Autism resources in
Contra Costa County.

If you're worried about your baby or toddler's development, Early Start is California's free early intervention program for children from birth to age 3. Evaluation, assessment, and service coordination cost nothing, and you don't need a diagnosis to reach out.

California's 21 regional centers provide free assessments and determine eligibility for lifelong services for people with autism and other developmental disabilities. Call the info line or use the online county lookup to find the center that serves your family.

Not sure whether to be concerned? The CDC offers free, easy-to-use developmental milestone checklists and a Milestone Tracker app (in many languages) to help you monitor your child from 2 months to 5 years and know when to act. Acting early can make a real difference.

The MIND Institute's clinic offers interdisciplinary diagnostic evaluations for autism, developmental delay, and related conditions, including a BRIDGE Clinic for toddlers 15 to 42 months showing early signs. A referral from your child's doctor is needed, and the team can help with scheduling.

This UCSF center provides comprehensive diagnostic evaluations and treatment for children and families across the Bay Area. It's a trusted university-based option when you want a thorough autism assessment.

Run by the Contra Costa County Office of Education, STRIDE provides free early intervention for infants and toddlers birth through age 2 with autism, speech/language delays, or other developmental needs. Their team of teachers, therapists, and a child psychologist can come to your home and coach you along the way.

First 5 Contra Costa's Help Me Grow program offers free developmental screenings for young children and gently connects your family to the right local services and next steps. It's a warm, no-pressure place to start if you're wondering whether your child is on track.

Every state has a federally funded Parent Training & Information Center offering free help with IEPs, special-education rights, and early intervention. This hub's directory locates the center that serves your state.

The state's official directory of Family Empowerment Centers, Parent Training & Information Centers, and community parent resource centers that serve families of children with disabilities across California. Use it to find the free parent-support center that covers your county.

A warm, practical checklist for parents covering what to do before, during, and after an IEP meeting, available in 11 languages. It helps you organize records, ask the right questions, and know your options if a dispute comes up.

California's federally designated disability protection and advocacy agency, with free plain-language guides on IEPs, your rights, and what to do when you disagree with a school district. Their Special Education Rights & Responsibilities manual and advocacy tips walk you through every IEP meeting step by step.

A Berkeley-based civil rights organization and federally funded Parent Training & Information Center whose education advocates help California families get the right school services for their child, free of charge. They'll talk through your situation, help you review an IEP, and prepare you for meetings.

Since 1992, CARE Parent Network has offered Contra Costa families free parent-to-parent support, training, and help navigating special education, Regional Center, and other systems. Staff are parents of children with special needs themselves, so you're talking with people who truly understand.

CCCOE runs specialized early-intervention and school programs for Contra Costa students with autism and other disabilities, from birth through age 22, with an emphasis on the least restrictive environment. Their team can help you understand county special education services and placements.

The CAC is the parent voice within Contra Costa's special education system, hosting free parent trainings on evaluations, transitions, rights, and dispute resolution across the county's school districts. All meetings are open to parents and held over Zoom, so you can join from home.

You matter too. Psychology Today's therapist finder filters for 'caregiver stress' and 'autism family,' and Open Path Collective offers reduced-cost therapy sessions nationwide. You cannot support your child well without also supporting yourself.

The state's official one-stop hub for autism, with guidance on screening, diagnosis, and treatment plus links to services across California. Their statewide Autism Helpline can help you figure out your next step.

A long-established nonprofit offering ABA therapy, behavioral health, social skills groups, and autism services for children and families across Southern California. Their team can walk you through getting started and what your child qualifies for.

A statewide network of 47 parent-run family resource centers that help you navigate Early Start, find therapies, and connect with other parents who have been there. Staff are often parents of children with disabilities themselves, so you're talking to people who understand.

The county health system offers occupational, physical, and speech therapy for children and adults at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center in Martinez and at West County Health Center. A doctor's referral is needed, and services support kids working on communication, motor, and daily-living skills.

