FATHOM NORTHIf there's one thing New Berlin does unusually well for families of children with disabilities, it's paperwork clarity. The School District of New Berlin publishes exactly how to request a special education evaluation — a named director, a form you can download, and the rule that a written request obligates the district to evaluate. Plenty of districts make you dig for that. Here, it's on the page.
This guide collects that path plus everything else we could verify against official sources in July 2026: the Waukesha County numbers that unlock funding and early intervention, what exists around town (and honestly, what doesn't), and the statewide lifelines worth saving.
Your school district: the School District of New Berlin
New Berlin is served by the School District of New Berlin (4333 S. Sunnyslope Road; main line (262) 789-6200). Special education lives under Student Services, and the district's special education page spells out the referral rules: a referral must be made in writing and include the reason you believe your child has a disability — and upon receiving that request, the district is required to evaluate your child for eligibility.
The published contact path: a referral may be made by contacting Amanda Mazurkiewicz, Director of Special Education (amanda.mazurkiewicz@nbexcellence.org) or a school administrator. For general questions, the department's administrative assistant, Tammy Kane, is at (262) 789-6247 or tammy.kane@nbexcellence.org. The district also links a downloadable "Referral for Special Education Evaluation" (R-1) form on that page, which is the cleanest way to put your request in writing.
Statewide rules back you up here: a district may not refuse a referral for an initial evaluation, and receiving one starts a 15-business-day timeline for written notice of next steps. Date your letter or email and keep a copy. Beyond the district, the DPI Special Education Team answers family questions at (608) 266-1781.
Waukesha County services
New Berlin sits in Waukesha County, which runs the two county-level programs most families of young children with autism end up using.
Children's Long-Term Support (CLTS) waiver. This Medicaid waiver funds home- and community-based supports for children with disabilities. Waukesha County's published intake path is simple: apply by contacting the Children's Intake Line at (262) 896-3397.
Birth to 3. Wisconsin's early intervention program for children under three operates in Waukesha County in partnership with Lutheran Social Services. The general information and referral line is (414) 246-2315; Waukesha County Health & Human Services' main number is 262-548-7212. Your child doesn't need a diagnosis — eligibility comes from the program's own evaluation — and anyone can refer, including a parent calling on their own.
Around town
We'll be straight with you: New Berlin's Recreation Division doesn't publish any adaptive or sensory-friendly programming on its official pages. The only accommodation language we found is a note that participants needing special accommodations should tell the department when registering — worth doing for any program that interests your child.
The New Berlin Public Library is a friendlier story. Its storytimes page carries a published accessibility commitment — "the library makes every effort to ensure our programs can be enjoyed by all," with an invitation to contact the library about accommodations — and runs a full storytime ladder: Book Babies (0–24 months), 2s & 3s, Preschool Storytime, Family Storytime, and Yoga Storytime. If your child needs a quieter seat or a heads-up about what to expect, ask — the invitation is theirs, in writing.
For adaptive physical activity, the closest verified options are through the YMCA of Greater Waukesha County: the New Berlin YMCA Wellness Center is right in town (3610 Michelle Witmer Memorial Drive), the Southwest YMCA just over the border in Greenfield lists adaptive fitness among its specialties, and the YMCA association offers adaptive swim instruction for individuals with cognitive disabilities or other special needs. And about 15–20 minutes north in Wauwatosa, Autism United of Wisconsin runs children's programs, teen nights, and parent support groups — more on them below.
Statewide help that reaches New Berlin
- ForwardHealth Member Services — 800-362-3002. Wisconsin Medicaid covers medically necessary behavioral treatment for autism; this line helps you find Medicaid-enrolled providers and answers coverage questions.
- Katie Beckett Medicaid — 888-786-3246. A Medicaid door for children under 19 with significant needs, even when parents' income is too high for regular Medicaid.
- Wisconsin Wayfinder — 877-947-2929. Free, confidential state navigators for families of children with delays, disabilities, or special health care needs.
- Autism United of Wisconsin — (414) 988-1260. Formerly the Autism Society of Southeastern Wisconsin; support groups, kids' and teen programs, and parent phone support from its Wauwatosa office.
- WI FACETS — 414-374-4645. Wisconsin's parent training and information center: free IEP help, workshops, and advocacy coaching.
- In a mental health crisis: call or text 988 anytime, from anywhere in Wisconsin. (Milwaukee County's all-ages Mobile Crisis team, (414) 257-7222, serves addresses in that county, just east of New Berlin.)
Getting therapy near New Berlin
Most families whose child has a new diagnosis end up weighing three kinds of therapy: ABA, speech, and occupational therapy. Each does a different job, they overlap on purpose, and many children benefit from more than one — our guide ABA vs Speech vs OT untangles which discipline owns which goal, and the Wisconsin autism guide maps the funding and systems around them.
New Berlin families are within reach of providers across Waukesha and Milwaukee counties, which means you have choices — use them. Contact several providers, get on more than one list, and interview each one with the same questions so their answers are actually comparable. We've published the interview kit — 10 questions to ask any ABA clinic — plus a printable 10-questions PDF to bring on tours and an insurance conversation guide for the call to your health plan that should come first.
Frequently asked questions
✦How do I request a special education evaluation in New Berlin?
✦My child is under 3 — who do I call?
✦Does New Berlin have adaptive recreation or sensory-friendly programs?
✦What funding help exists beyond private insurance?
An honest note: every contact here was verified against official sources in July 2026. Districts reshuffle staff over the summer, county lines change, and programs come and go — confirm details directly before you rely on them, and if something's out of date, tell us at hello@fathomnorth.com so we can fix it.
That's the New Berlin guide.
New Berlin's paperwork path is unusually clear; if you ever need the same starting numbers for any other Wisconsin county, the directory puts all 72 in one place.