Autism Resources in Alameda County, California
14 providers in Oakland, Fremont, Novato and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Alameda County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Alameda County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland — Developmental Services
Oakland, CA
Comprehensive autism and developmental evaluations at the East Bay's leading children's hospital. Multidisciplinary team covers autism diagnosis, ADHD, learning disabilities, and co-occurring conditions. Accepts Medi-Cal and most commercial insurance.
Safety-net hospital — serves Medi-Cal families. Ask about interpreter services.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Creative Behavioral Solutions — Alameda
Fremont, CA
East Bay ABA provider offering in-home and center-based therapy with BCBA supervision. Specializes in early intensive behavioral intervention and social skills groups for school-age children.
Regional Center and commercial insurance accepted. Spanish-speaking staff available.
Advocacy & legal
2 providersLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Matrix Parent Network and Resource Center
Novato, CA · serves several counties
Federally funded Parent Training and Information (PTI) center serving Northern California families. Offers free IEP support, parent training workshops, and one-on-one navigation assistance for families with children with any disability.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Northern California's equivalent of TASK in the south.
Regional Center of the East Bay
Oakland, CA · serves several counties
California's Regional Center serving Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Provides service coordination, early intervention (birth–3), respite care, therapy funding, and adult services. One of the largest Regional Centers in the state by enrollment.
Apply at diagnosis or as early as developmental concerns arise. Service coordinators assigned within 30 days.
Also serving Alameda County
These 22 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Alameda County in the area they cover. Worth calling to confirm how far they actually travel, and whether telehealth or in-home visits are an option.
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
UCEDD at UC Davis MIND Institute — Bay Area Referrals
Sacramento, CA · serves several counties
The UC Davis MIND Institute is California's federally designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). Offers diagnostic evaluations, research participation opportunities, and connects Bay Area families to evidence-based resources and training.
Telehealth intakes available. Some evaluation slots reserved for research studies at reduced/no cost.
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Regional Center of the East Bay — Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz, CA · serves several counties
California's Regional Center serving Santa Cruz County. Provides Early Start (birth–3), service coordination, respite, and adult programs. Oakland main office handles Santa Cruz County intakes. Santa Cruz County's progressive coastal community has high autism awareness — RC is a key gateway to funded services. Apply at diagnosis.
Oakland main office handles Santa Cruz County intakes. Apply at diagnosis — RC services are the foundation of the support system for Santa Cruz County families.
Respite care
3 providersRespite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Respite through your Regional Center
Statewide, CA · serves several counties
In California respite is authorized through the Individual Program Plan with your regional center, not applied for separately. The person must be a regional center client with an eligible developmental disability and must live at home. It can be in-home, in the community, or at a licensed out-of-home facility, and some centers also fund parent relief hours. If respite is refused or cut, that decision is appealable — Disability Rights California publishes a hearing packet specifically for regional center respite disputes.
Ask for respite to be written into the IPP explicitly, with an hours figure. A vague agreement that respite is 'available' is not an authorization.
ARCH National Respite Locator
Searchable by state, CA
A free national directory of respite providers and programs, run by ARCH, the National Respite Network and Resource Center. ARCH says it is not a complete list, so it works best alongside…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
ARCH's advice is to contact your State Respite Coalition or Lifespan Respite program first. Before you pay out of pocket, also check what your state's Medicaid waiver funds.
Your state's Lifespan Respite program
39 states and DC have been funded, CA
Lifespan Respite programs are federally funded, state-run programs that help family caregivers of children or adults, regardless of special need, find and pay for respite.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
ARCH lists every state's Lifespan Respite contact and respite coalition on this page. Ask specifically about voucher or stipend programs — that is the part families most often miss.
Advocacy & legal
6 providersLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Matrix Parent Network — Napa County Families
Novato, CA · serves several counties
Federally funded PTI providing free IEP advocacy, special education training, and family support for Napa County families. Phone and remote support available.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Most useful before IEP meetings and due process.
Matrix Parent Network — San Francisco Families
San Francisco, CA · serves several counties
Northern California's federally funded PTI center, serving San Francisco families navigating special education. Free IEP training, advocacy coaching, and parent workshops in English and Spanish.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Key resource before any IEP meeting.
Matrix Parent Network — Solano County Families
Novato, CA · serves several counties
Federally funded PTI center serving Solano County families with free IEP support, special education advocacy, and parent training. Remote support available via phone and video.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Key call before any IEP meeting.
Matrix Parent Network and Resource Center
Novato, CA · serves several counties
Northern California PTI center with offices serving Contra Costa families. Free IEP support, school advocacy coaching, and parent training. One of the most effective advocacy resources for Bay Area families.
FREE. Federally funded PTI.
Matrix Parent Network and Resource Center — North Bay
Novato, CA · serves several counties
Federally funded PTI serving Sonoma County families navigating special education and autism services. Free IEP support, workshop series, and one-on-one family advocacy. Offices in the North Bay region.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Most useful before and during IEP meetings.
