SOCAL Therapies and resources shared by Autism Families
Adaptive Progams are rated according to the Autism Individual Needs by High Functioning Independent (HFI), Mild Support (MS), High Support Verbal (HSV), High Support Non-Verbal (HSNV)
(562) 895-5522 | CampNugget@csulb.edu
1250 Bellflower Blvd.,
Long Beach, CA 90815
Serving Ages: 5yrs to 12yrs
Accepts Pay: Private Pay
Setting: In-School (Campus)
Session Duration: Tues & Thurs, 4pm to 5pm
Parent Rate Review: HFI, MS, HSV, HSNV
The ASAPP program is offered to children ages 5 through 12 with disabilities and neurodiversity. Instruction is provided (2 or 1-1 child/staff ratio) by university students enrolled in the KIN Department studying to receive an Adapted Physical Education Added Authorization and Physical Education Single Subject Teaching Credential. Activities emphasized through individualized and group instruction include fundamental motor skills, health-related physical fitness, cooperative lead-up games, sports, relaxation activities, and social responsibility. Two, 10-week sessions are offered during the CSULB academic year (Fall and Spring) on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons for 1 hour. The cost is $200.00 for each 10-week program of 20 sessions, including a motor assessment and IEP. Some full and partial scholarships are available based on need. The website provides a program brochure.
(310) 350-1311 | Info@dreamcatcherla.com
1003 W. Carson Street,
Long Beach, CA 90810
Serving Ages: All Ages
Accepts Pay: Private Pay
Setting: Outdoors
Session Duration:
Parent Review: HFI, MS, HSV, HSNV
The mission of Dream Catcher of Los Angeles Therapeutic Riding Center's is to improve the lives of children, adults, and veterans with cognitive, physical, and emotional disabilities through the benefits of therapeutic horseback riding and other equine-assisted activities, while serving the therapeutic riding profession through training and education. Hippotherapy is a physical, occupational, speech or recreational therapist treatment strategy utilizing the movement of the equine and is part of an integrated treatment program. A trained licensed therapist works with students in a controlled environment. The therapist modifies the horse's movement and carefully gives sensory input. Specific riding skills are not taught during these sessions but rather a foundation is established to improve neurological and sensory processing. Support is given according to the individual needs of each rider. The preferred tack is a bareback pad which allows the rider to feel more warmth and movement from the horse. Scholarships may be available, please call for more information.
(714) 848-0966 | info@trchb.org
18381 Goldenwest Street,
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Serving Ages:
Accept Pay: Private Pay
Setting: Outdoors
Session Duration:
Parent Review: HFI, MS, HSV, HSNV
We strive to empower people with physical and developmental challenges to discover their greatest strengths and gain a sense of self-confidence and self-reliance through the special relationship with a horse. Therapeutic riding is one form of Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT). It is horseback riding combined with physical therapy.
The concept of utilizing horses for treatment can be traced back to the ancient Greeks. Later, in 17th century Europe, physicians utilized the horse to treat various neurological disorders. In the last century, when Liz Hartel won the silver medal in dressage in the 1952 Olympics in spite of having polio, medical and equestrian professionals all over the world began to take notice.
1 (818) 649-9336 | patrick@danimationentertainment.com
Serving Ages: *10yrs to 22yrs
Accepts Pay: Private Pay, Regional Center Funding, SDP
Setting: Online 1:1 or Group
Duration:
Parent Rate Review: HFI
DaniMation Entertainment specializes in providing animation industry talent development for artists on the autism spectrum and other disabilities while also delivering award-winning 2D animation for entertainment and industry. Our mission is two-fold, providing an autism positive learning environment supporting growth in technical and interpersonal skills while delivering exceptional 2D animation to our clients.
DaniMation offers remote animation classes available in both group and 1:1 settings. Our online classes are tailored to provide specialized teaching in 2D animation for everyone from beginners to advanced students. Whether an individual seeks a tailored learning journey or the camaraderie of a group environment among fellow aspiring animators, DaniMation has something to offer everyone.
info@jazzhandsforautism.org | Schedule Tour Here
10220 Culver Blvd, Ste 101,
Culver City, CA 90232
Serving Ages: 8yrs to 17yrs
Accepts Pay: Private Pay, Regional Center Funding
Setting: Online, In-Facility, In-home
Duration: 30mins, 45mins, 60mins, 12wks
Parent Rate Review: HFI, MS, HSV, HSNV
The Jazz Hands Junior Academy is a 12-week program that provides person centered training that helps aspiring musicians improve their social and musical skills. After getting to know you and your child, we will assist in scheduling weekly music lessons with a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) Trained Instructor.
