Florida Resources
Listed in alphabetical order
APD – AGENCY for PERSONS with DISABILITES
The APD works in partnership with local communities and private providers to assist people who have developmental disabilities and their families. APD also provides assistance in identifying the needs of people with developmental disabilities for services.
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To apply for services and more information about the MEDICAID WAIVER
click HERE
State Office
Agency for Persons with Disabilities
4030 Esplanade Way, Suite 380
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0950
Phone: (850) 488-4257
Toll-Free: 1-866-APD-CARES (1-866-273-2273)
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET
Fax: (850) 922-6456
Email: APD.info@apdcares.org
CDC+ Program Toll-Free Customer Service:
1-866-761-7043
CDC+ Program Toll-Free Fax: 1-888-329-2731
Florida Relay Service:
Individuals who make calls using the Florida Relay Service should dial 7-1-1, or use the appropriate
toll free numbers:
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1-800-955-8771 (TTY)
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1-800-955-8770 (Voice)
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1-800-955-1339 (ASCII)
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1-877-955-8260 (VCO-Direct)
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1-877-955-5334 (STS)
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1-877-955-8773 (Spanish)
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1-877-955-8707 (French Cr)
THE ARC
The Arc is the largest national community-based organization advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Supports and services offered by their chapters include:
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Information and referral services
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Individual advocacy to address education, employment, health care and other concerns
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Self-advocacy initiatives
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Residential support
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Family support
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Employment programs
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Leisure and recreational programs
To contact a local chapter in your area and find out what supports and services are offered near you click HERE
The Arc of Florida, Inc.
2898 Mahan Drive, Suite 1
Tallahassee, Florida 32308
1.800.226.1155
CARD – CENTER FOR AUTISM & RELATED DISABILITIES
There are seven state-funded, university-based outreach and support centers in Florida dedicated to optimizing the potential of people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), dual sensory impairment, sensory impairments with other disabling conditions, and related disabilities.
Some of the services that CARD provides include:
• Individualized Client and Family Support
• Family and Professional Training
• Public Education and Awareness and Community Outreach
• Programmatic Consultation and Technical Assistance
CONTACT: Find your CARD center HERE
CHILDREN’S MEDICAL SERVICES FLORIDA’S EARLY STEPS PROGRAM
Early Steps is Florida’s early intervention system that offers services to eligible infants and toddlers (birth to thirty-six months) with significant delays or a condition likely to result in a developmental delay. Early Intervention is provided to support families and caregivers in developing the competence and confidence to help their child learn and develop.
CONTACT: HERE
For more information or to make a referral to Early Steps, please call (800) 218-0001.
DISABILITY RIGHTS FLORIDA
Disability Rights Florida was founded in 1977
as the statewide designated protection and advocacy system for individuals with disabilities in the State of Florida. Disability Rights Florida is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation that has authority and responsibility under nine federal grants. Their services are free and confidential.
MORE INFO AND CONTACT: HERE
Phone Numbers
800-342-0823 Toll Free
850-488-9071
850-488-8640 Fax
Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD)
800-346-4127
Disability Rights Florida
2473 Care Drive, Suite 200
Tallahassee, Florida 32308
Online
Visit our Requesting Assistance page to use an online form to request information, assistance, publications, and other services.
EDUCATION
FLORIDA DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION (VR)
This program helps people with disabilities find and maintain employment and enhance their independence. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is a federal-state program. In addition to the general customer employment program, VR has additional specific programs designed to help eligible people with disabilities become employed.
CONTACT: HERE
Programs: HERE
FLORIDA INCLUSION NETWORK (FIN)
FIN collaborates with all districts and schools to provide customized services and supports ensuring all students with disabilities have the same educational, social, and future opportunities as their peers.
CONTACT: HERE
MCKAY SCHOLARSHIP
Florida's school choice programs allow parents to choose the best educational setting—public or private—for their child. The McKay Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities provided over 31,000 Florida students with special needs the opportunity to attend a participating private school during the 2018-19 school year. The McKay Scholarship Program also offers parents public school choice. A parent of an eligible special needs student may choose to transfer the student to another public school.
