County resource guide
Monterey County, California
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Monterey County. California statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
8 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Salinas
Natividad Medical Center — Developmental Pediatrics
Monterey County's public safety-net hospital offering developmental pediatric evaluations including autism assessments. Accepts Medi-Cal and serves a large bilingual population in the Salinas Valley. Key access point for families without private specialist options.
Bilingual services (English/Spanish) available. Medi-Cal accepted. Ask about referral pathways.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Salinas
Early Intervention Services — Monterey County
Early Start services for children birth to age 3 in Monterey County, coordinated through Central Coast Regional Center. In-home developmental therapy, speech, OT, and family coaching under IDEA Part C.
Free to families under IDEA Part C. Refer through Central Coast Regional Center.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Salinas
Acorn Health — Monterey County
Center-based and in-home ABA therapy serving Monterey County. BCBA-supervised with individualized skill-building programs for children with autism. Accepts Regional Center authorization and major commercial insurance.
Spanish-speaking staff available for Salinas Valley families.
Hollister · multi-county
Acorn Health — San Benito County
In-home and telehealth ABA therapy serving San Benito County families. BCBA-supervised with Central Coast Regional Center authorization accepted. One of the few ABA providers reaching this small rural county.
Telehealth parent coaching strongly recommended given limited in-person options. Regional Center authorization required.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Salinas
Autism Support Group of Monterey County
Community peer support group for parents and caregivers of autistic children and adults in Monterey County. Monthly gatherings with local resource sharing and guest speakers from the regional autism community.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Santa Cruz · multi-county
Central Coast Regional Center — Monterey
California's Regional Center serving Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties. Coordinates Early Start (birth–3) services, service coordination, respite, and adult programs for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Apply at or before diagnosis. Monterey families should contact the Santa Cruz main office.
Hollister · multi-county
Central Coast Regional Center — San Benito County
California's Regional Center serving San Benito County. Provides Early Start (birth–3), service coordination, respite, and adult programs. San Benito families contact the Santa Cruz main office. Hollister is the county seat; many families travel to Salinas or San Jose for services.
Apply at diagnosis. San Benito County is small and rural — most specialty services require travel to Salinas (40 min) or San Jose (1 hr).
Hollister · multi-county
Matrix Parent Network — San Benito County Families
Federally funded PTI offering free IEP advocacy and special education support for San Benito County families via phone and remote services. Key resource in a county with very limited local disability services.
FREE. Federally funded PTI.
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See all California resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in California.
California state guide →