The Ultimate Special Needs Guide for Families in Greenville and Spartanburg

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Do you have a child with special needs? The Greenville, SC area is full of wonderful places and things to do for children and families with special needs. At Kidding Around Greenville we assembled this list to make finding those amazing places just a tiny bit easier. We made sure it was packed full of resources, classes, therapy options and super fun places to play and explore.

Special needs resources in Greenville, SC

Disclaimer: This list is intended for informational purposes and none of the contents should be considered a specific recommendation or endorsement from Kidding Around or its staff. All advertisements are marked “sponsored.”

Also, don’t miss this list of Exceptional Needs Resources with even more resources for families with children who have exceptional needs.

Easily navigate this list of Special Needs Services near Greenville by clicking on these categories:

Kidnetics

864.331.1350 Multiple Locations, Greenville / Spartanburg, SC


KABOOM finalist

2023 KABOOM Family Favorites Finalist: Pediatric Therapy Office


Kidnetics is a department of the Prisma Health Children’s Hospital. They offer a wide range of therapeutic services to children, including occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physical therapy.

 

Chuck E. Cheese Sensory Sensitive Sundays

864.297.4250 253 Congaree Road, Greenville, SC

Chuck E. Cheese opens two hours early on the first Sunday of the month for Sensory Sensitive Sundays. During these events, lighting and noise will be reduced, while the usual food and games are available.

Pediatrics Unlimited

864.627.0009 Multiple Locations, Greenville / Spartanburg, SC

Offers pediatric services including occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, feeding therapy, and aquatic therapy. Pediatrics Unlimited has locations in Greenville and Spartanburg.

Carolina Dance Collaborative

864.315.3732 Multiple Locations, Upstate, SC

The Carolina Dance Collaborative is a mobile dance outreach 501(c)3 organization that seeks to make dance accessible to all people regardless of location, ability, or resources. They aim to serve the whole student and provide enriching dance education opportunities beyond the classroom and into their lives.

  • Connect Class for individuals with disabilities ages 12 and up. Connecting with one another, the space, and the foundations of dance.
    • Saturdays 12:00-1:00 pm
    • Kroc Greenville
    • For more information about the class please visit HERE

Greenville CAN

828.808.1896 Greenville, SC

This informal organization is comprised of self advocates, service providers, families, and community stakeholders working to make the community better a place to live for people with disabilities. You’ll find resources on everything from housing and employment to recreation.

Help Me Grow South Carolina

855.476.9211 State Wide, SC

Help Me Grow is a free resource for parents with children age 5 and under. They provide free developmental assessments and then help connecting families with the necessary resources, therapy and information.

Bright Start

864.627.5097 6 Pelham Ridge Drive, Greenville, SC

Offers early intervention, case management, and speech therapy services to individuals with disabilities and special needs in the Upstate.

Brain Balance Center of Greenville

843.258.9236 2531 Woodruff Road, Suite 113, Simpsonville, SC

Designed for children aged 3.5 through 19, Brain Balance works with students who may have ADHD, Asperger’s, processing challenges, trouble making friends, and/or a learning disability like dyslexia. Brain Balance identifies academic, social, and/or behavioral, then sets a plan to help address specific needs.

Sensory Suites at Bon Secours Wellness Arena

864.241.3800 650 North Academy Street , Greenville, SC

The Bon Secours Wellness Arena has an enclosed Sensory Suite that blocks out the noise of a typical arena show that might cause difficulty for sensitive individuals. The suite has soft seating, low lights, and a quiet space with sensory accessories.  Tickets can be purchased in the sensory suite for selected shows. This is located in section 105.

Additionally, the arena offers a Sensory Kit that is free and available at all arena events. The kit includes noise-reducing earmuffs, antiglare glasses, a sensory fidgit toy, sanitizing wipes, and more.

 

LD Online

Nation Wide, SC

A website with a wealth of resources for parents and teachers of children with learning disabilities, disorders, and differences. The website offers resources for learning disabilities and ADHD.

Child Find

864.355.3100 Greenville County, SC

Child Find is an intervention program for school-aged children needing intervention for developmental delays and special needs. Evaluations and services are provided through Greenville County Schools and individual districts within the Spartanburg County School system.

 

South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind

864.585.7711 355 Cedar Springs Road, Spartanburg, SC

The South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind, located in Spartanburg, offers a specialized school for children from preschool through grade 12.  The school provides vision and hearing services in communities and schools throughout South Carolina.

