County resource guide
Autism Resources in El Dorado County, California
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in El Dorado County. California statewide resources also apply.
Provider directory
Local Providers32 providers in El Dorado County
About our listings
Provider listings on Autism Parent Club are submitted by practices or researched from public sources. All listings are reviewed by a person before publication, and no provider has paid to appear here. Read how we verify listings, or use the “Suggest a correction” link below to flag anything inaccurate.
0 providers in El Dorado County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Diagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Markleeville · multi-county
Barton Health — Developmental Referrals (South Lake Tahoe)
The nearest hospital system for Alpine County families is Barton Health in South Lake Tahoe (30–40 min). Barton connects Alpine County residents to developmental specialists and Alta California Regional Center. Comprehensive autism evaluations require travel to Sacramento (3 hrs) or Reno, NV (1.5 hrs). Telehealth with UC Davis MIND Institute is the most accessible starting point.
Alpine County has no local hospital. South Lake Tahoe (Barton Health) is the nearest facility. Full autism evaluations require travel to Sacramento or telehealth through UC Davis MIND Institute.
Placerville
Marshall Medical Center — Developmental Pediatric Referrals
El Dorado County's primary hospital offering developmental referral pathways and connections to Sacramento-area specialists. Coordinates with Alta California Regional Center for autism evaluation and Early Start enrollment.
Foothill county — many families travel to Sacramento for specialized evaluations. Ask about telehealth options.
Davis · multi-county
UC Davis MIND Institute — Yolo County Access
Yolo County families have direct access to UC Davis MIND Institute in Sacramento — one of the nation's leading autism research and clinical centers. Comprehensive evaluations using gold-standard tools (ADOS-2, ADI-R) for children and adults. A major geographic advantage for Davis and Woodland families.
Sacramento campus is 20 minutes from Davis. Waitlists exist — ask about the Family Resource Center and research study openings.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Markleeville · multi-county
Behavioral Health Works — Alpine County (Telehealth)
Telehealth ABA parent coaching for Alpine County families. In-person ABA does not exist in Alpine County — telehealth parent coaching plus travel to South Lake Tahoe or Sacramento for in-person services are the only options. BCBA-supervised with Alta California Regional Center authorization required.
No local ABA exists in Alpine County. Telehealth parent coaching is the only realistic in-county option. Regional Center authorization required.
Jackson · multi-county
Behavioral Health Works — Amador County (Telehealth)
Telehealth parent coaching and limited in-home ABA therapy for Amador County families. BCBA-supervised with Regional Center authorization required. Amador County has almost no local autism providers — telehealth is the realistic first step while families explore travel options to Stockton or Sacramento.
Amador County is extremely resource-sparse for autism services. Telehealth parent coaching plus in-home services from Stockton or Sacramento BCBAs are the primary options. Regional Center authorization required.
El Dorado Hills · multi-county
Behavioral Health Works — El Dorado County
In-home ABA therapy serving El Dorado County including Placerville, El Dorado Hills, and South Lake Tahoe areas. BCBA-supervised programs with Regional Center authorization accepted.
Grass Valley · multi-county
Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers — Nevada County
Center-based and in-home ABA therapy serving Nevada County families from the greater Sacramento/Roseville area. BCBA-supervised programming with Regional Center authorization and commercial insurance accepted. Some families travel to Roseville for center-based services.
In-home model recommended for Nevada County to avoid travel. Center-based services available in nearby Roseville.
Respite care
Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
~3,000 providers nationwide
ARCH National Respite Locator
A free national database of respite providers searchable by state and locality — home care agencies, community-based organizations and state programs. The single best starting point for finding respite anywhere in the country, and it is the tool state agencies themselves point families toward.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Before you pay out of pocket, check what your state's Medicaid waiver funds — respite is covered by nearly every state waiver, and many families never think to ask.
Most states run one
Your state's Lifespan Respite Care Program
Lifespan Respite Care Programs are federally seeded, state-run programs that help families of any age and any disability find and pay for respite — often including vouchers or subsidies that do not depend on having a Medicaid waiver. Most states have one, they are chronically under-used, and they are rarely mentioned by anyone else in the system.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Search for "[your state] Lifespan Respite" or use the ARCH directory. Ask specifically about voucher or subsidy programs — that is the part families most often miss.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Placerville
El Dorado County Autism Support Group
Parent peer support group for families of autistic individuals in El Dorado County's foothill communities. Meets in Placerville and El Dorado Hills with resource sharing and Regional Center navigation support.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Sacramento · multi-county
Alta California Regional Center
California's Regional Center serving Sacramento and surrounding counties. Coordinates services and funds early intervention, respite, day programs, and adult services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Apply as soon as developmental concerns arise.
