County resource guide
Autism Resources in San Diego County, California
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in San Diego County. California statewide resources also apply.
San Diego County's autism services are anchored by Rady Children's Hospital, the region's leading pediatric center, and the San Diego Regional Center which funds therapy and support services through California's nationally unique Regional Center system. Autism Society San Diego is one of the most active local chapters in the state. California requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy, making access significantly better here than in most states.
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 San Diego County:
San Diego Unified School District — Special Education
Call the Special Education office to initiate a Child Find referral. Submit a written request to start the 60-day timeline.
Contacts verified May 2026 — call to confirm current numbers
Learn how to write your evaluation request →Provider directory
Local Providers35 providers in San Diego 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 San Diego 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.
La Jolla
Brain Spectrum Neuropsychology
Premier diagnostic clinic in La Jolla specializing in gold-standard autism evaluations for children, teens, and adults. Director Dr. Elisabeth Thurlow is ADOS-2 certified with over 25 years of experience. Also evaluates ADHD, learning disorders, and giftedness.
Source: https://brainspectrumneuro.com/
San Diego
BrainWorks Behavioral Health — San Diego
Licensed neuropsychologists conducting comprehensive autism diagnostic evaluations for all age groups in San Diego County. Uses multi-dimensional assessments covering social communication, behavior, cognition, and adaptive functioning. Offers in-person and telehealth.
Source: https://brainworksbehavioralhealth.com/diagnostic-evaluations/autism/
San Diego
Rady Children's Hospital — Developmental Evaluation Clinic
San Diego's premier pediatric hospital offers comprehensive developmental and autism evaluations. Multi-disciplinary assessments with developmental pediatricians, neuropsychologists, and speech pathologists.
High demand. Ask about self-pay rates and the cancellation list.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
San Diego
Fred Finch CARES — San Diego
Center for Autism Research, Evaluation and Service at Fred Finch Youth & Family Services. Provides ABA for ages 0–21, early intervention (0–3), autism diagnostic evaluations for children 0–5, social skills groups, parent education, and mental health services throughout San Diego County.
Source: https://www.fredfinch.org/cares
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
San Diego
ABA Centers of America — San Diego
Center-based and in-home ABA therapy in San Diego County. BCBA-supervised with naturalistic teaching approach. Accepts most commercial insurance and Medi-Cal.
California ABA insurance mandate covers most commercial plans.
San Diego
Autism Spectrum Therapies (AST) — San Diego
ABA therapy provider with learning centers in San Marcos and Poway, plus in-home, school-based, and telehealth options across San Diego County and Imperial County. BCBA-supervised programs for children with ASD.
Source: https://autismtherapies.com/locations/san-diego
San Diego
Cortica San Diego
Comprehensive neurodevelopmental autism care center offering ABA therapy, speech, occupational, music therapy, early intervention, diagnostic evaluations, and pediatric medical care. Serves children and adolescents up to age 17 throughout San Diego County.
Source: https://www.corticacare.com/locations/ca/san-diego
Speech therapy
Speech-language pathology, AAC, pragmatic language, and feeding.
San Diego
North Star SLPC
Pediatric speech-language pathology practice in Point Loma specializing in autism, early intervention, apraxia, AAC, and nonverbal children. Uses child-led, neurodiversity-affirming approaches. Does not use ABA strategies.
Source: https://www.northstarslpc.com/about-me
Occupational therapy & sensory
Occupational therapy, sensory integration, and sensory diets.
San Diego
Kara Dodds & Associates Pediatric Therapy Center
Pediatric therapy center established in 2001 offering speech, occupational, and physical therapy. Specializes in autism, sensory processing disorder, apraxia, and language delays. Sensory motor gym on-site. Two locations: Mission Valley (San Diego) and Santee.
Source: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kara-dodds-and-associates-san-diego
San Diego
San Diego Occupational Therapy
Child-centered pediatric OT, speech therapy, physical therapy, and feeding therapy clinic. Provides sensory integration therapy and sensory diet programs. Located in the Sorrento Valley/UTC area of San Diego.
Source: https://sandiegooccupationaltherapy.com/
Poway
Sunrise Therapies
Neurodiversity-affirming, apraxia-informed occupational therapy for autistic individuals of all ages. Mobile/naturalistic OT delivered in homes, parks, and community spaces throughout San Diego County. Specializes in sensory integration and motor planning.
Source: https://www.sunrisetherapiesinc.com/
Feeding therapy
Feeding therapy for food selectivity, texture aversions, and mealtime challenges.
San Diego
SmallTalk Pediatric Speech, OT & Feeding Therapy
Multi-location pediatric therapy clinic offering speech, occupational, and feeding therapy. Treats autism and feeding difficulties across three San Diego County locations: Scripps Ranch, Mission Valley, and La Mesa.
