Spokane and eastern Washington — Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Cheney, Mead, plus north Idaho just over the line — have credentialed help for kids with special needs, anchored by Providence Sacred Heart Children's Hospital and Eastern Washington University. This is Spokane's own yellow pages of the best, most relevant help — verified providers and credential-first directories, never filler. It's ranked by real credentials (ABPP, BHCOE, CALT/Orton-Gillingham/Wilson, COPAA, CCC-SLP, OTR-L, board-certification) — never by reviews or who pays. Washington has no Regional Center system for kids; your free front door is ESIT (Early Support for Infants and Toddlers) for birth–3 and your school district's evaluation 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 special-education day school and behavior-support program operating in Spokane since 2016, providing individualized academic and behavioral instruction supervised by Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) for students with autism and related needs.
An established autism day treatment center combining special-education programming with intensive Applied Behavior Analysis, staffed and supervised by Board Certified Behavior Analysts for children with autism and developmental disabilities.
PAVE can help your family understand Spokane-area special-education placement options — from district programs to private schools — and your rights in choosing the right setting, at no cost. A free, knowledgeable place to start when weighing schools.
A searchable directory for comparing Spokane-area private and special-education school options by location, grades, and program — useful if you're seeking a specialized private placement.
The only Washington State OSPI-licensed nonpublic agency (NPA) special-education day school in the Spokane community. Provides comprehensive special education for students with moderate-to-severe autism spectrum disorder and/or developmental disabilities, delivered by behavior-analytic and special-education staff. District-sponsored placement school operating at the Five Mile Prairie School site.
Established Spokane autism organization (since 2009) holding Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (BHCOE) accreditation and CASP membership. Provides intensive ABA therapy, speech-language and occupational therapy, free ASD screenings, early-intensive ABA clinics for ages 2-5, and a Skills & Recreation program for children and youth with autism and developmental disabilities across the Inland Northwest.
Nonsectarian nonprofit K-6 day school in Spokane built specifically for students with language-based learning disabilities (dyslexia, dysgraphia) and twice-exceptional learners. Very low 7:1 student-teacher ratio with teachers trained in learning differences and gifted instruction, using an individualized, multisensory, investigative approach.
Long-established Spokane nonprofit (formerly The Guild School) recognized as a Neurodevelopmental Center of Excellence, providing birth-to-three early intervention and special education for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities. Staff includes certified special-education teachers, a developmental specialist, vision teacher, and pediatric PT/OT/speech therapists delivering integrated assessment, therapy, and education.
The Spokane Public Schools special-education department serves students with disabilities across the district through IEP-driven services and specialized programs, including the Autism Blended Learning Environment (ABLE) program plus the full continuum of special-education supports. Largest public-school SPED provider serving Spokane families.
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.
Washington's second-largest district runs a full continuum of free special-education services including autism, developmental, and behavioral programs across its schools, with related services (speech, OT, PT) under IDEA. Programs change year to year, so confirm current placements with the district.
North-Spokane-area district with a long-standing continuum of specialized programs: Developmental Learning Centers, Integrated Behavioral Support, Life Skills, Resource Rooms, and a developmental preschool for ages 3-5. Programs change year to year; verify current offerings with the district.
Spokane Valley public district offering a range of free special-education programs and related services for students with disabilities under IDEA. Programs change year to year, so confirm current placements directly with the district.
Providence's developmental pediatricians and child neurologists provide comprehensive evaluations for autism spectrum disorder, learning disorders, dyslexia, intellectual and language delays, and ADHD at Sacred Heart Children's Hospital.
A multidisciplinary autism diagnostic clinic partnering Range Community Clinic with WSU's Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, evaluating children for autism starting at 18 months via medical exam plus speech-pathology and clinical-psychology testing to reduce diagnostic wait times.
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving the Inland Northwest since 2003, offering autism screenings, comprehensive assessment, individualized service planning, and BCBA-supervised ABA therapy across the lifespan.
Led by an ABPP board-certified clinical psychologist with specialized training in neuropsychology and developmental disorders, providing comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological evaluations and autism assessments for children, teens, and adults.
A child-psychology practice offering comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological assessments with school- and home-focused recommendations for children and adolescents.
Providence Sacred Heart Children's Hospital is eastern Washington's main children's medical center, providing developmental and behavioral evaluation for autism, ADHD, and developmental concerns — the region's leading hospital-based diagnostic route.
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 Spokane area, 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 Spokane area — searchable near Spokane, Spokane Valley, or Liberty Lake. The gold-standard credentials for a private dyslexia tutor, verified by training rather than advertising.
The Washington branch of the International Dyslexia Association lists vetted, structured-literacy dyslexia providers and resources statewide — a credential-aware way to find serious help (Orton-Gillingham, Wilson, CALT) in the Spokane area.
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.
Provides autism diagnostic evaluations and personalized, BCBA-supervised ABA therapy for children as young as 12 months at its North Spokane center.
Delivers individualized, BCBA-supervised ABA therapy for children on the autism spectrum and with behavior disorders, serving Spokane and surrounding areas.
Provides pediatric speech-language (CCC-SLP) and occupational therapy to children with developmental disabilities and delays from birth to age 21, serving Spokane and Eastern Washington.
The Center for Pediatric Therapy serves Spokane children birth to 18 with physical, occupational, and speech therapy delivered by licensed and certified clinicians — a well-established multidisciplinary pediatric clinic.
Stepping Stones Pediatric Therapy (319 S. Cedar St, Spokane) provides speech-language therapy with ASHA-certified clinicians alongside occupational, physical, nutrition, and mental-health services — a broad multidisciplinary local option.
The BHCOE directory lists accredited ABA providers across the Spokane area, ASHA ProFind lists CCC-SLP speech therapists, and AOTA lists OTR/L occupational therapists — searchable by zip so families in Spokane Valley, Cheney, or Mead find the nearest.
Providence Sacred Heart Children's provides developmental and behavioral evaluation and care for autism, ADHD, and developmental conditions — eastern Washington's main hospital-based program. Ask your pediatrician for a referral and verify board certification via the AAP directory below.
The American Academy of Pediatrics' directory helps you find board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians across the Spokane 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 Spokane area — the field's real professional standard.
PAVE's trained parent specialists help Washington families prepare for and understand IEP meetings at no cost — a respected, statewide free alternative to hiring a private advocate first.
Washington'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.
Eastern Washington University's Communication Disorders program runs a clinic providing low-cost speech, language, and hearing evaluation and therapy by supervised graduate clinicians — one of the Spokane area's best-value options for ongoing speech-language services.
For children birth to 3, ESIT provides free developmental evaluations and early-intervention services — the earliest, no-barrier place to start in Washington.
The Northwest Justice Project provides free civil legal help to income-eligible families across Washington (via the CLEAR intake line) — a no-cost route to legal assistance, including some education and benefits matters.
PAVE offers free workshops, toolkits, and one-on-one parent support across Washington — a rich free resource for families learning their rights and navigating the system.
Washington's ESIT program (through DCYF) provides free developmental evaluation and early-intervention services for children birth to 3 with delays or disabilities — connect with a Family Resource Coordinator for free developmental screening. The earliest, no-barrier place to start.
PAVE is Washington's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center — free help understanding your rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, early intervention, and meetings, with rich toolkits for families. A great first call.
Washington'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 Washington families understand their rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings. A great first call.
Washington'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 Spokane?
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 Spokane?
A New Story lists credential-vetted schools, evaluators, therapists, advocates, and the free public programs and parent centers in Washington — searchable by ZIP, and free forever.