We will periodically check in with you, your child, and the instructor to ensure we are supporting your musician's needs. Our Junior Academy allows for children (aged 8-17) to work individually with trained music instructors.
Our instructors design a personalized curriculum for each student based on their strengths and preferred style of learning. The continuous communication amongst instructors, students, and Jazz Hands staff ensures that students are receiving excellent music instruction throughout their time in the program.
To be considered for admission into the Jazz Hands Musicians Academy, you would have to meet our eligibility criteria:
Autism Spectrum Disorders diagnoses
Age 8 through 17
Interested in music
(714) 348-4248 | cm@mckeemusictherapy.com
1929 Main St Unit 103,
Irvine, CA 92614
Serving All Ages
Accepts Pay: Private Pay, Regional Center Funding, SDP
Setting: In-Facility, In-Home, In-School
Duration:
Parent Rate Review: HFI, MS, HSV, HSNV
McKee Music Therapy provides music therapy services to clients in all of Southern California and throughout the world via Telehealth.
We are regional center vendored and also have contracts with local school districts. We also offer music lessons for students of all ages.
Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed, board certified music therapist.
Music Therapy is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals.
For more information about music therapy, please contact the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) at: www.musictherapy.org
(949) 624-0164 | hello@ocmusicservices.com
3652 Michelson Dr.,
Irvine, CA 92612
Serving All Ages
Accepts Pay: Private Pay
Setting: In-Studio, In-Home, Online, 3rd Party Facilities
Duration:
Parent Rate Review:
Orange County Music Services offers quality music therapy and music lessons within various settings. We believe everyone can benefit from music regardless of varying needs or extra support they may need.
Our studio aims to cultivate a learning environment where growth is constant at each student’s individual needs. We thrive on a patient and supportive student-teacher dynamic so that learning is fun!
We teach guitar, piano, ukulele, and singing, providing both adapted and traditional lessons tailored to each individual’s abilities and goals.
(310) 401-0544 | info@aceingautism.org
2001 S. Barrington Ave. Suite 207,
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Serving Ages: 5yrs to 18yrs
Accept Pay: Private Pay
Setting: Different Locations
Duration: 1hr
Parent Rate Review: HFI, MS, HSV, HSNV
ACEing Autism is on a mission for children with autism to grow, develop and benefit from social connections and fitness through affordable tennis programming, uniquely serving individual needs while filling a national void for this growing and worthy population. Trained Program Directors and volunteers lead participants through our curriculum.
At the very heart, tennis is a social game that furnishes a natural opportunity to develop and reinforce skills that many children on the spectrum find a struggle: turn-taking, focus and attending, motor planning, fine and gross motor skills, and more. Our Program Directors meet athletes where they are at and progress through our curriculum at their own pace.
We offer weekly tennis clinics for children with autism between the ages of 5 and 18. Our clinics run for one hour, with sessions running for six to eight weeks at a time. Volunteers are paired up with a participant, hopefully for the duration of the session. The children in our program do not need prior tennis knowledge as our curriculum & volunteers support each child’s individual abilities and needs!
See Locations:
(714) 923-9488 | Serving.advantage@gmail.com
1100 W Town and Country Rd. 1250.,
Orange, CA 92868
Serving Ages: 8yrs to 17yrs
Accept Pay: Private Pay
Setting: Outdoors
Duration:
Parent Rate Review: HFI, MS, HSV, HSNV
Serving Advantage is a youth-led charitable organization that hosts year round adaptive tennis clinics and camps for children ages 8-17 with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD).
Serving Advantage focuses on providing tennis fundamentals, skills development, raising awareness, promoting accessibility and inclusion in sports, leadership development, community service, and social awareness among the youth.
Student athletes are able to engage in positive peer interactions, increase their socializing opportunities, and better understand social landscapes. Our system helps foster self esteem, teaches positive relationships, and promotes social skills needed for everyday life.
