Regional Centers
The regional centers are the first stop for most parents and caretakers looking to get help for their loved ones with autism. They are privately run organizations that manage funds set aside for disability services under California’s Lanterman Act.
Bay Area
Outside of the Bay Area
There are 21 regional centers in California.
We have listed the seven in or near the Bay Area.
For more regional centers, visit the full list at the DDS website.
Dispute Resolution for Regional Center Clients
Disability Rights California
Provides free legal information, advice and representation to regional center clients.
Navigating Autism Services
Navigating the service systems related to autism can be a confusing and overwhelming process. This presentation explains what the main service systems are and how to access them, including: insurance, school districts, and regional centers. Come learn about services in the community as well as what Children’s Health Council and Stanford provide.
General Resources
AASCEND
AASCEND (Autism, Aspergers Spectrum Coalition for Education, Networking and Development) is focused on the needs of adults on the spectrum. AASCEND hosts monthly general meetings, special events, and community-building special events…
San Andreas Regional Center
Serving Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito counties. From the About Us page: Who We Are San Andreas Regional Center is a community-based, private nonprofit corporation funded by…
Golden Gate Regional Center
Serving Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties. GGRC serves residents of Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo counties who fall into any of the following three categories: Is an…
Regional Center of the East Bay
Serving Alameda and Contra Costa counties. At the Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB), we envision a future where people with developmental disabilities are truly a part of their…
North Bay Regional Center
Serving Sonoma, Solano, and Napa counties. North Bay Regional Center provides advocacy, services, support, and care coordination to children and adults diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families…
Disability Rights California OCRA
The Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy (OCRA) is part of Disability Rights California. OCRA provides free legal information, advice, and representation to regional center clients. OCRA serves clients of all 21…
Parents Helping Parents
Parents Helping Parents supports parents and families of children with many forms of disability with trainings, seminars, resources, a library, classes, mentoring, and groups. PHP supports, educates, and inspires families…
Stanford Autism Center
Provides behavioral consultation, treatment, and counseling for children with autism and other developmental disorders. Stanford also offers half-day conferences educating parents about ASD as well as a monthly parent support…
Early Support Program for Autism (ESPA)
A joint program between Stanford Children’s Health and Children’s Health Council to provide supportive services at no cost to families after diagnosis. Services include parent education, health care guidance, and…
UCSF STAR Center for ASD & NDDs
Offers state-of-the-art, evidence-based, comprehensive assessment, treatment, and support for people with ASD, developmental delays, learning disabilities, and intellectual disabilities. The STAR Center also provides parent support and helps them to…
Please note this is a partial list of resources and does not purport to include all organizations serving people with autism. Inclusion of any organization does not imply endorsement, and omission does not imply disapproval. Organizations are listed at the discretion of Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area. The information is gathered primarily from public sources and is not guaranteed to be accurate. To suggest additions, please email [email protected].