This Autism Society California directory lists the six local affiliates of the national Autism Society that serve families in our state, as of November 2026. They cover Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties and six San Francisco Bay Area counties. Each is an independent nonprofit offering support close to home.
Quick answer
Autism Society California affiliates: California has six local Autism Society affiliates: Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Inland Empire, Ventura County and the San Francisco Bay Area. Each serves its own counties with information, parent and adult support groups, events and advocacy. If no affiliate covers your county, call the Autism Society of California at 1-800-869-7069.
Last checked: November 10, 2026, against the national Autism Society directory and each affiliate’s own website. Details change; confirm with the affiliate before you visit.
Which Autism Society California affiliate serves your county?
Find your county in the table, then contact that affiliate directly. The list matches the California entries in the national Autism Society local support directory, read on November 10, 2026. All six were active in 2026, with events, programs or updates on their own sites. Most of the state, including the Central Valley, Sacramento and the far north, has no Autism Society affiliate right now.
| Affiliate | Area served | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Autism Society of Los Angeles | Los Angeles County | Autism Society of Los Angeles website |
| Autism Society Orange County | Orange County | Autism Society Orange County website |
| Autism Society San Diego | San Diego County | Autism Society San Diego website |
| Autism Society Inland Empire | Riverside and San Bernardino counties | Autism Society Inland Empire website |
| Autism Society Ventura County | Ventura County | Autism Society Ventura County website |
| Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area | Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties | Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area website |
What does a local Autism Society affiliate do?
A local affiliate is the nearest door into the autism community. The national Autism Society says its affiliates serve autistic people and families across the lifespan in five core areas: information and referral, support, education, advocacy and community programs. Each affiliate chooses its own programs based on what its community needs, so no two look the same.
- Information and referral: help finding your regional center, school contacts, therapists and benefits.
- Support groups: for parents, partners and autistic adults, in person or on Zoom.
- Education: workshops, speaker nights and conferences.
- Community events: sensory-friendly outings, walks, camps and social groups.
- Advocacy: updates on California budget and policy changes that affect regional centers and schools.
Affiliates don’t diagnose autism or fund services. Our guide to autism services in California explains how those systems fit together.
The six California affiliates at a glance
We list only organizational contacts shown on each affiliate’s own site or in the national directory.
Autism Society of Los Angeles
The Los Angeles affiliate works to improve life for everyone affected by autism in Los Angeles County. It runs a Warm Line at (424) 299-1531 for questions about a diagnosis and finding services, and holds monthly talks with guest speakers. Email info@autismla.org. Office: 21250 Hawthorne Blvd, Suite 500, Torrance.
Autism Society Orange County
Autism Society Orange County, formerly the Orange County Asperger’s Support Group, says on its site that it is an affiliate of the Autism Society of America. It offers support groups, social activities and educational meetings, plus a support group for partners and a Toastmasters Gavel Club for adults. Call (949) 506-2274 or email info@autismsocietyoc.org.
Autism Society San Diego
Autism Society San Diego serves families throughout San Diego County. Its Autism Ask Line, 858-715-0678, is answered by trained peer support staff who have personal experience with autism. The affiliate also offers camps, dance parties and guides in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Arabic and Farsi. Email info@autismsocietysandiego.org.
Autism Society Inland Empire
Based in Corona, Autism Society Inland Empire serves Riverside and San Bernardino counties. It hosts family events such as an annual autism walk and resource fair. The national directory lists (951) 220-6922 and info@ieautism.org.
Autism Society Ventura County
Founded in 1994, Autism Society Ventura County runs more than 20 social, recreational, support and information programs across the county. Its Camarillo office at 1200 Paseo Camarillo, Suite 165, is open Monday to Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Call 805-496-1632 or email info@autismventura.org.
Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area
The Bay Area affiliate serves six counties and states that it is an affiliate of the Autism Society of America. It holds a yearly conference and keeps a resource library and webinars online. Call 1-888-56-SFASA (1-888-567-3272) or use the resource request form on its contact page.
How does the Autism Society of California relate to the affiliates?
The Autism Society of California (ASC) is a statewide, all-volunteer 501(c)(3) and an affiliate of the national Autism Society. Each local affiliate is a separate nonprofit with its own board, budget and programs. ASC doesn’t run or fund them, and they don’t report to ASC.
ASC focuses on statewide work: information for families anywhere in California, the California Autism Survey, the Finnigan scholarship for autistic students and advocacy on state issues. Local affiliates are usually the first stop for in-person help, because they know the regional center, schools and providers in their area.
| You need | Local affiliate | Autism Society of California |
|---|---|---|
| A parent group or social event near you | Yes, start here | Can point you to one |
| Help in a county with no affiliate | Not covered | Yes, call 1-800-869-7069 |
| Local provider and school tips | Yes | General information |
| Statewide survey, scholarship, state policy | Sometimes | Yes |
No affiliate in your county? Where to find local help
If you live outside the areas above, you still have local options. Most California counties have a regional center and an Early Start Family Resource Center, and many have parent-run support groups. Start with these:
- Call the Autism Society of California information line at 1-800-869-7069 or email caautisminfo@gmail.com.
- Ask your regional center about family resource centers and parent groups in your county.
- Use our list of free autism helplines in California to find who answers which question.
- Browse autism parent support groups in California by county, including online groups.
If your child was just diagnosed, our plan for newly diagnosed autism in California lists the calls to make in the first 30 days. A local affiliate fits naturally into week 4, when you look for support for yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an Autism Society chapter near me in California?
California has six Autism Society affiliates: Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Inland Empire, Ventura County and the San Francisco Bay Area. Together they cover 12 counties. If yours isn’t one of them, call the Autism Society of California at 1-800-869-7069 for help finding local groups.
Is there an Autism Society in Orange County?
Yes. Autism Society Orange County, formerly the Orange County Asperger’s Support Group, serves Orange County. It runs support groups, social activities, educational meetings and adult programs. You can reach it at (949) 506-2274 or info@autismsocietyoc.org, and its mailing address is in Irvine.
Do I have to be a member to get help from an affiliate?
Information and many events are open to everyone. Several affiliates, including San Diego, Ventura County and the San Francisco Bay Area, also offer paid memberships with extra benefits.
Can autistic adults use an affiliate, or is it only for parents?
Adults are welcome. Affiliates serve people across the lifespan. Orange County, for example, runs a Toastmasters Gavel Club for autistic adults, and several affiliates hold adult social groups.
What happened to the Santa Barbara and Tuolumne County listings?
Our older page listed ASC contacts in Santa Barbara and Tuolumne County. In November 2026 we could not confirm that either was still active, so we removed them. Families in those counties can call the ASC line at 1-800-869-7069.
Next step
Find your county in the table and call or email that affiliate this week; ask about the next parent or adult group. No affiliate nearby? Call the Autism Society of California information line at 1-800-869-7069, check the autism helpline California families can call for free, or contact the Autism Society of California. For the whole system, from diagnosis to regional centers, see our family guide to autism services in California.