Egg-Cessible Easter Egg Hunt

864.804.5814 North Spartanburg Park, Spartanburg, SC

A special Easter event for those in the Spartanburg community with mental and/or physical disabilities. Hunts are divided into age groups, and a Parent Buddy is allowed for children under 6.

Hope Academy

864.676.0028 400 Spring Forest Road, Greenville, SC

An educational academy offered through Project HOPE Foundation, the school offers education for children on the autism spectrum, preschool through high school. ABA therapy services are provided, with classes Monday through Friday.

Hope Academy at Project HOPE Foundation, Inc. is amazing. Patient and kind teachers who are interested in helping children learn on their level. I’m so thankful I found this school for my boys.

Thrive Upstate

864.679.0220 Greenville, SC

Thrive Upstate offers many services for people with disabilities in the Upstate. These services include early intervention for children, but also pre-vocational and vocational training, residential housing, and more. In KidVentures, the early intervention program, an early interventionist works with parents and children on the child’s developmental goals, as well as coordinating necessary services and therapy.

Thyme and Play

864.360.3920 Greenville, SC

A safe, family dining experience to connect with others and become part of a community. They offer resources and host events for those with special needs.

A to Z Speech Therapy

864.659.0604 1547 Wade Hampton Boulevard, Greenville, SC

A to Z Speech Therapy welcomes children, teens, and adults that need help with communication.  Their team has experts for articulation, language development, stuttering, social skill development, and more. A to Z has extensive experience working with children with Autism and Down syndrome. Therapy is offered in English or Spanish.

BabyNet

864.331.1450 1011 Grove Road, Suite A2, Greenville, SC

BabyNet is South Carolina’s system for children under 3 years old with developmental delays. Parents, friends, doctors, teachers, and caregivers can all refer a child to BabyNet. Once referred children will be evaluated to see if their delays qualify for services. The evaluation and services are free to all families and funded through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and managed through the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

How to Get Started with Babynet

Special Instruction FYI: Index Online Resources

State Wide / World Wide , SC

University of South Carolina School of Medicine giant online resource guide searchable by topic. This database offers links and explores topics for early childhood screenings, assistance services, and various resource solutions.

Advanced Therapy Solutions Pediatrics

Multiple Locations, Upstate, SC

Advanced Therapy Solutions Pediatrics has two Greenville locations and three Spartanburg locations. They provide a wide variety of services to children with special needs and developmental delays including occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy. Therapists at ATS also use specialty programs that can help with auditory processing, feeding difficulties, and more. These include the Interactive Metronome (IM), Integrated Listening Systems (ILS), and Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Feeding.

Mountainside 28 Jimmy Doolittle Drive, Greenville
864.679.8606
Seaside 10 Jimmy Doolittle Drive, Greenville
864.520.8910
Westside 8811 Warren Abernathy Hwy, Spartanburg
864.574.7282
Eastside – Garner Road 99 Garner Road, Suite C, Spartanburg
864.641.3125
OSOS Physical Therapy 660 Cummings Street, Spartanburg
864.208.8070
Spartanburg Pediatrics 2400 Winchester Place, Suite 102B, Spartanburg
864.576.7188

WNC Nature Center Offering Sensory Inclusion

828.259.8080 75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville, NC

The WNC Nature Center is certified as “sensory inclusive” and offers kits to guests with sensory issues such as autism and PTSD. The center has collaborated with KultureCity, a non-profit organization specializing in sensory challenges, and has trained the staff to accommodate those with special needs. The kits can be borrowed while at the center and consist of noise cancelling headphones, fidget tools, and cue cards.

John I. Smith Scottish Rite Center for Childhood Language Disorders

864.232.1673 817 Cleveland Street, Greenville, SC

Through the RiteCare Scottish Rite Childhood Language Program, the John I. Smith Scottish Rite Center in Greenville offers free speech therapy to children up to age 6 who have speech and language delays. Children will be evaluated to determine if services are needed and placed on a waiting list if there is no room available.

Whispering Pines Farm

864.360.3222 681 Campbell Bridge Road, Seneca, SC

Whispering Pines offers classes for small ruminant care. They also use their sheep for therapy for children with special needs.

