Autism Resources in San Francisco County, California
11 providers in San Francisco and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in San Francisco County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in San Francisco County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
UCSF Child and Adolescent Psychiatry — Autism Clinic
San Francisco, CA
UCSF's autism clinic offers comprehensive evaluations and specialized treatment for autistic children and adolescents. Connected to the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences and research programs. Accepts Medi-Cal and many commercial plans.
High demand. Ask about research study participation for faster access.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Bay Area Behavioral Health — San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco ABA provider offering center-based and in-home services with BCBA supervision. Serves predominantly Medi-Cal and Golden Gate Regional Center authorized clients. Urban-focused programming sensitive to SF family needs.
Focus on Medi-Cal and Regional Center populations. Bilingual staff.
Advocacy & legal
2 providersLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Golden Gate Regional Center
San Francisco, CA
California's Regional Center serving San Francisco County. Provides service coordination, early intervention, respite, adult day programs, and supported living for San Francisco residents with developmental disabilities including autism.
Apply immediately at or before diagnosis. GGRC serves only San Francisco County — Alameda and Marin residents use different Regional Centers.
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.
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.
Also serving San Francisco County
These 18 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list San Francisco 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.
Golden Gate Regional Center — Marin County
San Rafael, CA · serves several counties
California's Regional Center serving Marin County. Provides Early Start (birth–3), service coordination, respite, and adult programs. San Francisco main office handles Marin County intakes. Despite Marin's wealth, RC waitlists for services can be long due to very high demand. Apply at diagnosis.
Apply at diagnosis — Marin's high demand means waitlists for funded services exist even at the RC level. First call for any Marin family.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Acorn Health — Marin County
San Rafael, CA · serves several counties
In-home and center-based ABA therapy serving Marin County families. BCBA-supervised with Golden Gate Regional Center authorization accepted. Marin County has very high demand for ABA services with a limited local provider pool — many families access ABA providers in San Francisco or the East Bay.
Long waitlists common throughout Marin County. Apply to multiple providers simultaneously. Golden Gate RC authorization required.
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
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.
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.
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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About autism services in San Francisco County
San Francisco is a city-county with one of California's most progressive service ecosystems. The Golden Gate Regional Center funds developmental disability services through California's entitlement model. UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital is a major evaluation and treatment resource. San Francisco Unified School District operates as both the school district and SELPA, with robust special education programs. California requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy, and SF's provider density is among the highest in the state.
School districts & government services
Public programs and school district contacts for San Francisco County.
School & special education
- San Francisco Unified — Special Education
SFUSD operates as both the school district and SELPA for San Francisco County.
Services & benefits
- Golden Gate Regional Center— (415) 546-9222
California Regional Center serving San Francisco and San Mateo counties — funds therapy, respite, and support services.
Adult services
- Golden Gate Regional Center— (415) 546-9222
California Regional Center serving San Francisco and San Mateo counties — funds therapy, respite, and support services.
Respite & support
- Golden Gate Regional Center— (415) 546-9222
California Regional Center serving San Francisco and San Mateo counties — funds therapy, respite, and support services.
Helpful guides
Guides for San Francisco 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 Francisco County
Serving families across San Francisco County including San Francisco, Daly City, Colma and Brisbane 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 Francisco County, California?
We list 11 providers serving San Francisco 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 San Francisco County?
ABA providers serving San Francisco 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 Francisco County families?
Yes — 1 provider serving San Francisco 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 San Francisco County?
2 providers serving San Francisco 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 San Francisco County?
If none of the San Francisco 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 San Francisco County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in San Francisco 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 San Francisco County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in San Francisco 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 Francisco 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.
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