Regional Center of the East Bay — Contra Costa Office
Concord, CA · serves several counties
The Regional Center of the East Bay serves both Alameda and Contra Costa counties, providing service coordination, early intervention funding, respite, therapy authorization, and adult services. The Concord office handles Contra Costa County intakes.
Apply immediately at diagnosis. Service coordinators are the gateway to most California-funded autism services.
Autism-friendly dentists
1 providerDentists experienced with autistic patients — desensitisation visits, sensory accommodations, and staff who take the time it takes.
UCSF Pediatric Dental Clinic for ASD and neurodevelopmental disorders
San Francisco, CA · serves several counties
675 18th Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
A dental clinic built specifically for autistic children, run jointly by UCSF Pediatric Dentistry and the UCSF Center for ASD and NDDs. A board-certified behavior analyst works alongside the dental faculty and residents during the visit - so the goal is to build the child's tolerance of dental care over time, not simply to get through today's appointment. It is aimed at children who have no dental home, or who cannot manage an ordinary dental office.
Booked by email rather than by phone. Operates through UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital.
Activities, clubs & recreation
10 providersClubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
ACEing Autism
227 programs in 32 states, CA
Tennis clinics for kids, teens and, in some locations, adults on the autism spectrum.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Cost varies by location and scholarships are available. Use the Find a Program search on their site with your zip code.
American Camp Association — camp finder
About 3,900 camps, CA
A free searchable directory of about 3,900 camps, with a filter for disabilities and other special needs alongside distance, activities, session length and cost. A good single starting…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Choose day or overnight, then use the "Disabilities and Other Special Needs" filter. Specialized camps can fill early, so start looking in the winter before.
Best Buddies
All 50 states — find your local program, CA
One-to-one friendship matching between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, with programs from elementary school through college and adulthood, plus…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
A national organization, not a local listing — use the finder on their site, or call 1-800-89-BUDDY, to locate your nearest program.
Easterseals — camps and recreation
Local Easterseals across the country, CA
Day and residential camps for children and adults with disabilities, plus sports, social activities and community outings run by local Easterseals.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Programs vary a great deal between locations — use the Find your Easterseals search on the page and check what yours actually runs.
iCan Shine (iCan Bike)
Camps hosted in different towns each year, CA
Teaches people with disabilities to ride a conventional two-wheeled bicycle over a five-day camp, 75 minutes a day. iCan Shine says about 80% of participants ride independently by the end…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their Camp Locations page for dates — camps run in different towns each year, so somewhere near you may host this year and not next.
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)
Six cities only: Chicago, DC–Baltimore, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, St. Louis, CA
Free, non-competitive, one-to-one recreation for youth ages 5 to 21 with physical or developmental disabilities, led by trained volunteer coaches.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Free to families. KEEN runs in six cities plus two university campus chapters (Vanderbilt and the University of Virginia) — outside those, it is not available yet.
See all 10 activities, clubs & recreation providersShow fewer
Little League Challenger Division
Through local Little Leagues — use the League Finder, CA
Little League's adaptive baseball program for anyone with a physical or intellectual challenge.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Use the League Finder on their site to locate the nearest Challenger division, or ask about starting one. Little League's rule is that a player who can take part in regular Little League with reasonable accommodations should do so.
Miracle League
300 leagues — check for one near you, CA
Baseball for children and adults with physical or mental disabilities, played on custom-designed rubberized turf fields that accommodate wheelchairs and other assistive devices.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Use the Find a Miracle League page on their site — there are 300 leagues, so coverage is good but not universal.
Special Olympics
Nationwide — find your local program, CA
Year-round sports training and competition for children and adults.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Eligibility requires an intellectual disability, a cognitive delay measured by formal assessment, or significant learning or vocational problems due to cognitive delay, identified by an agency or professional. If your child is autistic without a cognitive delay, have a direct conversation about fit before signing up rather than after. Ask your local program about any costs.
TOPSoccer (US Youth Soccer)
Through local soccer clubs, CA
The Outreach Program for Soccer — recreational soccer for children and adults with intellectual, emotional or physical disabilities, offered through local US Youth Soccer clubs.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Find your state association's TOPSoccer clubs through the link on their page, or ask your state association office directly — it is often not advertised on the club's own website.
Not sure which kind of therapy you need?
Start with our plain-language guide to ABA, speech and OT — what each one is, and questions to ask on the first call.
Read the guideFor providers
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School evaluation
Request a School Evaluation
Under IDEA, your school district must evaluate your child for free if you request it in writing. The request goes to your own district — the one you live in. If that is listed below, this is who to call in Alameda County. If not, ask your district’s special education office; your rights are the same.
Oakland Unified School District — Special Education
Checked against each organization’s own website, September 2026. Numbers change, so confirm when you call.
Learn how to write your evaluation request →About autism services in Alameda County
Alameda County includes Oakland, Berkeley, and Fremont and is part of the East Bay's strong network of autism resources. Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB) funds services through California's Regional Center system — an entitlement with no income limit. UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland and UC Berkeley's programs provide evaluation and research resources. Berkeley Unified and Oakland Unified both have robust special education programs. California requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
School districts & government services
Public programs and school district contacts for Alameda County.
