Autism Resources in Sacramento, California

Sacramento sits at the center of California's autism-services landscape — and California is different from most states in one fundamental way. Under the Lanterman Act, Californians with a qualifying developmental disability, including autism, are legally entitled to services through a Regional Center — a right, not a waitlisted waiver. For Sacramento families, that entry point is the Alta California Regional Center (ACRC). The region is also home to the UC Davis MIND Institute, one of the world's leading autism research and diagnostic centers. This guide walks through what's available: diagnosis, therapy, schools, community and sensory-friendly activities, and how California's funding — Regional Centers, the SB 946 insurance mandate, and Medi-Cal — fits together.