Largest geographic Regional Center in California. Intake office in Sacramento.
Markleeville · multi-county
Alta California Regional Center — Alpine County
California's Regional Center serving Alpine County as part of Alta California's Northern California coverage. Alpine is the smallest county in California by population (fewer than 1,200 residents). Provides Early Start (birth–3), service coordination, respite, and adult services via Sacramento main office. Telehealth and home-based coordination are the only practical models.
Alpine County is the least populous county in California. Sacramento main office handles all intake. Expect fully remote service coordination — in-person services require significant travel.
Placerville · multi-county
Alta California Regional Center — El Dorado County
California's Regional Center serving El Dorado County as part of Alta California's coverage area. Provides Early Start (birth–3), service coordination, respite, and adult programs. Sacramento main office handles El Dorado County intakes.
Sacramento main office serves El Dorado County. Apply at diagnosis for earliest service access.
Grass Valley · multi-county
Alta California Regional Center — Nevada County
California's Regional Center serving Nevada County as part of Alta California's Northern California coverage area. Provides Early Start (birth–3), service coordination, respite, and adult programs. Sacramento main office handles Nevada County intakes — many families travel to Roseville or Sacramento for services.
Apply at diagnosis. Nevada County is a foothill community — many families travel to Roseville or Sacramento for specialized services.
Roseville · multi-county
Alta California Regional Center — Placer County
California's Regional Center serving Placer County as part of Alta California's coverage area. Provides Early Start (birth–3), service coordination, respite, and adult services. Sacramento main office handles Placer County intakes.
Placer County families should contact the Sacramento main office for intake.
Redding · multi-county
Alta California Regional Center — Shasta Region
California's Regional Center serving Shasta County as part of Alta California's large Northern California coverage area. Provides service coordination, Early Start, respite, and adult services for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Redding satellite office serves Northern California counties. Sacramento main office: (916) 978-6400.
Downieville · multi-county
Alta California Regional Center — Sierra County
California's Regional Center serving Sierra County, one of the nation's least populated counties (fewer than 3,500 residents). Provides Early Start (birth–3), service coordination, respite, and adult services via Sacramento main office. Telehealth coordination is the standard for this remote mountain county.
Apply at diagnosis. Sierra County has no hospital and no city larger than 1,000 people. Telehealth is the only realistic service coordination model. Sacramento main office: (916) 978-6400.
Markleeville · multi-county
Matrix Parent Network — Alpine County Families
Federally funded PTI providing free IEP advocacy and special education support for Alpine County families via phone and remote services. With only a handful of school-age children with disabilities in the county, Matrix is uniquely positioned to provide personalized one-on-one remote support.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. All services remote for Alpine County — the smallest school district in California.
Jackson · multi-county
Matrix Parent Network — Amador County Families
Federally funded PTI providing free IEP advocacy and special education support for Amador County families via phone and remote services. Critical resource in a county with very limited local disability services.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Phone and remote services only for this rural foothill region.
Novato · multi-county
Matrix Parent Network — El Dorado County Families
Federally funded PTI serving El Dorado County families with free IEP support and special education advocacy. Phone and remote support available for foothill communities throughout the county.
FREE. Federally funded PTI.
Grass Valley · multi-county
Matrix Parent Network — Nevada County Families
Federally funded PTI offering free IEP advocacy and special education support for Nevada County families. Phone and remote support available — especially important for families in foothill communities with limited local resources.
FREE. Federally funded PTI.
Woodland · multi-county
Matrix Parent Network — Yolo County Families
Federally funded PTI providing free IEP advocacy, special education training, and parent support for Yolo County families. Remote and in-person support available. Yolo County families benefit from proximity to Sacramento-area resources.
FREE. Federally funded PTI.