Source: https://smalltalkspeech.com/
Respite care
Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Statewide · multi-county
Respite through your Regional Center
In California respite is authorised 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 authorisation.
~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.
San Diego
Autism Society San Diego
Active local chapter with support groups, social skills programs, family events, and resource navigation. One of the more engaged local autism chapters in California.
San Diego
Autism Society San Diego — Support Groups
Local chapter running multiple support groups countywide: East County (La Mesa), Moms Group (South Bay), Dadvocate Happy Hour (North County), Spanish-language group (Chula Vista), Spectrum Social for autistic adults, severe autism caregiver support, and teen/parent monthly groups.
Source: https://www.autismsocietysandiego.org/programs/support-groups
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
San Diego
Regional Center of San Diego
San Diego's Regional Center funds services for individuals with developmental disabilities including autism. Service coordination, respite, therapy funding, and adult transition services.
Apply at diagnosis. California Regional Centers are among the best-funded DD service systems nationally.
Anaheim · multi-county
TASK — Team of Advocates for Special Kids
Southern California's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center (PTI). Free IEP advocacy, training, and one-on-one support for families in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. The most important call before any IEP meeting in SoCal.
Bakersfield · multi-county
TASK — Team of Advocates for Special Kids (Kern County)
Southern California's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center extends services to Kern County families. Free IEP training, advocacy coaching, and one-on-one support before and during IEP meetings.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Remote/phone support available for families outside Anaheim.
Riverside · multi-county
TASK — Team of Advocates for Special Kids (Riverside County)
San Bernardino · multi-county
TASK — Team of Advocates for Special Kids (San Bernardino County)
Anaheim · multi-county
TASK — Team of Advocates for Special Kids (Santa Barbara)
Southern California's federally funded PTI center serving Santa Barbara County families with free IEP advocacy, training, and special education navigation. Phone and video support available for families throughout the county.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Remote support available statewide.
Autism-friendly dentists
Dentists experienced with autistic patients — desensitisation visits, sensory accommodations, and staff who take the time it takes.
Loma Linda · multi-county
Koppel Special Care Dentistry Center (Loma Linda University)
11092 Anderson St., Loma Linda, CA 92350
Loma Linda's center for patients who cannot be treated in an ordinary dental setting - developmental disabilities, other special needs, and young children. Read this part before you call: all care here is delivered under general anesthesia, in a Joint Commission-accredited, CMS-certified ambulatory surgery center. That means complete treatment usually happens in a single visit, and it also means this is not the place for a routine cleaning.
General anesthesia for every case. Worth asking what the anesthesia assessment involves before you commit.
Activities, clubs & recreation
Clubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
Long Beach · multi-county
Special Olympics Southern California
Year-round sports training and competition for children and adults, free to athletes and their families, organized by regional division across Southern California.
Also (800) 832-6276. Eligibility centers on intellectual disability — worth a direct conversation about fit if your family member is autistic without one. Northern California is served by a separate Special Olympics program.
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
Are you a provider serving this county?
Help families find accurate information about your services. Submit your practice for review so parents in this area can better understand their options.
Missing a provider? Submit a listing — it’s free →
School districts & government services
Public programs and school district contacts for San Diego County.
School & special education
- San Diego Unified — Special Education
Official SDUSD special education site; sandiegounified.org/special-education redirects here.
Services & benefits
Adult services
Respite & support
Helpful guides
Guides for San Diego 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 San Diego County
Serving families across San Diego County including San Diego, Chula Vista, Oceanside, Escondido, Carlsbad, El Cajon, Vista, San Marcos, Santee, Encinitas, National City and La Mesa 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 San Diego County, California?
We list 23 providers serving San Diego County, covering ABA therapy, parent & family support, diagnostic clinics, early intervention (0–3) and occupational therapy & sensory, plus 6 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 San Diego County?
ABA providers serving San Diego 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 San Diego County families?
Yes — 2 providers serving San Diego 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 San Diego County?
2 providers serving San Diego 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.
How do I get a free evaluation for a child under 3 in San Diego County?
Contact San Diego Unified School District — Special Education, the Early Intervention program serving San Diego County. Under Part C of IDEA you can request an evaluation yourself — you do not need a doctor's referral, and the evaluation is free. Contact details are listed in the key contacts section of this page.
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 San Diego County?
If none of the San Diego County providers is the right fit, these California counties currently have the most listed providers: Butte County (20), El Dorado 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 San Diego County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in San Diego 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?
- Is there a group here where your child has made a friend?
- Which pediatrician here actually listens, and doesn't rush the appointment?
- Who has managed an eye exam here?
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 San Diego County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in San Diego 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 San Diego 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
Are you a provider serving San Diego County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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