Are you a parent or caregiver in need of resources for your child? Are you interested in learning more about schools, therapists, providers, agencies, and nonprofit organizations that support your child with special education needs? As you consider what support your child needs, Special Education Legal Fund has gathered a list of community resources to support you and your family on your journey. Scroll for a list of schools, professionals, and providers in the Connecticut and New York area and explore what each organization offers to students, parents, families, and caregivers.
Find out more about each organization by clicking the logos below.
Wealthspire Advisors is an independent registered investment adviser and subsidiary of NFP Corp, currently overseeing approximately $29.3 billion in Assets Under Management* and firmly committed to serving clients in a fiduciary capacity. Though our size means we have a variety of clients, we work most extensively with high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals and families. We lead with planning that is tailored to meet the goals and needs of our clients, we invest with a long-term approach that focuses on a disciplined strategy and avoids emotional decision-making, and we aim to simplify lives by coordinating seamlessly with outside advisors and building our client teams around a collaborative structure.
* Reflects combined data as of 12/31/2024 for Wealthspire Advisors LLC and its subsidiaries.
Founded in 1975, Eagle Hill School transforms the lives of students in grades 1 through 8 with language-based learning differences. Located on 17 acres in the heart of Greenwich, Connecticut, the school offers an individualized, whole-child approach supported by a dedicated and passionate faculty. At Eagle Hill, students grow into confident, joyful learners. For added flexibility, a five-day junior boarding program extends this unique learning experience beyond the classroom.
Winston Preparatory School offers individualized programming for students ages 8-21+ with learning differences, such as NVLD, ADHD, and dyslexia. Unlike any other school, Winston Prep groups students based on their learning difficulty, skill level, and academic and social-emotional needs, leading to extraordinary transformations in each student’s life and learning. Our campus locations include CT, NYC, NJ, Long Island, and CA. We also offer flexible online programming to students across the country.
Founded in 1817 as the first permanent school for the deaf in the United States, the American School for the Deaf is no stranger to pioneering new and innovative solutions to help Deaf and Hard of Hearing students succeed both in school and in life. As the only school in Connecticut exclusively devoted to the education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children, ASD maintains a lengthy tradition of national and international leadership in Deaf Education. ASD develops the whole child—intellectually, emotionally, physically, and socially—in a comprehensive learning community that welcomes all Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and hearing children with unique communication needs. At ASD, students and their families are surrounded by inspiring peers, guided by dedicated and committed staff, and supported by robust technology. We foster a language-rich communication environment that maximizes children’s potential, empowering them to become educated and self-directed lifelong learners.
Founded in 1972, Chapel Haven Schleifer Center (CHSC) has been changing lives for adults with disabilities for more than a half-century. This award-winning non-profit based in the Westville section of New Haven, Conn. teaches adults with developmental and social disabilities to live independent and productive lives through a nationally accredited transitional living program and approved private special education school. Chapel Haven serves more than 250 adults (18 years of age and older) in the residence and the community with two distinct programs; REACH and Asperger’s Syndrome Adult Transition (ASAT) programs. Among the profiles of adults served at CHSC are autism, intellectual disabilities, Down Syndrome and social communication disorders. Through an intensive, state-approved education curriculum, adults are guided through all aspects of independent living and prepared for a future in which they can live robust and independent adult lives.
At Fusion Academy, we reimagined everything about school. In Fusion’s 1 – to – 1 classrooms, your student receives their teacher’s total attention. We customize the curriculum and content to match their unique pace and preferences. Your student will learn better, dive deeper, and never get left behind. But, the biggest difference you’ll notice… is the way your child has changed.
The Pinnacle School serves students in grades 2-12 who have complex learning profiles including dyslexia, language-based learning disabilities, ADHD, and ASD. With small class sizes, a 4:1 student to teacher ratio, and a therapeutic approach, students receive in the moment support and tailored academics. The Pinnacle School provides a safe and nurturing educational environment and follows Ross Greene’s methodology of Collaborative Proactive Solutions. Through individualized academic programming, collaborative problem-solving, and relationship building, students develop the skills necessary to become caring and compassionate friends, active members of their community, and resilient, life-long learners.
