Winston-Salem and Forsyth County — Clemmons, Kernersville, Lewisville, plus nearby Davie County — have strong, credentialed help for kids with special needs, anchored by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist / Brenner Children's Hospital and a nationally respected autism school. This is Winston-Salem's own yellow pages of the best, most relevant help — named experts and schools where we can verify them, not just directories. It's ranked by real credentials (ABPP, BHCOE, Wilson/CALT/Orton-Gillingham, COPAA, CCC-SLP, OTR-L, board-certification) — never by reviews or who pays. North Carolina has no Regional Center system, so your free front door is the NC Infant-Toddler Program (CDSA) 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 dyslexia-focused program at independent Summit School and one of only two schools in North Carolina accredited by the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators. The Orton-Gillingham approach is at the core of instruction for students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences.
Founded in 1990 as an Orton-Gillingham-based school for students diagnosed with dyslexia or specific language-learning disabilities. Also operates Orton-Gillingham teacher-training institutes, signaling deep methodological expertise.
ABC of NC in Winston-Salem is a well-respected nonprofit serving children with autism — a specialized school program with applied behavior analysis (ABA), diagnostic evaluation, and family services. A Triad cornerstone for autism education and therapy.
Calvary Day School's Learning Resources program in Winston-Salem provides Orton-Gillingham language therapy during the school day — a structured-literacy option for students with dyslexia who can stay in a mainstream school setting with embedded support.
A searchable directory for comparing additional Winston-Salem-area private and special-education school options by location, grades, and program.
A licensed, Cognia-accredited nonpublic school and behavioral-health clinic serving K-12 students on the autism spectrum with evidence-based ABA-informed instruction.
A long-running nonprofit serving children ages 3-12 with developmental disabilities, providing integrated speech, OT, PT, nursing and special education on-site.
A Greensboro grades 2-12 school for students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, auditory processing and ADHD, accredited by SAIS, Cognia and the International Dyslexia Association.
A nonprofit K-10 school in High Point (founded 1982) serving students with diagnosed learning differences, ADHD and processing disorders using research-based methods and low ratios.
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.
The free, federally mandated special-education department for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County district, providing IEP services, Child Find, and a continuum of disability programs across district schools. Programs and placements change year to year.
A multidisciplinary practice offering psychoeducational and neuropsychological evaluations, including autism and dyslexia testing for children, teens, and adults, alongside speech-language and counseling services. In-person and virtual.
Brenner Children's Hospital (Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist) is Winston-Salem's academic medical center, providing developmental and neuropsychological evaluation for autism, ADHD, and learning and developmental concerns — with the depth of a teaching hospital tied to Wake Forest School of Medicine.
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 Triad, instead of trusting star ratings.
The Academic Language Therapy Association's NC chapter lists Certified Academic Language Therapists (CALTs) — the therapist-level, Orton-Gillingham-based dyslexia credential. Use the directory to find or verify a CALT serving Winston-Salem; CALT is the gold standard for serious dyslexia intervention.
The Academy's directory lists accredited Orton-Gillingham practitioners across the Triad — searchable by area so you can find one near Winston-Salem, Clemmons, or Kernersville. The gold-standard credential for a private dyslexia tutor, verified by training rather than advertising.
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.
A pediatric therapy clinic providing ABA (overseen by Board Certified Behavior Analysts), speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy with licensed pediatric therapists. Multidisciplinary team coordinates care across disciplines.
An autism therapy center offering BCBA-supervised ABA along with occupational, speech, and feeding therapy, plus insurance-recognized diagnostic and ABA/OT/speech evaluations under a coordinated specialist team.
An established autism behavioral-intervention provider delivering both center-based and community-integrated ABA therapy in Forsyth County, with treatment plans overseen by Board Certified Behavior Analysts.
Heather Gladd, M.S., CCC-SLP, owns Happy Speech, a therapist-owned pediatric speech and language practice serving Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, and Davie County — a named, nationally certified clinician offering a personal alternative to the larger systems.
Integrative Wellness & Therapeutics in Winston-Salem is owned and clinically directed by an occupational therapist (Samantha H., OTR/L, OTD), with ASHA-certified speech-language pathologists (including Bre P., CCC-SLP, and Sarah C., CCC-SLP) — pediatric speech and OT under one roof, led by a named credentialed clinician.
The BHCOE directory lists accredited ABA providers across Forsyth County (including Centria Healthcare and Life Skills Autism Academy), ASHA ProFind lists CCC-SLP speech therapists, and AOTA lists OTR/L occupational therapists — searchable by zip so families in Clemmons, Kernersville, or Lewisville find the nearest.
Brenner Children's (Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist) developmental-behavioral pediatrics team diagnoses and helps manage autism, ADHD, and developmental conditions — the Triad's academic medical home for complex developmental needs.
The American Academy of Pediatrics' directory helps you find board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians across the Triad — 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 Winston-Salem area — the field's real professional standard.
ECAC's trained parent specialists help North Carolina families prepare for and understand IEP meetings at no cost — a respected, statewide free alternative to hiring a private advocate first.
North 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.
As a Winston-Salem nonprofit, ABC of NC offers autism diagnostic, educational, and family-support services with a mission to reach families regardless of means — and free or low-cost parent training and community resources.
For children birth to 3, the NC Infant-Toddler Program (local CDSA) provides free developmental evaluations and early-intervention therapies — the earliest, no-barrier place to start in Forsyth County.
Legal Aid of North Carolina's Winston-Salem office provides free civil legal help to income-eligible families — a no-cost route to legal assistance, including some education and benefits matters.
ECAC offers free workshops and one-on-one parent support across North Carolina — a rich free resource for families learning their rights and navigating the system.
For children birth to 3, North Carolina's Infant-Toddler Program (through the local Children's Developmental Services Agency) provides free developmental evaluations and early-intervention services (speech, OT, PT, developmental). The earliest, no-barrier place to start in Forsyth County.
North Carolina'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.
North Carolina's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center — free help understanding your rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings for families raising children with disabilities birth to age 26. A great first call.
Federally funded and free — they help North Carolina families understand their rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings. A great first call.
North 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 Winston-Salem?
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 Winston-Salem?
A New Story lists credential-vetted schools, evaluators, therapists, advocates, and the free public programs and parent centers in North Carolina — searchable by ZIP, and free forever.