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Guidance for California families

Find the right evaluation for your child.

Learn what each kind of evaluation covers, who does it, and what it tends to cost, then look for qualified evaluators near you.

Find my starting point Browse evaluations Explore local data

Educational guidance, never a diagnosis.

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If you want to read first

Guides for each part of the process.

Find your starting point

You don't need to know the clinical term.

Start with what you're noticing. We'll show the free public program for your child's age, the evaluation that fits, and providers near you.

Where do I start?

Four questions. You'll see the free public program for your area, the evaluation that fits, and nearby providers. We don't save your answers.

1 How old is your child?
2 What are you noticing most?
3 Your ZIP codeUsed to find your county. If your child is 3 or older, the next page asks for a street address, because a ZIP code is not a school district.
4 What kind of evaluation?
  1. 1. What you're noticing

    Share your concerns in everyday language.

  2. 2. Understand your options

    Learn what common evaluations look at and what they can help clarify.

  3. 3. Find the right provider

    Look for qualified professionals near you.

Evaluation guidance for California families

Evaluations, explained clearly.

What each evaluation looks at, who performs it, what it may cost, and how to prepare.

Compare evaluation types
4 evaluation types

Autism evaluation

A close look at social communication, behavior, development, and everyday functioning.

Often 2–4 appointments

ADHD evaluation

An assessment of attention, impulse control, activity level, executive function, and how symptoms affect daily life.

Usually 2–4 appointments

Neuropsychological evaluation

A broad assessment of thinking, learning, memory, attention, language, and emotional functioning.

Often 6–12 testing hours

Psychoeducational evaluation

An evaluation focused on how a child learns and why academic progress may be difficult.

Often 4–8 testing hours
Where the directory starts

Starting with the Bay Area.

We're adding Bay Area evaluation providers a few at a time. Before a profile goes live we confirm the organization, its location, and the evaluation services it publishes. Anything we haven't confirmed yet, like ages served, is labeled that way.

San FranciscoOaklandBerkeleySan JosePalo AltoWalnut CreekMarinPeninsula
Browse city guides
From public records

The numbers behind the questions.

Autism figures come from several public sources, including CDC surveillance, every state's school counts, and California's schools and regional centers. Each one is labeled with who counted, when, and what it can't tell you.

Explore your area

School counts, regional center figures, and population estimates for Bay Area counties.

Find your starting point U.S. autism statistics California autism statistics
CDC surveillance · ADDM32.2 per 1,000

8-year-olds identified with autism across CDC-monitored communities (2022)

Public schools · CDE205,789

California students whose primary special education category is autism (2025-26)

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Our commitment to families

Clinical nuance. Editorial independence.

Our guides are written in plain language. Every number on our data pages names its source and year, and we say what it can't tell you.

  • Reviewers named only when confirmed

    A clinician's name goes on a guide only after we've checked their credentials and their review.

  • No pay-to-rank providers

    Placement is never for sale, and payment never changes what we recommend.

  • Clear educational boundaries

    We explain options and process. We never offer medical advice or a diagnosis.

Read our editorial policy
One clear next step

It's okay not to know where to begin.

Pick what you're noticing, and we'll show you which evaluations are commonly considered.

Find my starting point