San Diego Resources
If you have concerns about your child’s development, the San Diego area offers many public and private services to assist you.
Evaluations and Services for Children Under 3 Years of Age:
• Evaluation Services California Early Start serves is a state-funded agency that provides assessment and services for children under 3 years with developmental delays. In the San Diego area, call San Diego Regional Center at 858-496-4318.
Evaluations and Services for Children Over 3 Years of Age:
• San Diego Regional Center is a state-funded agency that provides assessment and services for children who meet their criteria for Autistic Disorder. Some children with behavioral difficulties who do not meet full criteria for Autistic Disorder may also sometimes qualify for services. Call 858-576-2996 or visit their website at www.sdrc.org.
• Your local school district will also provide evaluations for your child. If you child is eligible, your school district will provide services such as Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Behavioral Programming. Call your local school district.
Services through Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego:
- Developmental Screenings are available at Children’s Childcare Connection (C3) free of charge. C3 also provides educational and enhancement classes for parents and children. Go to www.howkidsdevelop.com or call 858-966-8391.
- Private evaluations are available at the Developmental Evaluation Clinic. This group of psychologists can evaluate and diagnose a range of developmental disabilities and other disorders, and they accept most insurance. Call them at 858-966-5817.
- Rady Children’s Hospital also conducts evaluations of speech and language, neurology, motor skills, and hearing. Call their main number at 858-966-1700.
The Exceptional Family Resource Center is a community-based collaborative agency that offers support, resources information, and referrals. Services and supports are offered in Spanish and English. They also have a lending library with books, videos, etc. at their center in the Kearny Mesa Area. Call 619-594-7416 or visit their website at www.efrconline.org.
Other Private Services in the San Diego Area
There are a number of licensed clinical psychologists in the San Diego Area who have expertise in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Many are listed on the website for the San Diego Chapter of the Autism Society of America at www.sd-autism.org.
- The Autism Spectrum Disorder Resource Guide – A Guide for Parents (Third Edition) is a very detailed collection of resources, information on therapies, and other information including can be downloaded from the San Diego Chapter of the Autism Society of America’s website or Children’s Autism Intervention Center’s website.
- The UCSD Autism Laboratory is a research center headed by Dr. Laura Schreibman that focuses on behavioral treatment of autism. In fact, Dr. Schreibman was the co-creator of the Pivotal Response approach. If you have a child with an autism spectrum disorder and are interested in participating in treatment research, please call their lab at 858-534-6144.
- Valerie’s List is an email listserve for parents and professionals with an interest in autism spectrum disorders. It contains the latest local and national news as well as local events pertaining to autism. If you are interested in being receiving this newsletter to your email address, email ValeriesList@aol.com and ask to be placed on the list.
- The San Diego Chapter of the Autism Society of America provides information and resources.
- The Autism Research Institute was founded by Dr. Bernard Rimland, a psychologist who was sometimes known as the father of autism research and was a father of a son with autism. ARI provides educational and research information through publications for parents through their center in the Kensington area of San Diego.
- Amazon.com has a number of, as well as informational and supportive books for parents of children on the spectrum. Go to Amazon.com and put “autism” in the search box.