Autism resources in
Sacramento 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.

This is the state-funded regional center and the main starting point in Sacramento County for free evaluations and early intervention services for babies and toddlers birth to 3 who may have a developmental delay or disability. Call the intake line and they'll walk you through eligibility and next steps.

Run by the Sacramento County Office of Education, this long-standing program provides free developmental support and services at home and in the community for eligible children birth to 3 with delays. It's a warm, family-centered way to get your little one help early.

A nationally respected university clinic in Sacramento offering comprehensive, evidence-based autism and developmental evaluations for children from birth through 18. Their team of developmental-behavioral pediatricians and psychologists will help you understand a diagnosis and plan next steps.

A Sacramento nonprofit founded and staffed by parents of children with disabilities, offering free information, referrals, and one-on-one support as you navigate early intervention and a new diagnosis. As an Early Start Resource Center they can help you find the right services and feel less alone.

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.

The Sacramento County SELPA oversees special education programs across the county's school districts and offers parents free resources, a Community Advisory Committee, and Alternative Dispute Resolution to help resolve IEP disagreements. It's a good first stop for understanding how special education works locally.

WarmLine is Sacramento's parent-staffed Family Empowerment Center, where families of children with disabilities ages 3-22 get free help understanding IEPs, 504 plans, assessments, and their special education rights. Support is available in English and Spanish, by appointment.

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.

This is the local nonprofit that serves as Sacramento County's gateway to state-funded autism services, including ABA, speech, and occupational therapy. Their case managers assess your child, determine eligibility, and help arrange and pay for the treatment they need.

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.

IHSS is a Medi-Cal program that pays for in-home care so children and adults with disabilities can stay safely at home. It can cover personal care, meal prep, and protective supervision, and in many cases a parent can be paid as the care provider.

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.

FEAT is a long-standing Sacramento-area nonprofit run by parents and professionals that hosts monthly family resource meetings, parent-to-parent mentoring, and several family social events each year. It's a warm place to connect with other autism families and learn from experts.

SASSNA is a Sacramento nonprofit that supports autistic and neurodiverse youth and their families through case management, advocacy, recreational events, and material assistance. They focus on kids and young people ages 0 to 22 across the greater Sacramento region.

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 state page explains what adult day programs offer, from building employment and self-advocacy skills to community integration, and is a helpful starting point as your child ages out of school services. Their information line can point you toward day-program options through your regional center.

DDSO is a long-established Sacramento nonprofit that gives adults with disabilities real days full of purpose, from job training and paid employment support to arts, life-skills classes, and community activities. Their programs are designed for adults 22 and older who are ready to move beyond school into meaningful adult life.