By Melanie Slone
Neurodivergent people, including those with autism, are guaranteed the legal right to receive lifelong services and supports under California’s Lanterman Act, so they can live as independently as possible. San Diego Regional Center (SDRC) coordinates these services.
Behavioral health focuses on habits, actions, and emotions that affect a person’s overall well-being and physical health. Neurodivergence such as autism is included under this definition, leading to a boom in the need for services as autism diagnoses continue to grow.
Services are managed through a network of 21 nonprofit Regional Centers contracted by the state’s Department of Developmental Services (DDS); they determine who is eligible for assistance, create an Individual Program Plan (IPP) that outlines the goals and services of the individual, and coordinate funding and services such as therapy, independent living skills, day programs, and respite care.
Local Assistance for You and Your Family
On July 1, 2026, San Diego County created a separate agency for Behavioral Health Services (BHS), which will no longer fall under the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA). Individuals needing services will now have more funds earmarked for supportive housing and community-based treatment settings.
In our county, the San Diego Regional Center (SDRC) coordinates services with a list of providers, empowering neurodivergent persons and their families to achieve their goals so they can live productive and satisfying lives as valued members of their communities.
To qualify, an individual must have a lifelong developmental disability that began before age 18 and that constitutes a “substantial disability,” including autism, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and conditions related to intellectual disabilities.
SDRC Services
Miguel Larios, Director of Community Services, SDRC, explains that SDRC helps individuals with a formal diagnosis of a “developmental disability” by coordinating services. “We identify a partner, a community resource, or a service to help you reach your goals and outcomes in life,” he says.
SDRC provides support for children from zero to three years old who are not yet in the school system. “We can pay for speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy for those zero to three,” he explains.
Because the school districts cover eligible individuals, SDRC takes over again once they are out of school, coordinating lifelong service providers for day services, day programs, employment support, independent living skills, and home training. “We meet with our families a minimum of once a year,” he says, “but if you are living independently, we meet with you every three months to review progress on your IPP.”
The most common type of neurodivergence in 2026 is autism, for which the intervention method is called Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). SDRC also works with individuals with other types.
SDRC contracts with a long list of mental or behavioral health partners. To make SDRC’s list, a provider must meet certain qualifications and have a good program design and curriculum, says Larios. “We go out there and review their facility, interview their staff, the individuals, to make sure they’re happy with their supports.”
Requirements
An individual must be approved and classified under one of the qualifying conditions. “If you have a child that has a developmental delay or disability, you can call us, and we’re able to do an assessment or determine eligibility,” says Larios.
You must have an address in San Diego County. SDRC does not check an individual’s legal status; they only make sure you live in the county. Information is available in several languages, including English and Spanish.
SDRC can diagnose children under 3 with autism, before a pediatrician may do so, and can fund services until the family’s insurance is approved.
Community Outreach
SDRC has been reaching out to the unhoused population and to non-English-speaking communities. It has partnerships with several medical providers, including local clinics and hospitals, as well as the school districts and courts.
If you get a formal diagnosis of neurodivergence, “it’s not the end of the world,” says Larios. “We have a lot of individuals who have successful lives, jobs, with supports that we provide or that the community provides.”
