Last verified 2026-05-17. The DDS Autism Resource Hub is active. Source page was last modified 2026-04-01. [Source: dds.ca.gov/initiatives/autism (accessed 2026-05-17)]
What this is
California's one-stop website for autism information, services, and support. It's run by the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) — the state agency in charge of services for people with autism and other developmental disabilities. Free to use. You do not have to be a DDS client to use it.
Who it's for: autistic people of any age, parents and family members, caregivers, teachers, doctors, and other providers in California.
Three phone lines worth saving
- Autism Helpline — 833-815-2337 (Mon–Fri business hours, not 24/7). Free. Staff answer questions about autism, diagnosis, and how to find services. Email: autism@dds.ca.gov. [Source: dds.ca.gov/toolkits/autism-helpline (accessed 2026-05-17)]
- Early Start BabyLine — 800-515-2229. Free referrals to Early Start for babies and toddlers under 3 with developmental delays or disabilities. Email: earlystart@dds.ca.gov.
- General DDS Info — 833-421-0061. For questions about regional centers and DDS services in general. Email: info@dds.ca.gov.
- 988 — for anyone in mental-health crisis (call, text, or chat). Not autism-specific, but the Hub points to it.
What you can do here
The Hub is organized into seven sections. Start with the one that matches your situation:
1. If you're new to autism
Go to Autism Resources. Plain-language overviews from the CDC, NIH, MedlinePlus, and California's UC research centers (UC Davis MIND Institute, UCLA Tarjan, UCSD, USC). Most pages are also in Spanish.
Useful first stops:
- CDC: signs, symptoms, and what to do next — cdc.gov/autism
- UC Davis MIND Institute CEDD — research-backed family resources and virtual support groups
2. If you're an autistic adult or teen
Go to Resources for Individuals. Covers:
- Self-advocacy & self-direction — California State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD), Self-Determination Program (SDP) through your regional center
- Jobs — California Dept. of Rehabilitation (DOR), Campaign for Disability Employment, the federal ODEP Autism program
- College — UCR Autism Goes to College, Think College's national college search
- Mental health (free) — Soluna app (ages 13–25), CalHOPE Connect warmline, RedLine (for Urban Indian and Tribal individuals)
- Money & saving — CalABLE lets you save for disability-related expenses without losing SSI/Medi-Cal eligibility (calable.ca.gov)
3. If you're a parent or caregiver
Go to Child and Family Resources. The big practical tools:
- CDC Learn the Signs. Act Early — free milestone checklists and a tracker app, in 11 languages
- Help is in Your Hands — free video lessons for parents of young autistic kids (English and Spanish)
- ADEPT — UC Davis self-paced parent training in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese
- Family Resource Center Network of California (FRCNC) — find your local FRC for peer support and help navigating services: frcnca.org/get-connected
- Family Empowerment Centers (FEC) — help families of kids ages 3–22 navigate special education
- BrightLife Kids — free mental-health support app for parents and kids 0–12 (CalHOPE program)
- First 5 California — services for kids 0–5
4. If you need mental-health help
Go to Mental Health and Wellness. All free:
- BrightLife Kids (ages 0–12 + caregivers) and Soluna (ages 13–25) — free apps with live coaching
- CalHOPE Connect warmline — multiple languages
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — call, text, or chat
- Cal-MAP — helps pediatricians get kids fast access to mental-health care, especially in rural areas
5. If you're a teacher, therapist, or other provider
Go to For Professionals. Free training modules:
- AFIRM (UNC) — evidence-based practices for ages 0–22
- ASD Toddler Initiative — for working with kids 0–3
- Autism Internet Modules (AIM) — self-paced
- UC Davis ECHO Autism — free interdisciplinary training
- CAPTAIN — California-specific resources in English, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese
- Safe Spaces Training — recognizing trauma in kids 0–18 (English and Spanish)
To request a free training from the DDS Autism Services Branch directly, email autism@dds.ca.gov.
6. Other useful state services
Go to Useful Resources for links to Medi-Cal (California's Medicaid — health coverage for low-income people and people with disabilities), Medi-Cal Dental, WIC (food and nutrition for pregnant people and kids under 5), the Dept. of Aging, the Dept. of Rehabilitation, and ADA civil-rights info.
7. Data and official reports
Go to Data and Transparency for the DDS Annual Report to the Legislature on Autism, CDC prevalence data, and Drexel's National Autism Indicator Reports.
How to actually get DDS services (the part the Hub points you toward)
Autism is one of the conditions that qualifies for lifelong services under California's Lanterman Act. Services are delivered through 21 regional centers statewide. To start:
- Under age 3? Call the Early Start BabyLine: 800-515-2229. No diagnosis needed — a developmental delay is enough.
- Age 3 or older? Find your regional center at dds.ca.gov/rc and call to ask for an intake. Services are at no cost to the family. [Source: dds.ca.gov/general/eligibility (accessed 2026-05-17)]
- Not sure where to start? Call the Autism Helpline: 833-815-2337. They will point you to the right next step.
- Stuck or denied? Your local Family Resource Center (frcnca.org) and Family Empowerment Center can help you appeal or navigate the system, free.
Spanish and other languages
Most of the resources linked from the Hub have Spanish versions. ADEPT, CAPTAIN, and the CDC milestone materials also cover Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Tagalog. The Autism Helpline can connect you with interpreters.
Common pitfalls
- The Autism Helpline is not a crisis line. For a mental-health emergency, call or text 988.
- Don't wait for a formal diagnosis to call Early Start. If your child under 3 has any developmental delay, you can be referred. Early intervention works better the earlier it starts.
- Regional center services are free, but the intake process can take weeks. Start the call now even if you're not sure you qualify.
- CalABLE accounts protect disability savings from counting against SSI/Medi-Cal — but only if you open one. They're not automatic.
Source
DDS Autism Resource Hub: https://www.dds.ca.gov/initiatives/autism/ [accessed 2026-05-17; page last modified 2026-04-01]