(714) 417-9553 |
24932 Veterans Way,
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
Serving Ages: 6yrs to 22yrs
Accepts Pay: Private Pay
Setting: Outdoors
Duration: 1hr, 1hr 30mins
Parent Rate Review: HFI, MS
Spirit League offers a year-round youth & adult sports program for athletes with developmental disabilities. Our youth program includes Basketball, Baseball, and Soccer for athletes ages 6-22.
Our baseball curriculum focuses on the three fundamental skills of throwing, fielding, and batting. From week one, athletes will be taught the correct position for throwing and fielding. As the season progresses, those skills will advance, including fielding ground balls (stationary and moving) and catching fly balls with proper glove positioning. Depending on the age division, teams will practice batting with a coach pitching, hit sticks, and tees. Proper hand positioning while batting, in addition to body stance, will be taught.
(562) 895-5522 | CampNugget@csulb.edu
1250 Bellflower Blvd.,
Long Beach, CA 90815
Serving Ages: 5yrs to 17yrs
Accepts Pay: Private Pay
Setting: In-School (Campus)
Duration: Mon thru Fri, 9am to 12pm
Parent Rate Review: HFI
Camp Nugget is a 4 week program is offered to children ages 5 through 17 with disabilities and neurodiversity. Instruction is provided (4:1 child/staff ratio) by university students enrolled in the KIN Department studying to receive an Adapted Physical Education Added Authorization and Physical Education Single Subject Teaching Credential. Camp activities include aquatics with swim instruction, fundamental motor skills, health-related physical fitness, dance, lead-up cooperative games, and adapted sports.
The 4-week program begins mid-June and continues mid- July. Camp Nugget is offered Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to noon and the cost is $600.00. Registration usually begins in March and is on a first-come basis. Camp Nugget usually fills to capacity by early April. Some full and partial scholarships are available based on need.
1 (818) 649-9336 | patrick@danimationentertainment.com
Los Angeles, CA (see website)
San Diego, CA (see website)
Serving Ages: *10yrs to 22yrs
Accepts Pay: Private Pay, Regional Center Funding, SDP
Setting: In-Facility (See Locations)
Duration: 4 days
Parent Rate Review: HFI
Danimation’s summer workshops empower youth and adults with disabilities through the art of animation.
This inclusive program teaches participants the fundamentals of animation, digital art, and filmmaking, enabling them to express their creativity and acquire essential technical skills.
Students engage in hands-on learning, where they explore storyboarding, character design, and voice acting, ultimately creating their own short animated projects. The workshops prioritize accessibility and foster a supportive environment for students to grow and gain confidence in their artistic abilities.
(562) 590-3100
100 Aquarium Way,
Long Beach, CA 90802
Serving All Ages
Accepts: *Free for Members & under 3yrs, Private Pay
Setting: In-Facility
Duration: See website
Parent Review: HFI, MS, HSV, HSNV
Join the Aquarium for a special morning exclusively for families with children or adults with autism. The entire Aquarium, except Lorikeet Forest, will open at 7:00 a.m. This will be a morning when guests can enjoy the tranquility of Aquarium exhibits and meet 12,000 animals from the world’s largest ocean. $12 per person. Members and children under 3 are free. Reservations required.
This event are curerntly hosted once a year.
(562) 590-3100
100 Aquarium Way,
Long Beach, CA 90802
Serving All Ages
Accepts: *Free for Members & under 3yrs, Private Pay
Setting: In-Facility
Duration: See website
Parent Review: HFI, MS, HSV, HSNV
Spend a special evening at the Aquarium of the Pacific exclusively for families with adults or children with autism.
These events are currently hosted twice annually.
Serving All Ages
Accepts: Private Pay
Setting: In-door Restaurant
Duration: See website
Parent Review: HFI, MS, HSV, HSNV
Our focus is hosting events for families living with Autism. Our events will always welcome: All Ages, All Abilities, All Behaviors. Always.
These events are usually hosted mostly monthly.
949-428-3900 | info@pretendcity.org
29 Hubble,
Irvine, CA 92618
Serving All Ages
Accept Pay: Free
Setting: In-Facility
Duration: 2hrs
Parent Review: HFI, MS, HSV, HSNV
Pretend City Children’s Museum is designed for children to learn how the world works while engaging their curiosities and imaginations. The Museum is a child-size interconnected city that balances rich educational learning experiences with boundless fun, and where children can try on real-world roles and let their creativity rule. Join us for a free evening where children and caretakers are invited to play in a sensory friendly neuro-affirming environment! We encourage the whole family to attend and therapists can join as well.
