autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, and complex developmental conditions across the Upstate — the region's leading health-system developmental-medicine team.
The American Academy of Pediatrics' directory helps you find board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians serving the Spartanburg area — the credential to verify for a formal autism or ADHD diagnosis.
The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' directory lists active, vetted special-education advocates and attorneys serving the Upstate — the field's real professional standard.
Family Connection of South Carolina is the state's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center — free, parent-to-parent help understanding your rights, evaluations, and the IEP process. A respected statewide free resource before hiring a private advocate.
South Carolina's protection & advocacy agency offers free legal information and advocacy for special-education rights — a no-cost first stop before hiring a private advocate or attorney.
The Charles Lea Center (Spartanburg County's disabilities & special needs board, since 1965) provides free case management and support for children and adults with autism, intellectual disabilities, and related conditions — a no-cost local hub for connecting to services and navigating the system.
South Carolina Legal Services provides free civil legal help to income-eligible families across the Upstate — a no-cost route to legal assistance, including some education and benefits matters.
Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System's Pediatric Rehabilitation provides occupational, physical, and speech-language therapy for children birth to 21, accepting Medicaid — accessible, hospital-based care close to home.
For South Carolina children birth to 3, BabyNet provides free developmental evaluations and early-intervention therapies — call 1-877-621-0865, the earliest no-barrier place to start in Spartanburg County.
For children birth to 3 with a delay or disability, BabyNet provides free evaluation and early-intervention services (speech, OT, PT, developmental) — call 1-877-621-0865 to refer or schedule a screening; the Spartanburg County program is delivered locally. The earliest, no-barrier place to start.
At age 3, request a special-education evaluation in writing from your district — Spartanburg County is divided into seven districts (Districts 1–7; District 7 covers the city of Spartanburg). Confirm which district serves your address, then request the evaluation. This is the free legal route to an IEP and services under IDEA.
Disability Rights South Carolina is the state's federally mandated protection & advocacy agency — free legal information and advocacy when a child's special-education rights are denied. A powerful free resource before you pay anyone.
Federally funded and free — they help South Carolina families understand their rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings. A great first call.
South Carolina's protection & advocacy agency — free legal-rights information and help if your child's rights are being denied.
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How do I start the special-education process in Spartanburg?
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 Spartanburg?
A New Story lists credential-vetted schools, evaluators, therapists, advocates, and the free public programs and parent centers in South Carolina — searchable by ZIP, and free forever.