The Spire School, located in Stamford, Connecticut, is a private therapeutic day school for students in grades 6–12. As a college-preparatory program, Spire offers robust academic courses designed to challenge and engage students, while also addressing their individual learning needs in small group classes. Students receive 1:1 and group support from dedicated life coaches who help guide students’ social and emotional growth, building skills in self-awareness, emotional regulation, resilience, and executive functioning. Our integrated approach supports those managing anxiety, depression, school avoidance, executive function challenges, and more. Spire is a Connecticut State-Approved Special Education Program (APSEP) and is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
For 50 years, Villa Maria School has believed in the extraordinary capabilities of every student. Our small, thoughtfully designed classes ensure that each student receives the individualized attention they need to succeed. With a team of dedicated and skilled teachers, we create an inclusive and supportive environment where our students, who have diagnoses that include language-based learning disorders, auditory processing disorders, nonverbal learning disabilities, ASD, and ADHD, realize their potential by developing meaningful relationships through skill development.
The Windward School is a co-ed, independent day school located in New York City and White Plains, New York, for children in grades 1-9 with language-based learning disabilities like dyslexia. Windward’s mission is to remediate students’ dyslexia or other language-based learning disabilities and to return students to mainstream schools. Nationally recognized for its development of instructional programs designed specifically to help students achieve language proficiency, Windward’s academic curriculum is research-based and multisensory in nature and is designed to give students the skills they need to succeed in school and return with confidence to mainstream educational settings.
Every Mind Speech is a boutique speech therapy practice in Ridgefield, CT, specializing in supporting Gestalt Language Processors and those fortunate enough to know them. As a truly Neurodiversity-Affirming practice, we work hard to challenge the “therapy mill” culture and provide a different kind of support for neurodivergent minds. Our practice is trauma- and sensory-informed, tailored to children who are dyspraxic, minimally or unreliably speaking, communicate using echolalia, or experience selective mutism or social cognitive processing differences. We believe that authentic, trusting therapeutic relationships are deeply undervalued. Check out our sensory clinic in Ridgefield, where “all play is okay,” or ask about services at your child’s school or via telehealth (NY/CT).
Forte Law Group LLC is a child advocacy and special education law practice. We provide legal representation for families that have a child with a disability to advance their child’s special education rights. Our firm handles PPT meetings, mediation, and due process litigation. We also handle expulsion defense, MDR PPTs, and juvenile defense representation.
The Inclusive Pathways Project LLC empowers individuals with disabilities through personalized postsecondary transition planning. We specialize in transition assessments that guide young adults and their families toward meaningful goals in education, employment, and independent living. Our multidisciplinary team creates actionable, person-centered plans that promote success and community inclusion!
Not just an advocate! Learning Connections offers special education support services in the forms of advocacy, clinical evaluations, parent training, behavior intervention, assistance with the referral process, and representation at CSE and PPT meetings. Our goal is to help families navigate the intricacies of the special education system and provide support while collaborating with local school districts in the best interest of students. Meghan Daniele is a former chairperson with over 24 years of experience in both CT and NY.
Tara Fappiano provides advocacy for students/families with K-12 special education/disability concerns, conflict resolution coaching for families and students, mediation of special education/disability disputes, and advocacy for disability rights in educational and other areas. In the post-secondary education area, including college & beyond, Tara Fappiano counsels students and families on transition planning (including skill building and legal considerations), accommodations requests (academic and beyond), advocacy and dispute negotiation, academic appeals, and ongoing self-advocacy coaching support.
The Law Offices of Dana A. Jonson, LLC, exclusively represents the civil and legal rights of students with disabilities throughout the special education process. We provide advocacy and representation at PPTs, mediation, due process hearings, and in court when necessary. From early intervention through graduation—or age 22—we stand by families at every step.
Waypoint Financial is a fee-only financial advisory firm providing comprehensive planning services to individuals and families. Lukasz Thieme, CFA, CFP®, ChSNC® has a deep personal and professional understanding of the challenges families caring for individuals with special needs face. Waypoint is committed to providing clear, objective guidance tailored to each family’s unique situation. Our approach is grounded in education, empathy, and long-term partnership. As fiduciaries, we always act in our clients’ best interests—free from commissions or product sales.
