Florida Autism Resources

Each state sets eligibility ages for services to children and youth with disabilities. For current information concerning this state, please contact the office listed under STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: Special Education Services.

In addition there are web resources for the state of Florida. See Florida Web Resources 

There local state resources that can help you with Autism. Here are the links to more information:

• State Department of Education Special Education Services.
• State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency.
• Developmental Disabilities Planning Council.
• Developmental Services
• Disability Organizations
• Programs for Childrent ages 3 through 5.
• State Vocational Special Needs Programs
• Disability Advocacy  Program
• University Affiliated Programs
• Early Intervention System.
• Department of Mental Healthfor children and youth.
• Client Assistance Program.
• Technology Related Assistance.
• Parents Training and
• Information Project.
• Department of Mental Health
• Programs for Children with Special Health Care
• Needs.
• Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)

 

 

STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: SPECIAL EDUCATION

Shan Goff, Chief 
Bureau of Instructional Support & Community Services 
Division of Public Schools & Community Education 
Department of Education 
325 West Gaines Street, Suite 614 
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400 
(850) 488-1570 
 

PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITES: 
AGES 3 THROUGH 5

Carole West, Program Specialist 
Office of Early Intervention & School Readiness 
Division of Public Schools & Community Education 
Department of Education 
325 West Gaines Street, Suite 325 
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400 
(850) 488-6830 
 

PROGRAMS FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS WITH DISABILITIES: 
AGES BIRTH THROUGH 2

Fran Wilber, Early Intervention Director 
Children's Medical Services 
Department of Health 
1317 Winewood Blvd., Building 6, Room 130 
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0700 
(850) 487-2690 
E-mail: Fran_Wilber@doh.state.fl.us 
 

STATE DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION

Tamara Bibb Allen, Director 
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation 
Department of Labor & Employment Security 
2002 Old St. Augustine Road, Building A 
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0696 
(850) 488-6210 
 

OFFICE OF STATE COORDINATOR OF VOCATIONAL 
EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Janet Adams, Program Specialist 
Division of Workforce Development 
Department of Education, Turlington Building 
325 W Gaines Street, Suite 714 
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400 
(850) 487-3164 
E-mail: adamsj@mail.doe.state.fl.us 
URL: http://www.firn.edu/doe 
 

STATE MENTAL HEALTH AGENCY

John Bryant, Assistant Secretary 
Mental Health Programs Office 
Department of Children & Families 
1317 Winewood Blvd. 
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0700 
(850) 488-8304 
 

STATE MENTAL HEALTH REPRESENTATIVE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

David Fairbanks, Chief 
Children's Mental Health Program 
Mental Health Programs Office 
1317 Winewood Blvd. 
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0700 
(850) 487-2920 
 

STATE DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES

Charles Kimber, Assistant Secretary 
Department of Children and Families 
Developmental Services Program Office 
1317 Winewood Blvd., Bldg. 3, Rm. 325 
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0700 
(850) 488-4257 
E-mail: Charles_Kimber@dcf.state.fl.us 
 

STATE DEVELOPMENTAL 
DISABILITIES PLANNING COUNCIL

Joseph Krieger, Director 
Florida DD Council 
124 Marriott Drive, Suite 203 
Tallahassee, FL 32301-2981 
(850) 488-4180 
 

PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY AGENCY

Marcia Beach, Executive Director 
Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities 
2671 Executive Center Circle West, Suite 100 
Tallahassee, FL 32301-5029 
(850) 488-9071; (800) 346-4127 (TTY) 
(800) 342-0823; (800) 350-4566 (Spanish & Creole Speaking Clients) 
 

CLIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Ann Robinson, CAP Program Director 
Contact Protection and Advocacy Agency 
(see above) 
 

PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS

Eric Handler 
Children's Medical Services Programs 
Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services 
1309 Winewood Blvd., Bldg. 6, Room 130 
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0700 
(850) 487-2690 

STATE AGENCY FOR VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS

Susan Cartwright Babcock, Children & Family Program Specialist 
Division of Blind Services 
Department of Labor & Employment Security 
2551 Executive Center Circle West, Suite 200 
Tallahassee, FL 32399 
(850) 488-1330 

PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING

Cecil Bradley, State Coordinator 
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services Program 
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation 
2002 Old St. Augustine Road, Building A 
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0696 
(850) 488-2867 (V/TTY) 

STATE EDUCATION AGENCY RURAL REPRESENTATIVE

David Ashburn, Deputy Director 
Instructional Programs 
Division of Public Schools & Community Education 
Department of Education 
Florida Education Center, Room 514 
Tallahassee, FL 32399 
(850) 488-2601 

TECHNOLOGY-RELATED ASSISTANCE

Terry Ward, Director 
Florida Alliance for Assistive Service and Technology 
1020 E. Lafayette Street, Suite 110 
Tallahassee, FL 32301-4546 
(850) 487-3278 

