Do you know someone with exceptional needs? Greenville mom, Michelle Grabiec, created this list of resources for Greenville, SC families with exceptional needs. Families with members who have ADHD, ADD, autism spectrum disorders, sensory processing challenges and other special needs may find this list helpful.
You’ll find additional local information on our KAG Special Needs Resource Guide to Greenville .
Exceptional Needs Resources for Greenville Families
South Carolina Agencies and Organizations
Center for Disability Resources
University of South Carolina School of Medicine
Department of Pediatrics
Columbia, SC 29208
Phone: 803.935.5231
Description: Identification
The University of South Carolina School of Medicine’s Center for Disability Resources (CDR) connects the school’s experience and resources to people in the community with disabilities. For people with disabilities and their families, the CDR strives to improve their health and welfare through their joint approach of obtaining new information and techniques, leadership training, and system improvements. In addition to the training, technical assistance, community services, research and dissemination, their website contains links to a helpful variety of disability resources such as The Center for Disabilities Resources Library.
The CDR provides developmental evaluations through their child developmental and behavioral pediatrics clinic once a referral is made. Children with learning difficulties based on behavior, development, or in other areas are evaluated to create a therapy program.
South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council
S.C. Developmental Disabilities Council
1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 372
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Phone: 803.734.0465
Email: [email protected]
Description: Academic and Behavioral Services
Camp Skillz, an inclusive social skills summer camp, is run by the South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council. The inclusive camp is for children age 5-16 who have the learning disorders of Autism Spectrum, dyslexia, ADHD/ADD, and/or additional disorders. The camp offers engaging, hands on group experience and individual practice in social settings in a self-esteem boosting environment. Two types of day sessions, held at Glenforest School in Columbia, SC (and field trips), are available: Monday through Thursday for three weeks in June or Monday and Wednesday all summer. An application and fee are required.
South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs
1301 Gervais Street, Suite 710
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: 866.340.7105
Description: Therapy
The South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (SCDDNS) is a state organization for residents with disabilities. They create, implement, supervise and supply funding of services for individuals with spinal cord and traumatic brain injury, intellectual disabilities, and autism, and related conditions. Their goal is to help those with disabilities and their loved ones strive for future goals and lessen the disabilities’ impact. Their website provides a database of county and criteria specific providers of behavioral health services. Services are divided by psychological testing, psychological services/counseling, and behavior supports. Note: While ADHD is not an intellectual disability, someone with an intellectual disability, for example, could also have ADHD, and could therefore receive services under SCDDNS.
P.O. Box 211847
Columbia, SC 2922
Phone: 803.602.4398
Email: [email protected]
Description: Parent Advocacy and Support
Originally created and titled Educational Credits for Exceptional Needs Children in 2013, the current name formed when The Exceptional SC Law went into effect in 2018. This law enabled the creation of a scholarship where contributors donate money toward helping pay the educational costs of SC exceptional needs students in grades kindergarten through twelfth. Operating as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Exceptional SC receives donations from state taxpayers who receive state and federal tax breaks based on their contribution. Caregivers and parents of children with disabilities and special needs, such as ADHD, apply for these scholarships to help defray the cost of attending specific private SC schools.
South Carolina Respite Coalition
PO Box 493
Columbia, SC 29202
Phone: 866.345.6786
Email: [email protected]
Description: Respite Care
South Carolina Respite Coalition’s mission is to develop statewide respite care advocacy, knowledge and informational opportunities for caregivers of special need individuals of all ages. Through education, they aim to inform South Carolinians about respite care’s importance. Working toward bettering respite services, they support applicable state and local policies for funding. Their website provides eligibility and application links to the South Carolina Respite Care (SCRC) voucher program; here family caregivers may be awarded $500 to help pay for the care of their loved ones.
Family Connection of South Carolina
1800 St. Julian Place, Suite 104
Columbia, SC 29204
Phone: 800.578.8750
Email: [email protected]
Description: Recreation
The nonprofit Family Connections of South Carolina is a statewide organization that links the families of children who possess long-term illnesses, special health concerns, and disabilities to information, help, and learning opportunities. Here, parents can receive assistance if their child is living with surgery, delays in development, early birth challenges, physical challenges, and diagnoses of every kind, from cerebral palsy to ADHD. Family support includes a family link network, offices throughout the state, and programs to encourage children and their families to experience the best lives possible regardless of differences.
Their website offers an events calendar of recreational opportunities for children with disabilities and their families by area across the state. Listings include sensory friendly movies, trampoline park meet ups, coffee dates, and Carolina Miracle League (baseball) events.
Greenville Agencies and Organizations with Exceptional Needs Resources
Greenville County Schools – Child Find
301 E. Camperdown Way
Greenville, South Carolina 29601
Phone: 864.452.0093
Email: [email protected]
Description: Identification
Greenville County Schools’ Child Find service is part of IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This federal law mandates that states recognize, find, and assess every child between age 3 to 21, living in the school district, to determine whether special education services are warranted. Child Find services has strategies to help community organizations and families offer children continual screening and examinations. The areas assessed during a screening range from educational readiness ability to intellectual skills.