School & special education
- Alameda County Office of Education — SELPA
Special Education Local Plan Area for Alameda County — coordinates IEP services and Child Find.
Services & benefits
- Regional Center of the East Bay— (510) 383-1300
California Regional Center serving Alameda and Contra Costa counties — funds therapy, respite, and support services.
Adult services
- Regional Center of the East Bay— (510) 383-1300
California Regional Center serving Alameda and Contra Costa counties — funds therapy, respite, and support services.
Respite & support
- Regional Center of the East Bay— (510) 383-1300
California Regional Center serving Alameda and Contra Costa counties — funds therapy, respite, and support services.
Helpful guides
Guides for Alameda County families
Step-by-step help on the topics that matter most.
School & IEP
Navigating the IEP process
Your rights under IDEA, how evaluations work, and what every IEP section means.
Finding help
ABA, OT, speech and waitlists
How to find qualified providers, navigate insurance, and get off waitlists faster.
Getting started
Where to start after diagnosis
A week-by-week checklist for the first 90 days — from evaluation to early intervention.
Benefits & money
SSI, Medicaid waivers, ABLE accounts
Federal benefits your child may qualify for and how to apply without losing your spot.
Mental health
Co-occurring conditions and support
Managing anxiety, ADHD, and depression alongside an autism diagnosis.
Daily life
Sensory processing and OT
Understanding sensory needs, sensory diets, and how occupational therapy helps.
Adulthood
Employment, housing, legal planning
Supported employment, housing options, guardianship alternatives, and ABLE accounts.
Communities served
Cities in Alameda County
Serving families across Alameda County including Oakland, Fremont, Hayward, Berkeley, Livermore, San Leandro, Alameda, Union City, Dublin, Newark, Pleasanton and Emeryville and more.
See all California resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in California.
California state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Alameda County, California?
We list 14 providers serving Alameda County, covering ABA therapy, advocacy & legal, early intervention (0–3), respite care and diagnostic clinics, plus 1 more. Some are based in the county and others serve it from nearby areas. Every listing is reviewed by a person before it is published.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Alameda County?
ABA providers serving Alameda County are listed in the ABA therapy section of this page, with phone numbers and websites. Many deliver services in the family's home or at school as well as in a clinic. Ask about waitlists when you call — they vary widely and change month to month.
Are there telehealth autism services for Alameda County families?
Yes — 1 provider serving Alameda County offers telehealth or virtual sessions. This is often the fastest route to support for families in rural areas or on long local waitlists.
Can autism therapy happen at home in Alameda County?
1 provider serving Alameda County delivers services in the family's home. Many children do better in a familiar setting than in an unfamiliar clinic room, and in-home visits remove the travel burden.
How do I get a free evaluation for a child under 3 in Alameda County?
Early intervention for children under 3 in California is run by Children, Adolescents and Young Adult Services Division, Department of Developmental Services, not by the school district. You can start a referral at https://www.dds.ca.gov/services/early-start/family-resource-center/regional-center-early-start-intake-and-family-resource-centers/. Under Part C of IDEA you can request an evaluation yourself — you do not need a doctor's referral, and the evaluation is free. From age 3, evaluations move to your local school district.
Does Medicaid pay for autism services in California?
California families can apply to the Regional Center services under the Lanterman Act, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is No waiting list — services are an entitlement, and your place is usually set by the date you apply — so applying early matters even if you are unsure what services you need. Many waivers also disregard parental income, so families who don't qualify for regular Medicaid often still qualify here.
What if I can't find an autism provider in Alameda County?
If none of the Alameda County providers is the right fit, these California counties currently have the most listed providers: San Diego County (22), Butte County (20), El Dorado County (20), Colusa County (18). Many providers travel or offer telehealth, so it is worth calling even if they are not based nearby. You can also tell us about a provider we are missing.
Nearby counties in California
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Alameda County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Alameda Countygets an afternoon back. It takes about a minute and you don’t need to know the business details — a name and a rough location is enough for us to check.
- Who cuts your child's hair without a meltdown?
- Where do parents here actually talk to each other?
- Is there a group here where your child has made a friend?
- Which pediatrician here actually listens, and doesn't rush the appointment?
We check everything before it goes up, and nobody pays to be listed. How we verify.
Get told when this page changes
New provider in Alameda County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Alameda County — no newsletter, no digest, nothing else. Some counties hear from us a few times a year and some stay quiet for months; we would rather send you nothing than send you filler.
We store your address and county, and nothing else. How we handle it.
See something that needs fixing?
Providers move, phone numbers change, and links break — it happens. If anything on this page is out of date, wrong, or no longer working, please tell us and we’ll fix it. Keeping this accurate for autism families is the whole reason we’re here.
Report a correction →Help the community
Know a great provider in Alameda County?
If a therapist, clinic, or specialist helped your family, tell us about them and we’ll add them to the directory so other families can find them too.
Tell us about a provider →For providers
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