Activities, clubs & recreation
Clubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
200+ locations nationwide
ACEing Autism
Weekly Saturday tennis clinics built specifically for autistic children aged 5 to 18, run by volunteers at more than 200 locations across the country, serving over 7,000 players. Sessions run in six-week blocks of an hour. This is the clearest example of the interest-based model working: the sport supplies the structure, the turn-taking and the reason to be there, so the social side happens sideways rather than being the task.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Cost varies by location — around $120 for a six-week session at some sites, with scholarships available. Use the map on their site to find your nearest program, schedule and local contact.
~4,000 camps nationwide
American Camp Association — camp finder
A free searchable directory of close to 4,000 summer camps that can be filtered for camps serving autistic campers, by distance, session length, activities and cost. The best single starting point for finding a day or overnight camp anywhere in the country.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Registration for specialized camps typically opens December–February and popular overnight camps fill within days. Start the funding conversation in autumn.
Nationwide — find your local chapter
Best Buddies
One-to-one friendship matching between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, plus employment, leadership and inclusive living programs. Over 4,000 chapters across all 50 states, serving school-age through adult. If what your family wants is a friend rather than an activity, this is the most direct answer in the country.
A national programme 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 1-800-89BUDDY, to locate your nearest chapter.
Local affiliates across most of the country
Easterseals — camps and recreation
Day and overnight camps run through local Easterseals affiliates, several of them autism-specific, with weekend respite and family camp sessions as well. Many affiliates operate sliding-scale fees, and several camps serve adults alongside children.
A national programme 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 affiliates — check what your nearest one actually runs rather than assuming the national description applies.
Week-long camps hosted nationwide
iCan Shine (iCan Bike)
Teaches people with disabilities to ride a conventional two-wheeled bicycle, using adapted roller bikes over a week-long camp that gradually transfers balance to the rider. Learning to ride a bike is a milestone a lot of autistic children are quietly written off for, and this is the program that most reliably delivers it. Camps are hosted by local organizations across the country, so availability is by host town rather than by chapter.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their site for host locations and dates — camps run in different towns each year, so somewhere near you may host this year and not next.
Local chapters in a number of US cities
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)
Volunteer-led one-to-one recreation for children and young adults with developmental and physical disabilities, at no cost to families or carers. The one-to-one model is the point: a volunteer is paired with your child for the session, which makes it workable for people who cannot manage a group setting unsupported.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Free to families. Runs through local chapters in a number of US cities rather than everywhere — check whether yours has one.
900+ divisions nationwide
Little League Challenger Division
Baseball for children and adults with a physical or intellectual disability, across more than 900 divisions. The main division serves ages 4–18, or up to 22 if still enrolled in school; the Senior League Challenger Division serves 15 and above with no upper age limit.
A national programme 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.
200+ communities
Miracle League
Baseball on purpose-built accessible fields in more than 200 communities. Every player bats and every player scores, so ability differences do not decide the game.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their location list for the nearest field — coverage is good but not universal.
Every state — county-level programs
Special Olympics
Year-round sports training and competition at no cost to the athlete or their family, for children and adults alike. Programs run at county level in every state.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Eligibility centers on intellectual disability or a closely related developmental disability. If your child is autistic without an intellectual disability, have a direct conversation about fit before signing up rather than after.
Through local clubs and state associations
TOPSoccer (US Youth Soccer)
The Outreach Program for Soccer — recreational soccer for children and adults with intellectual, emotional or physical disabilities, usually with buddy support on the pitch. Run through ordinary local soccer clubs rather than as a separate organization.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Ask your state youth soccer association which local clubs run TOPSoccer — it is often not advertised on the club's own website.
For providers
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Helpful guides
Guides for El Dorado 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.
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 El Dorado County, California?
We list 20 providers serving El Dorado County, covering advocacy & legal, diagnostic clinics, ABA therapy and parent & family support. 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 El Dorado County?
ABA providers serving El Dorado 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 El Dorado County families?
Yes — 6 providers serving El Dorado County offer 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 El Dorado County?
4 providers serving El Dorado County deliver 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.
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 El Dorado County?
If none of the El Dorado County providers is the right fit, these California counties currently have the most listed providers: San Diego County (23), Butte County (20), Sacramento County (20), Sonoma County (19). 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 El Dorado County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in El Dorado 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.
- Which dentist here has managed a cleaning without it becoming a fight?
- Who cuts your child's hair without a meltdown?
- 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 El Dorado County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in El Dorado 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
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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.
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