A university-based autism center serving Bay Area families, offering evidence-based diagnostic evaluations and treatments including ABA, the Early Start Denver Model, TEACCH, and CBT. Their team spans psychiatry, psychology, speech-language, and behavior therapy for children through adults; call to check current waitlist status.

ABLE accounts let people with disabilities (onset before age 26) save money tax-free without losing Medicaid or SSI eligibility. This center compares every state's ABLE program so you can pick the best one for your family.

CalABLE lets your child with a disability save and invest money in a tax-advantaged account without losing SSI, Medi-Cal, or other means-tested benefits. It's run by the California State Treasurer, and funds can be used for disability-related expenses like housing, education, and health.

DB101 is a free, plain-language guide that helps you understand how benefits like SSI, SSDI, and Medi-Cal work together, with calculators to plan ahead. It's run by the World Institute on Disability and is a gentle place to start making sense of the benefits maze.

Disability Rights California is the state's federally designated legal advocacy agency, offering free advice and representation on disability rights in areas like special education, regional center services, IHSS, and healthcare. If you feel your child isn't getting services they're entitled to, this is a good place to call.

IHSS can pay a caregiver, often a parent or family member, to help your child with disability-related needs at home, so they can stay safely with the people who love them. It's a Medi-Cal program administered by the California Department of Social Services through your county.

The county department that helps families apply for Medi-Cal, In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) to pay a caregiver, CalFresh food aid, and cash assistance. Call to find out which benefits your family qualifies for.

This program gives Alameda County families of children with developmental disabilities a much-needed break through trained respite providers, most of whom care for your child right in your own home. Families connected to Regional Center of the East Bay are eligible.

The nation's oldest grassroots autism organization. Their National Helpline connects families to information and referrals, and their affiliate finder points you to a local chapter in your area for in-person support and events.

The largest national community-based organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Local chapters offer advocacy, family support, and lifelong services. Use the chapter finder to locate the office nearest you.

Dial 2-1-1 (or visit 211.org) to reach a free, confidential referral line for local health and human services in almost every US community — including disability services, respite, food, housing, and financial assistance.

Free year-round sports, recreation, and community for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, including autism, across Northern and Central California. Families can enroll an athlete, volunteer, or coach, with a Young Athletes program for younger children.

A leading university autism center offering free family support including monthly virtual parent support groups, a peer Family Navigator program, sibling groups, and Spanish-language Padres Para Padres meetings. Many programs are open to families statewide via Zoom.

This nonprofit provides trained, screened respite caregivers so parents of children with special needs in Contra Costa County can rest, run errands, or simply take a needed break. All providers are background-checked and CPR/First Aid certified.

RCEB is the state-funded nonprofit that coordinates lifelong services for children and adults with developmental disabilities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, including case management, respite funding, and social-recreation supports. If your child has or may have autism or another developmental disability, this is often the first door to open.

California's Department of Developmental Services walks families through what a limited conservatorship really means and the gentler alternatives, like power of attorney and supported decision-making, that may fit your adult child better. A calm, official first read when your teen is approaching adulthood.

The state's Vocational Rehabilitation program helps Californians with disabilities prepare for, find, and keep meaningful jobs through career counseling, training, job coaching, and assistive technology. If your young adult is ready to work, this is a free, no-cost starting point.

This nonprofit legal advocacy group offers plain-language guides to help you understand limited conservatorship, supported decision-making, and other less-restrictive options as your child turns 18. Their client rights advocates can also answer questions about your family member's rights.

This long-running nonprofit runs a pooled special needs trust that lets you set aside money for your child's future without risking their SSI or Medi-Cal eligibility. It's open to all disabilities and all ages, with no minimum asset requirement, so families without a large estate can still plan ahead.

This family-founded Martinez nonprofit has served local adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1965, offering supported employment, job coaching, adult day programs, and skill-building toward greater independence. It's a warm, established place to explore what daily life can look like after high school.