Autism Resources in Sierra County, California
12 providers in Downieville and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Sierra County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Sierra County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Tahoe Forest Health System — Developmental Referrals
Downieville, CA · serves several counties
The nearest hospital for most Sierra County families is Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee (Placer County, 45 min–1.5 hrs depending on location). Tahoe Forest can coordinate developmental referrals to Sacramento-area specialists. For autism evaluations, families travel to Reno NV (30 min from Truckee) or Sacramento (2 hrs). Telehealth with UC Davis MIND Institute is the most accessible option.
Sierra County has no hospital. Tahoe Forest (Truckee) and Sierra Nevada Memorial (Grass Valley) are the nearest facilities. Telehealth evaluation strongly recommended.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Behavioral Health Works — Sierra County (Telehealth)
Downieville, CA · serves several counties
Telehealth ABA parent coaching for Sierra County families. No ABA providers exist in Sierra County. Telehealth parent coaching from Alta California RC-authorized BCBAs is the only in-county option. Families needing center-based ABA must travel to Reno (via Truckee) or Sacramento.
No local ABA in Sierra County. Telehealth coaching only. Regional Center authorization required.
Parent & family support
1 providerParent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Autism Society of California — Gold Country Families
Downieville, CA
Statewide Autism Society of California virtual resources for Sierra County families. No local chapter exists — statewide virtual peer support and online communities are the primary organized autism support in this tiny mountain county.
No local chapter. Virtual statewide resources.
Advocacy & legal
2 providersLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Alta California Regional Center — Sierra County
Downieville, CA · serves several counties
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.
Matrix Parent Network — Sierra County Families
Downieville, CA · serves several counties
Federally funded PTI providing free IEP advocacy and special education support for Sierra County families via phone and remote services. With only a few dozen children in special education across the entire county, Matrix offers essential expertise that the small local school district may lack.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. All services remote — Sierra County is among the most isolated in California.
Also serving Sierra County
These 19 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Sierra 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.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Behavioral Health Works — Plumas County (Telehealth)
Quincy, CA · serves several counties
Telehealth ABA parent coaching and limited in-home services for Plumas County families. No local ABA providers exist in Quincy or anywhere in Plumas County. Telehealth parent coaching from Chico-area BCBAs is the most practical option. Center-based ABA requires travel to Chico or Redding.
No local ABA in Plumas County. Telehealth parent coaching plus travel to Chico for in-person services. Regional Center authorization required.
Respite care
2 providersRespite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
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
6 providersLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Alta California Regional Center
Sacramento, CA · serves several counties
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.
Alta California Regional Center — Nevada County
Grass Valley, CA · serves several counties
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.
Alta California Regional Center — Placer County
Roseville, CA · serves several counties
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.
Alta California Regional Center — Plumas County
Quincy, CA · serves several counties
California's Regional Center serving Plumas County, a mountainous county in the northern Sierra Nevada. Provides Early Start (birth–3), service coordination, respite, and adult services via Sacramento main office and the Chico satellite. Quincy is the county seat — travel to Chico (1.5 hrs) or Sacramento (3 hrs) is required for most services.
Apply at diagnosis. Chico satellite office (530-895-4011) is the nearest Alta RC office for Plumas County families.
Matrix Parent Network — Nevada County Families
Grass Valley, CA · serves several counties
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.
Matrix Parent Network — Plumas County Families
Quincy, CA · serves several counties
Federally funded PTI offering free IEP advocacy and special education support for Plumas County families by phone and remote services. Small school districts in Plumas County may have limited special education expertise — Matrix provides specialized remote advocacy.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Remote support only for this mountain county.
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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Helpful guides
Guides for Sierra 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 Sierra County, California?
We list 12 providers serving Sierra County, covering advocacy & legal, parent & family support, ABA therapy and diagnostic clinics. 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 Sierra County?
ABA providers serving Sierra 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 Sierra County families?
Yes — 4 providers serving Sierra 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 Sierra County?
1 provider serving Sierra County delivers 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 Sierra County?
If none of the Sierra 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 Sierra County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Sierra 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 Sierra County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Sierra 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 Sierra 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 Sierra County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
Add your practice →