County resource guide
Autism Resources in Alameda County, California
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Alameda County. California statewide resources also apply.
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 evaluation
Request a School Evaluation
Under IDEA, your school district must evaluate your child for free if you request it in writing. Here’s who to contact in Alameda County:
Alameda County SELPA
Contact the county SELPA or your local school district to request a Child Find evaluation. Submit a written request to trigger the 60-day assessment timeline.
Contacts verified May 2026 — call to confirm current numbers
Learn how to write your evaluation request →Provider directory
Local Providers13 providers in Alameda County
About our listings
Provider listings on Autism Parent Club are submitted by practices or researched from public sources. All listings are reviewed for accuracy before publication. To suggest a correction, use the “Suggest a correction” link below.
Diagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Sacramento · multi-county
UCEDD at UC Davis MIND Institute — Bay Area Referrals
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.
Oakland
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland — Developmental Services
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.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Santa Cruz · multi-county
Regional Center of the East Bay — Santa Cruz County
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.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Fremont
Creative Behavioral Solutions — Alameda
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.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Oakland
Autism Society of the Greater Bay Area
Bay Area chapter offering support groups, family workshops, and resource navigation across Alameda County. Regular in-person and virtual peer groups for parents and caregivers.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Novato · multi-county
Matrix Parent Network — Napa County Families
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.
San Francisco · multi-county
Matrix Parent Network — San Francisco Families
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.
Novato · multi-county
Matrix Parent Network — Solano County Families
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.
Novato · multi-county
Matrix Parent Network and Resource Center
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.
Novato · multi-county
Matrix Parent Network and Resource Center
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.
Novato · multi-county
Matrix Parent Network and Resource Center — North Bay
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.
Oakland · multi-county
Regional Center of the East Bay
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.
Concord · multi-county
Regional Center of the East Bay — Contra Costa Office
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.
For providers
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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 →Nearby counties in California
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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