Down Syndrome Association of the Upstate

88 Villa Road, Greenville, SC

This parent- and volunteer-run organization serves over 300 families in Greenville. They support new and expectant parents of children with Down Syndrome, advocate and educate for inclusion in the community, and provide services and online resources to assist families.

The Charles Lea Center

864.585.0322 195 Burdette Street, Spartanburg, SC

A Spartanburg organization working to make a difference in the lives of those with special needs, from newborns to seniors. Offers an early intervention program called Can Do Kids as well as day programs, work programs, employment services, and living options.

Camperdown Academy

864.244.8899 65 Verdae Commons Drive, Greenville, SC

Camperdown Academy is a special education school located in Greenville that offers education and support for students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences in grades 1-8.

Dance Without Limits

864.412.7788 115 Pelham Road, Unit 24, Greenville, SC

Dance Without Limits serves dance students ages 18 months and up, including adults and students with disabilities. The staff has extensive experience with students of all abilities. They offer a class specifically for students with different abilities called Limitless Friends. Dance Without Limits is also an inclusive dance studio, encouraging dancers of all abilities to participate in any of their dance classes.

Einstein Academy

864.269.8999 847 Cleveland Street, Greenville, SC

Einstein Academy is a non-profit private school for 1st-8th graders who have been diagnosed with ADHD, ADD, Autism and/or similar challenges.

South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs

888.376.4636 State Wide, SC

The state agency that oversees and funds services for those with disabilities and special needs.

Happy Hooves Therapeutic Equestrian Center

864.898.0043 4700 Dacusville Highway, Marietta, SC

Happy Hooves Therapeutic Equestrian Center is located at Eden Farms. They offer horse-centered programs for special needs children and adults. Programs include riding and caring for horses while developing physical, social, and emotional skills.

Better Beginnings

864.591.3484 128 Garner Road, Spartanburg, SC

Offers pediatric therapy services including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language therapy.

ABLE Kids

864.438.5530 18 Memorial Medical Drive, Greenville, SC

ABLE Kids offers a full-day immersive program for children between the ages of 2 -6 who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder level 2 -3 and who require 30 or more hours of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services. In addition to ABA therapies, ABLE Kids also provides occupational and speech therapies.

SC 2-1-1

2-1-1 State Wide, SC

SC 2-1-1 is a South Carolina resource database to help individuals find assistance. Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by calling 2-1-1.

Carolina Miracle League

864.641.7739 828 East Main Street #828B, Spartanburg, SC

Organized baseball designed for children with mental and physical challenges. A specially equipped field called “Miracle Park” is utilized to maximize the experience for those involved, including wheelchair accommodations and walking assistance devices.

Upstate Carolina Adaptive Golf

864.448.4997 25 Louise Avenue, Greenville, SC

Upstate Carolina Adaptive Golf offers adaptive golf therapy for individuals with special needs.

BlueSprig Autism

10 Arborland Way, Greenville, SC

BlueSprig Autism provides applied behavior analysis (ABA), behavioral services and autism therapy.

Center for Disability Resources Library

803.216.3206 School of Medicine Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

Located in the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Library, families can borrow materials covering a variety of disability-related topics. Materials are available to any resident of the United States, with lending in-person or via mail.

South Carolina Autism Society

803.750.6988 806 12th Street, West Columbia, SC

A resource for families who have children with autism spectrum disorder working to improve their lives.

Sensational Swim

864.706.8016 Multiple Locations, Spartanburg, SC

Offers swimmings lessons and classes for athletes diagnosed with developmental challenges, including Downs Syndrome and individuals on the Autism spectrum.

Center for Developmental Services

864.331.1300 29 North Academy Street, Greenville, SC

The Center for Developmental Services houses many partner services for children with special needs in one location. They offer a wide range of therapy for developmental delays, speech, hearing, behavioral and more, including family programs and educational programs. The Center for Developmental Services also connects families with the services suitable for their needs.

Family Connection of SC

800.578.8750 1800 St. Julian Pl Suite 104, Columbia, SC

Family Connection of SC supports families of children with special needs. Programs and services provide parents with support and guidance in locating helpful services for their children, as well as parent-to-parent mentoring.