Neurodivergent Family Nights are held on the second Tuesday and fourth Thursday of each month from 5-7pm (after we close to general admission).
On these nights, we dim lights in the museum, turn off sounds, and offer a limited capacity of 250 guests. Staff are happy and ready to assist with providing various materials including noise-cancelling headphones, fidget toys, sunglasses and weighted materials for your convenience.
Check our calendar to see what community partners and/or organizations will be on site. RSVP is mandatory.
(714) 731-4668 | karateforall@cox.net
3002 Dow Ave., #114,
Tustin, CA 92780
Serving Ages: 3.5yrs to Adults
Accepts Pay: Private Pay, Regional Center Funding
Setting: In-Office
Duration: 30 mins
Parent Review: HFI, MS, HSV, HSNV
Karate For All is a unique martial arts program that combines the Art of Karate-Do with the knowledge of occupational therapy, developed for all children and teenagers. Our program was the Winner of the Innovation Award at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County and the Gala Awards. Video Tour here.
(562) 605-1421 | MixedMiracleArts@gmail.com
3960 N Studebaker Rd Suite 108
Long Beach, CA 90808
Serving Ages: 3yrs to Adults
Accepts: Private Pay, Regional Center Funding, SDP
Setting: In-Office
Duration: 30 mins
Parent Review: HFI, MS, HSV, HSNV
Self Defence for All Abilities. What we teach:
Focus & Discipline
Socialization Fun
Awareness
Independence
Strength Training
Self-Defense
Emotional Control
Confidence
All students start with a free 30 minute. Meet & Greet private tour. By appointment only.
(949) 559-9949 | kdenning@therinks.com
3150 Barranca Pkwy,
Irvine, CA 92606
Serving All Ages
Accepts Pay: Private Pay
Setting: In-Facility
Duration: 1hr 15mins
Parent Review: HFI, MS
The Top Flight Street Hockey League presented by Choc Children’s is an eight-week hockey program designed for participants with special needs. During the eight-week program, players will participate in weekly practices focusing on the fundamentals of hockey including shooting, passing, stick handling, and will also play in weekly games.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Weekly Check-In with coaching staff
Please arrive to week 1 at least 15 minutes early for a brief parent meeting
First 30 minutes of session - Practice
Second 30 minutes of session - Scrimmage Game.
CURENT LOCATION: IRR Top Flight League (Spring 2025)
(714) 377-6101 | rockymckinnon@mckinnonsurfboards.com
Huntington Beach, CA
Serving All Ages
Accepts: Private Pay
Setting: Huntington Beach
Duration: 1hr
Parent Rate Review: HFI, MS, HSV, HSNV
McKinnon Surf & SUP Lessons provides premium surf and stand-up paddle board lessons utilizing professional surfing and paddling experience with quality equipment to ensure success.
Adaptive Surfing (1 hour)
-Tandem w/ Safety Escort-$225
-Chair Board w/ Safety Team-$300
1 (888) 788-2140 | office@sunsationalswimschool.com
Multiple Locations
Serving All Ages
Accepts: Private Pay, Regional Center Funding, SDP
Setting: In-Home, In-Center (3rd Party)
Duration: 30 mins, 45 mins, 60 mins
Parent Rate Review: HFI, MS, HSV, HSNV
Experienced swim teacher for your baby, adult, beginner or special needs swim lessons.
(877) 966-SURF
30767 Gateway Place PMB #126
Rancho Mission Viejo, CA 92694
Serving Ages: All Ages
Accepts Pay: Free
Setting: Dana Point, San Diego
Duration: See website
Parent Review: HFI, MS, HSV, HSNV
Surfers Healing is the original surf camp for children with autism, and we've been serving the community since 1996. Yet what we offer isn't a 'cure', or even 'traditional' therapy. It's a completely different sensation and environment for our participants. We give individuals a chance to encounter the waves, to challenge themselves, to try something new. And since 1 in every 68 US children has an ASD (CDC report, March 2014), our work is more vital than ever.
