This page gathers autism and disability resources for families in Los Angeles County, California. You'll find 19 local resources listed here, alongside California statewide programs and nationwide services, all verified and in one place. For children under three, California's starting point is your local Regional Center (Early Start, for children under three); for school-age children, special education and IEPs run through your local school district. Confirm details directly with each provider.
Diagnosis & Early Intervention
Getting an evaluation and accessing early services.
Free CDC milestone checklists and a Milestone Tracker app help you follow your child's development from 2 months to 5 years, so you know what to watch for and when to act. A gentle first step when you're unsure whether to seek an evaluation.
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.
This hospital-based clinic offers comprehensive autism assessments, second opinions, and developmental-behavioral evaluations from expert specialists. You can start by calling their warm line, where a nurse care manager listens to your concerns and helps schedule an appointment.
Serving Central Los Angeles, Hollywood, Glendale, Burbank, and surrounding areas, Lanterman provides free eligibility assessments, autism diagnosis, and coordination of early intervention and lifelong services for children and adults with developmental disabilities.
If you have a worry about how your baby or young child is growing, talking, or playing, Help Me Grow LA connects you to free developmental screenings and helps you get early intervention services and other support across the county. Trained Family Partners walk with you every step and can help in your language.
Regional centers are your entry point for a free diagnostic evaluation and ongoing services if your child has a developmental disability such as autism. NLACRC serves families across the San Fernando and Santa Clarita/Antelope Valleys, including Early Start for children under 3.
The CAN Clinic provides comprehensive, gold-standard diagnostic evaluations for children, teens, and adults with autism, developmental delays, and related genetic conditions. It is part of UCLA's nationally recognized Center for Autism Research and Treatment.
School & IEP Rights
IEPs, 504 plans, special education, and school advocacy.
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.
A national nonprofit protecting the rights of students with disabilities. Use their member directory to find a special-education attorney or trained advocate near you when you need help with an IEP or a dispute with a school.
Every state has a federally mandated Protection & Advocacy agency that offers free legal help when a school isn't following your child's IEP or evaluating them as required. This directory connects you to the office serving your area.
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 1978, this Los Angeles nonprofit has helped Latino and other families of children with disabilities navigate the special education system and connect to Regional Center and community services. They offer workshops, home-based parent training, and a Community Parent Resource Center with support in Spanish and Chinese.
This Los Angeles nonprofit provides free legal representation, advice, and advocacy to families whose children have been denied equal access to public education because of a disability. They serve students ages 3–22 and offer a no-cost intake consultation to help you build an action plan.
TASK is the federally funded Parent Training and Information Center and state-designated Family Empowerment Center for Los Angeles County, offering free help understanding IEPs, assessments, and your child's special education rights. Their trained advocates provide one-on-one guidance and workshops in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Therapy & Treatment
ABA, speech, OT, and finding the right providers.
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.
Los Angeles County's own directory of autism and developmental-disability supports, pointing families to the seven local regional centers, crisis lines, and trusted organizations in one place. A helpful county-level map when you're first getting oriented.
Financial Assistance & Benefits
Medicaid waivers, SSI, ABLE accounts, and legal aid.
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.
CalABLE is California's official tax-advantaged savings account that lets your family save up to $100,000 for disability-related expenses without risking SSI or Medi-Cal eligibility. Anyone can contribute, and the account is free to open online.
Regional Centers are your no-cost gateway to autism and developmental-disability services in LA County, from assessments and case management to funding for respite and in-home support. Use this state lookup to find the one that serves your neighborhood and get connected to a service coordinator.
OCRA gives free legal help to Regional Center clients and families who are denied services, benefits, or supports, and can represent you in meetings and hearings. It's a good first call if a service or benefit has been reduced or turned down.
This Medi-Cal home- and community-based services waiver helps your child get supports at home instead of in an institution, and it counts only the child's income, not the parents'. You apply through your local Regional Center, which coordinates the services in your child's plan.
Support Groups & Community
Find your people, in person and online.
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.
A local nonprofit chapter serving L.A. County families affected by autism, offering a free Warm Line you can call with questions about a new diagnosis, services, or navigating the system. They also host community education and connection events throughout the county.
A grassroots L.A. nonprofit supporting families of children with autism and developmental disabilities, with free parent mentoring, respite, and weekend recreation programs like JPAC Fundays. Programs are free and often include childcare, meals, and transportation.
Adult Transition & Long-Term Planning
Aging out of school, adult services, and long-term planning.
A neurodivergent employment agency offering job support nationwide over Zoom: resume building, mock interviews, and career guidance, plus direct outreach to employers to help secure placements. Supports neurodivergent individuals roughly ages 16 to 50, and has been in business over 15 years.
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.
The state's vocational rehabilitation agency helps adults with autism prepare for, find, and keep meaningful jobs through counseling, job training, supported employment, and student transition services. It's a key partner for the working years, and services are free to eligible individuals.
Founded by LA autism parents, Jay Nolan helps adults with autism live in their own homes and hold real jobs through supported living, independent living, and employment services across Los Angeles County. They specialize in individualized, community-based support rather than group homes.
Regional centers are your lifelong hub for adult services, coordinating supported employment, day programs, independent living help, and transition planning as your child ages out of school. Seven serve LA County, and once eligible, services continue into adulthood at no cost to your family.
Eastern LA Regional Center: (626) 299-4700Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center: (213) 383-1300Harbor Regional Center: (310) 543-0100North LA County Regional Center: (818) 778-1900South Central LA Regional Center: (213) 744-7000San Gabriel/Pomona Regional Center: (909) 620-7722Westside Regional Center: (310) 258-4000
PathPoint provides adult day programs, supported employment, job placement, and independent living skills for people with developmental disabilities across LA County, including Project SEARCH transition training. A steady option as your child moves from school into adult life.
A note on these listings. This directory is informational and not an
endorsement. Programs, phone numbers, and eligibility change, so always confirm details
directly with the provider before relying on them. Nothing here is medical or legal advice.
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