The San Diego Regional Center (SDRC)
Intake department · Admisión: 858-576-2996
Behavioral Health Programs in the North County with SDRC
| Provider / Proveedor | Phone / Teléono | City / Ciudad | Website / Sitio Web |
| Acorns to Oak Trees | 858-361-9544 | Pala | https://www.acorns2oak.com/ |
| AIM Behavior Services | 619-356-0358 | Oceanside | https://www.aimbehaviorservices.com/ |
| ARC-SD North County | 619-685-1175 | San Marcos | https://www.arc-sd.com/ |
| AVID BDP | 858-442-6840 | San Marcos | https://avidbdp.com/ |
| AVID BDP | 760-691-9622 | Vista/Escondido | https://avidbdp.com/ |
| Beacons, Inc. | 619-972-0634 | Carlsbad | https://www.beaconsnorthcounty.com/ |
| Behavior Outreach & Consulting | 760-283-7372 | Carlsbad | https://behavioroutreachconsulting.com/ |
| Believing in Change | 760-659-6574 | Vista | https://bicvista.com/ |
| Canaan Cares | 949-424-8809 | Solana Beach | https://canaancares.org/contact-us/ |
| CARD | 469-694-1754 | San Marcos | https://centerforautism.com/locations/california/san-marcos-california/ |
| Care Rite Vocational Services | 760-728-6951 | Fallbrook | https://careritevoc.com/ |
| Clearwater Wellness and Development | 530-717-3200 | Bonsall | |
| Community Interface Services | 760-729-3866 | Vista | https://www.communityinterfaceservices.org/ |
| Creating a Legacy | 760-601-7307 | San Marcos | https://www.cali4all.com/ |
| D’Vine Path | 949-233-6515 | Fallbrook | https://www.dvinepath.org/ |
| Easter Seals North County | 619-409-9400 | Escondido | https://socal.easterseals.com/ |
| Excelencia Behavioral Therapy | 760-214-5522 | Valley Center | |
| Escondido ADS | 760-877-8079 | Escondido | https://www.adsadvocateteam.org/ |
| Explorer Development Center | 858-381-7721 | Carlsbad | https://www.explorerdevelopmentcenter.com/ |
| Great Paces, LLC | 760-724-1801 | Vista | https://carelistings.com/assisted-living-homes/vista-ca/great-paces/5acd01bda71d8c15cf685c76 |
| Harmony in Motion | 619-400-9574 | Fallbrook | https://harmonyinmotion.us/ |
| In Stepps | 949-474-1493 | Vista | https://www.instepps.com/ |
| Ivey Ranch Park Association | 760-722-4839 | Oceanside | https://iveyranch.com/ |
| Kinderready Behavior Solutions | 414-520-8141 | Encinitas | https://www.kinderready.org/contact |
| LBJ Vita Inc. | 858-206-3000 | Escondido | https://100d76d.netsolhost.com/ |
| Limitless Horizons Inc. | 619-417-2155 | Carlsbad | https://www.limitlesshorizonsca.com/ |
| LOL Life of Liberty | 760-585-5522 | Oceanside | https://lollife.org/contact-us/ |
| Mountain Shadows | 760-743-3714 | San Marcos | https://mtnshadows.org/ |
| New Beginnings | 858-442-6840 | Fallbrook | https://www.newbeginningsfallbrook.com/ |
| Open Arms Vocational Services | 503-459-3130 | Carlsbad | https://openarmsvocational.com/ |
| OPP Unlimited ADC | 858-254-4620 | Escondido | https://barawid.com/dayprogram/ |
| Project Chela | 619-683-4495 | Vista | https://www.projectchela.org/ |
| Perfect Fit Day Program | 760-566-4791 | Escondido | https://perfectfitdayprogram.com/contact-us/ |
| Reach Therapy | 626-390-3759 | Carlsbad | https://www.goreachtherapy.com/ |
| Roads Day Program | 760-681-3148 | Solana Beach | https://bgcgreatertogether.org/programs/roads/ |
| Solroot Behavioral Services | 203-687-9811 | Encinitas | https://solrootbehavioralservices.com/ |
| Star Support Solutions | 760-468-6898 | Vista | https://www.stardsinc.org/ |
| Stepping Stone Resources | 760-685-3970 | Fallbrook | https://steppingstoneresources.org/ |
| TERI Campus of Life | 760-721-1706 | San Marcos | https://www.tericampusoflife.org/ |
| The Remarkable Agency Inc. | 760-271-9776 | Carlsbad | https://www.theremarkableagencyinc.com/ |
| TLC Vocational Services | 760-497-2571 | Carlsbad | https://www.tlcvocationalservices.com/ |
