Autism Resources in San Diego, California

San Diego sits at the center of one of California's strongest autism-services regions — and California itself works differently from most states. Under the Lanterman Act, Californians with autism are legally entitled to lifelong services through a Regional Center, not placed on a Medicaid-waiver waitlist. For San Diego and Imperial counties, that entry point is the San Diego Regional Center. The region also holds a rare academic-clinical asset in Rady Children's Autism Discovery Institute. This guide walks through what's available to San Diego families: diagnosis, therapy, schools, community and sensory-friendly activities, and how California's funding programs actually work.