113 Whitsett Street
Greenville, SC 29601
Phone: 864.520.1614
Email: [email protected]
Description: Academic and Behavioral Services
The Shape of Behavior’s social skills classes help students with the learning differences of ADD/ADHD, Asperger’s, and others, develop their interpersonal skills. Social skills classes provide learning opportunities in regulation of emotions, body language, understanding conflict, and more. In the social skills classes, through the use of scientifically proven applied behavioral analysis, students learn the necessary social skills to best interact with their environments.
111 Lovett Drive
Greenville, SC 20607
Phone: 864.234.1150
Description: Therapy
Still Winds Ministry offers community focused services and counseling from a Christian perspective. They provide consolation, counsel, support, and knowledge to people of all ages and churches. The type of ADHD support services they offer include individual counseling and group therapy for parents of children with ADHD. Here, those with ADHD and their loved ones learn strategies toward better daily living, improving their present and future.
Center for Developmental Services
29 North Academy Street
Greenville, SC 29601
Phone: 864.331.1300
Email: [email protected]
Description: Parent Advocacy and Support
The Center for Developmental Services is the central location where families of children with disabilities or delays can find community services in Greenville. They offer many support opportunities to families who are often onsite with their children. The support programs include seminars for adult family members, children’s workshops, and holiday and special celebrations. For example, during the summer, CDS offers a weekly summer reading program called Outshine. Every Wednesday, children in grades first through sixth may come to their center for a free lunch, provided by the Greenville County Schools, and fun reading activities.
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate
300 College Street
Greenville, SC 29601
Phone: 864.233.7755
Email: [email protected]
Description: Recreation
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate hosts Sensory Friendly Mornings for children with special needs, sensory processing challenges, and different sensory requirements. Once a month, children are able to experience the museum’s exhibits, programming, and activities in a comfortable sensory environment. During this time, exhibit sounds are lowered, museum lights are dimmed, quiet spaces are provided, and multiple programs that are sensory-friendly are available. In addition, the museum’s website offers a pre-visit explanation and guide, so children know what to expect during their upcoming experience.
14 Edgewood Drive
Greenville, SC 29605
Phone: 864.250.7944
Description: Identification
The nonprofit organization Greenwood Genetic Center provides services in genetics, research, testing, and instructive learning and initiatives. They offer evaluations at their five South Carolina General Genetic Clinics. Post referral, patients of all ages can receive correct medical identification in a variety of areas, including Autism, developmental delay and developmental disability, and direction on suggested therapy. Evaluation with a center representative includes a health history, physical exam, findings, testing as needed, and available options.
Brain Balance Achievement Center
2531 Woodruff Road, Suite 113
Simpsonville, SC 29681
Phone: 864.329.9933
Description – Academic and Behavioral Services
Brain Balance Achievement Center provides training for sensory challenges, educational activities, and healthy eating recommendations for children who have difficulty with attention, behavioral, and confidence. They serve children with challenges in Sensory Processing, ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Dyslexia, Asperger’s, and anxiety. Through individualized assessment, center sessions, and home activities, children can greatly improve their interactions and behaviors. According to their website, students working on improving sensory responses over three months, improve 2.6 levels on average, while customers report more than an 84% as satisfied with their services; many positive testimonials are featured on their site.
Greenville Pediatrics at Haywood
28 Jimmy Doolittle Drive
Greenville, SC 29607
Phone: 864.679.8606
Email: [email protected]
Description: Therapy
Advanced Therapy Solutions offers a variety of pediatric therapies, including occupational, physical, speech, and specialty services. Their occupational therapy for cognitive processing and attention challenges aim to assist children with ADHD/ADD. Here, therapists focus on helping children with cognition to improve daily activities. The Integrated Listening System offered through their Pediatric Specialty Services helps regulation and attention in brain processing of children with ADHD/ADD.
Greer, SC
Phone: 864.360.3920
Description: Parent Advocacy and Support
The nonprofit organization Thyme and Play, created by parents of a child with autism, strive to create inclusive dining opportunities and social outings for the nontypical family. Their dining, playdate, and game night pop-up events provide opportunities for families to connect in a safe and accepting environment. Allergy, food, and environmental sensitivities/preferences are accommodated during these events, and childcare is provided by occupational therapists. Through community connections and workshops, they aim to raise awareness about creating a more accepting world.
110 W. Church Street, Suite A
Greer, SC 29650
Phone: 864.599.0452
Description: Respite
BrightStar Care provide in home child, transitional, and senior care to people living in Greer, Greenville, Spartanburg, and the surrounding areas. They offer weekly services from a couple hours to twenty-four hours a day. Their childcare services extend to caring for children with special needs and the disabilities of cerebral palsy to autism, and beyond. Their specially trained staff team, led by a registered nurse, aim to deliver quality supervision and support in the special needs and disability care they provide children. In addition to in-home care, they provide pediatric nursing care and a multitude of therapies for children, such as autism therapy.
2105 Old Spartanburg Road
Greer, SC 29650
Phone: 864.412.7788
Description: Recreation
Dance Without Limits is an inclusive dance center for families, providing lessons for children of every ability level from 18 months to 18 years of age. They offer a varied list of exciting dance classes including classes for children with special needs. Their premise is that all people, regardless of how old, what body shape, or how much experience, can enjoy and have the right to reap the rewards of dance. The competitive-free environment creates a positive environment for their students to have fun through the art of dance.