WEBSITE: HERE
CONTACT: HERE
1-800-447-1636
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The leaders in facilitating public private partnerships to provide assistive technology devices and services that will enable persons with disabilities full participation in all aspects of life. AT is any item, piece of equipment, software, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the function of individuals with disabilities.
CONTACT: HERE
1-844-353-2278 - New number due to Covid-19
FAMILY NETWORK ON DISABILITIES (FND)
The mission of FND is to strive for the complete integration and equality of persons with disabilities in a society without barriers and to serve families of children with disabilities, ages birth through 26, who have the full range of disabilities described in section 602(3) of IDEA. FND is a parent organization as defined in section 671(a)(2) of IDEA 2004.
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CONTACT: HERE
FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF CENTERS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING (FACIL)
FACIL is a capacity building advocacy organization that provides support and resource development for 15 Centers for Independent Living (CILs) throughout Florida. CILS are 501(c)(3), community-based, non-profit agencies that empower persons with disabilities to move from dependence to independence.
FIND YOUR LOCAL CIL: HERE
Main #(850) 575-6004
(866) 575-6004 toll-free
THE FLORIDA CHILDREN’S COUNCIL
The Florida Children’s Services Council is a non-profit association which collectively represents the interests of local Children’s Services Councils (CSC) operating in counties across the state.
Children’s Services Councils help families by:
Ensuring the best use of taxpayer dollars and working to serve the greatest number of children
Determining the specific needs of children, youth and families
Coordinating with other agencies, public/private funders and stakeholders
dedicated to the welfare of children
Website: HERE
850-577-3199
FDLRS - FLORIDA DIAGNOSTIC & LEARNING RESOURCES SYSTEM
FDLRS provides diagnostic, instructional, and technology support services to district exceptional education programs and families of students with disabilities. Service centers include 19 centers that directly serve school districts in the areas of Child Find, Parent Services, Human Resource Development (HRD), and Technology. In addition, the FDLRS Network also includes 6 Multidisciplinary Centers who focus on in-depth evaluations and several statewide projects offering specialized services.
Website: HERE
Find your center: HERE
FLORIDA ABILITIES WORK and EMPLOY FLORIDA
Florida Abilities Work and Employ Florida
Assisting employers and job seekers with disabilities in navigating the disability support system as seamlessly as possible.
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The “Abilities Work” Help Desk is here to assist employers and job seekers with disabilities in navigating the disability support system as seamlessly as possible and to link employers to a qualified workforce. For assistance, please call the Abilities Work Help Desk toll-free at (844) 245-3405 or email AbilitiesWorkHD@vr.fldoe.org.
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WEBSITE: HERE
GARDINER SCHOLARSHIP
The Gardiner Scholarship Program provides eligible students a scholarship that can be used to purchase approved services or products in order to design a customized educational program for the student. Scholarships can be used for specialized services such as speech or occupational therapy, instructional materials, tuition at an eligible private school, contributions to a college prepaid account and more. The program is directly administered by state-approved nonprofit scholarship funding organizations.
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The Scholarship Funding Organizations (SFO) listed below are approved to administer the Gardiner Scholarship Program. Contact the SFO for instructions and deadlines for applying for a scholarship.
A.A.A. Scholarship Foundation
Phone: 888-707-2465
ihttps://www.aaascholarships.org/parents/florida/
Step Up for Students
Phone: 877-735-7837
https://www.stepupforstudents.org/for-parents/special-needs/how-the-scholarship-works/
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues.
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WEBSITE: HERE
Funding for the Medicaid program, including the Medicaid waiver is appropriated by the Florida Legislature. The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) operates the Developmental Disabilities Individual Budgeting (iBudget) Waiver. Their office can provide additional information. You can find the phone number of your local APD office by visiting: http://www.apd.myflorida.com/customers/application or reach them by phone: (866) 273-2273
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LINK: HERE
When we hear about autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we often think about small children and the challenges they will need to face throughout their lives, but most often than not we forget that these children will grow up and turn into young adults and then seniors. This link to Caring for Seniors provides a wealth of knowledge regarding Senior Care.
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WEBSITE: HERE
WRIGHTS LAW
Parents, educators, advocates, and attorneys refer to Wrightslaw for accurate, reliable information about special education law, education law, and advocacy for children with disabilities.
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This website is packed full of info: HERE