Accessible Playgrounds

Here are a few playgrounds in the Greenville area that have features designed specifically for kids with mobility difficulties. Accessible and inclusive playgrounds give children of all abilities access to playgrounds and other recreational activities. While there are only a few fully inclusive playgrounds in the Upstate, there are several playgrounds, and play areas that have accessible elements, such as poured-rubber ground cover, flat paths, zero-depth entrances, ramps and full-support swings.

The Pavilion

400 Scottswood Road, Taylors, SC

Home to the Greenville County Parks & Rec office, you will find a fully-accessible, sunny playground beside a preschool playground and lots of swings at the entrance off Old Spartanburg. If you go in the Scottswood entrance, you’ll find an enclosed, sunny playground with swings, a sandbox, and a grassy space. With a dog park, tennis courts, paved trail, and even an ice rink and bounce house inside, you will find something for everyone to love.

  • Bounce house, ice rink, paved trail, dog park, tennis courts, grassy space
  • Fully accessible, enclosed preschool playgrounds in the sun
  • Restrooms
  • Free parking lot

 

Century Park

3605 Brushy Creek Road, Greer, SC

Playground at Kids Planet, Century Park in Greer, SC

KABOOM First Place

2023 KABOOM Family Favorites First Place: Best Park

KABOOM finalist

2023 KABOOM Family Favorites Finalist: Outdoor Fun

 


 

The newly-renovated Century Park features the fairytale-themed Benson Automotive Kids Planet. Kids Planet is located in the shade and sun and includes:

  • Two fence-enclosed age-appropriate play areas
  • Misting play area
  • Musical activity space
  • Ziplines
  • Hillside slides
  • A ground-level trampoline
  • Special needs child/parent swing
  • Sno Hut Shaved Ice concession stand

Century Park also offers:

  • Paved walking trail, picnic shelters, baseball diamonds, frisbee golf
  • Restrooms
  • Free parking lot

 

Sunset Park

211 Fowler Circle, Greenville, SC

Sunset Park is a fully-accessible park featuring an enclosed, accessible playground, another playground in the woods, and even a walking trail.

  • Basketball, baseball, soccer, picnic shelters, walking trail
  • Enclosed and fully-accessible playground in the sun, shady playground
  • Restrooms
  • Free parking lot

 

Simpsonville City Park

198 Park Drive, Simpsonville, SC

With an enclosed playground for everyone, frisbee golf, fitness trail and even a dog park, you’ll want to get to this park soon.

  • Zip line, dog park, frisbee golf course, bench swings, paved trail
  • Accessible, enclosed playground in the sun
  • ADA inclusive equipment
  • Restrooms
  • Free parking lot

 

 

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Deborah Stenzel
4 years ago

Camp Spearhead, which is run the Greenville County Parks and Rec is a special needs camp for ages 8 and up. It is located off of Highway 11 in Marietta. My daughter has been going there for almost 20 years and loves it. They have summer camp where the children/adults stay the week and they do weekend events, such as bowling, movies, Furman football, hockey games, etc. in the Spring and Fall. You could contact Randy Muir or Josh Wall at Greenville Rec for more info.

3 years ago

Special Needs church ministry listings would be great. I know our church offers a special needs ministry during both Sunday services and Wednesday night. I you need more information check out our Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/ChampionsClubBeechSpringsChurch/

All of our volunteers are trained in working with special needs children and background checks are completed before working with children. Many of our volunteers are educators, have a special education background or come from the medical field.

3 years ago

YOGA-2-GO, LLC, an occupational therapist owned children’s therapeutic yoga company specializing in yoga for special needs, trauma-informed yoga and sensory yoga.

YOGA-2-GO, LLC provides on-site yoga and mindfulness programs to schools, daycares and youth organizations throughout Greenville and surrounding areas.

They also offer private pediatric/adolescent
yoga therapy for ages 5-17 at their downtown Greenville location at 710 Pettigru St., inside of Cottage Counseling.

Phone: 864-300-2152
Website: http://www.missamysyoga2go.com.

Greenville ADHD Specialists provides exceptional, personalized diagnosis and treatment of ADHD, for children and adults, based on good medical evidence and the time we spend understanding our patients.

5 months ago

Spartanburg Regional Pediatric Rehab Services is located at 101 E. Wood St., Spartanburg, S.C. 29303 and offers Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology services to children ages birth to 21 yo. Specialized services such as Pediatric Aquatics and Equine Assisted OT & PT are also available for children who qualify. To learn more, call: 864-560-5151. Or email us at the email address below. Thanks!