National, State & Local Resources

Trusted resources, support groups, and organizations

 

National Resources

Autism Society of America

Founded in 1965 (originally as the National Society for Autistic Children), the Autism Society is the oldest grassroots autism organization in the country. It operates through a nationwide network of affiliate chapters that provide local information, referral, and support, backed by a National Helpline and the Autism Source online provider directory. autism-society.org

Autism Speaks

Founded in 2005, Autism Speaks is one of the largest autism advocacy organizations in the U.S. It funds research, advocates for policies such as state insurance mandates for autism treatment, and offers more than 40 free toolkits — including the 100 Day Kit for newly diagnosed families — through its Autism Response Team helpline. autismspeaks.org

NPDC on Autism Spectrum Disorder

The National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder, based at UNC Chapel Hill, was originally funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs. It maintains the current list of 28 evidence-based practices for ASD (used throughout this document) and built the free AFIRM training modules educators and clinicians use to learn and implement them. autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu

CDC — Autism Spectrum Disorder

The CDC's ASD hub features prevalence data, early-sign checklists, and screening guidance. Its Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network is the only U.S. system tracking ASD rates and characteristics across multiple communities; its most recent surveillance (2022 data, released 2025) found about 1 in 31 8-year-olds identified with ASD. The CDC's "Learn the Signs. Act Early." program offers free milestone-tracking tools for families. cdc.gov

AANE — Autism, Asperger, & Neurodiversity

Founded in 1996 (originally the Asperger's Association of New England), AANE is now formally the Association for Autism and Neurodiversity. It supports autistic teens and adults, families, and professionals through one-to-one coaching (its LifeMAP program), support groups, and training, all grounded in a neurodiversity-affirming, disability-justice approach. aane.org

NIH — National Institute of Child Health & Human Development

The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), part of the NIH, funds and conducts research on the causes, early identification, and treatment of autism, including through its Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE) program. Its site links to autism-related clinical trials currently recruiting participants via ClinicalTrials.gov. nichd.nih.gov

 

California / Local Resources

California Dept. of Developmental Services

DDS administers California's Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, which gives eligible Californians — including those with autism — a lifelong entitlement to services, from birth through end of life. DDS contracts with 21 nonprofit Regional Centers statewide (including an Early Start program for children birth to age 3) that determine eligibility and coordinate individualized services and supports. dds.ca.gov

California Dept. of Education — Autism

CDE's Special Education Division hub provides IDEA compliance guidance, IEP-writing resources, and instructional tools for serving students with autism in California public schools. It partners with CAPTAIN (California Autism Professional Training and Information Network), a statewide, SELPA-hosted network that trains educators specifically in the evidence-based practices covered in this document. cde.ca.gov

Autism Community Training (ACT)

A California-based nonprofit offering free training, workshops, and informational resources for families and professionals supporting individuals with ASD, covering practical topics across the lifespan from diagnosis through transition planning. act-autismca.org

San Joaquin Regional Center (SJRC)

Note: the Regional Center serving San Joaquin, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, and Stanislaus counties is officially named the Valley Mountain Regional Center (VMRC).  Established in 1974 and based in Stockton, it is one of California's 21 Lanterman Act Regional Centers, offering free diagnostic assessment, Early Start services for infants and toddlers, and lifelong service coordination for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities in the Central Valley. sanjoaquinregionalcenter.org

UC Davis MIND Institute

Founded in 1998 by families of children with autism, the MIND Institute is an interdisciplinary research and clinical center on the UC Davis Medical Center campus in Sacramento. It is one of only a handful of U.S. centers holding all three major federal IDD designations (University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, LEND training program, and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center), and offers both clinical diagnostic services and research-participation opportunities for families. ucdavis.edu

Autism Independent — Northern California

Provides direct support services, skills training, and community inclusion programs for autistic teens and adults across Northern California. autism-ind.org