REGIONAL ADA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AGENCY

Southeast Disability & Business Technical Assistance Center 
(SEDBTAC), Region 4 
1776 Peachtree Road, Suite 208 N 
Atlanta, GA 30309-2351 
(404) 888-0022 (V/TTY) 
E-mail: sedbtac@ucpa.org 
URL: http://www.sedbtac.org 
 

DISABILITY ORGANIZATIONS

Attention Deficit Disorder 
To identify an ADD group in your state or locality, contact either: 

Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders (CH.A.D.D.) 
499 NW 70th Avenue, Suite 101 
Plantation, FL 33317 
(954) 587-3700 
(800) 233-4050 (Voice mail to request information packet) 
URL: http://www.chadd.org 

Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) 
P.O. Box 972 
Mentor, OH 44061 
(216) 350-9595 
(800) 487-2282 (Voice mail to request information packet) 
E-mail: NATLADDA@aol.com 
URL: http://www.add.org 

Autism 
Jerry Bulloch, President 
Autism Society of Florida, Inc. 
P.O. Box 1037 
Monticello, FL 32345 
(850) 997-7233 

Brain Injury 
Brain Injury Association of Florida (BIAF) 
North Broward Medical Center 
201 East Sample Road 
Pompano Beach, FL 33064 
(954) 786-2400; (800) 992-3442 (in FL) 

Cerebral Palsy 
Carol J. DeJarnette, Director of Operations 
United Cerebral Palsy of Florida 
2475 Apalachee Parkway, Suite 205 
Tallahassee, FL 32301-4946 
(850) 878-2141 

Epilepsy 
Susan Ladd 
Epilepsy Services Program 
FL Department of Health, HSFHG 
1317 Winewood Boulevard 
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0700 
(850) 488-2901 
E-mail: Susan_Ladd@doh.state.fl.us 
URL: http://www.state.fl.us/health 

Learning Disabilities 
Learning Disabilities Association of Florida (LDAF) 
331 East Henry Street 
Punta Gorda, FL 33950 
(941) 637-8957 
E-mail: lda00@sunline.net 

Mental Health 
FL Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI Florida) 
1020 E. Lafayette, Suite 102 
Tallahassee, FL 32301 
(850) 671-4445 
E-mail: fami@unr.net 

Mental Retardation 
Chris Schuh 
Association for Retarded Citizens/FL 
411 East College Avenue 
Tallahassee, FL 32301 
(850) 921-0460 

Speech and Hearing 
FL Language, Speech & Hearing Association 
335 Beard Street 
Tallahassee, FL 32301 
(850) 222-6000 

Spina Bifida 
Spina Bifida Coalition of FL, Inc. 
P. O. Box 510522 
Melbourne Beach, FL 32951 
(904) 390-3686; (800) 722-6355 (in FL only) 

OTHER DISABILITY ORGANIZATIONS

Sue Ventura , President 
Easter Seals Florida, Inc. 
2010 Mizell Ave.
Winter Park, FL 32792
407-629-7881
Email: sventura@fl.easterseals.com

Terry R. Farmer 
Florida Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, Inc. 
2475 Apalachee Parkway, Suite 205 
Tallahassee, FL 32301-4946 
(850) 877-4816 
E-mail: terry.farmer@iarf.org 
 

UNIVERSITY AFFILIATED PROGRAM

Mary Theresa Urbano, Acting Director 
Mailman Center for Child Development 
University of Miami School of Medicine 
P.O. Box 016820 - D-820 
Miami, FL 33101 
 

PARENT TRAINING AND INFORMATION PROJECTS

Jan LaBelle, Executive Dirctor 
Family Network on Disabilities of Florida, Inc. 
2735 Whitney Road 
Clearwater, FL 33760 
(813) 523-1130; (800) 825-5736 
E-mail: fnd@gate.net 
URL: http://www.gate.net/~fnd 
 

PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA)

Cathy Henson, President 
Florida Congress of Parents and Teachers, Inc. 
1747 Orlando Central Parkway 
Orlando, FL 32809-5757 
(407) 855-7604 

Florida Autism Web Resources

Civil Liberties and Human Right  ACLU of Florida  Disability Information  ARC   ARC of Charlotte County  CCAR Services  Center for Aquatic Heritage, Inc.  Center for Independent Living of North Florida, Inc.  FAAST  Family Network on Disabilities of Florida  Goodwill Industries - Manasota, Inc.  Martin County ARC  Respect of Florida  Children and Youth  Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Miami\Big Brothers/Big Sisters of North Central Florida  Boy Souts of America - Miccosukee District  Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation  Children's Home Society of Florida  Exchange Club C.A.S.T.L.E.  Girl Scouts in Indian River County  Guardian Ad Litem-Palm Beach County  Infants In Need  Miccosukee District Boy Scouts of America  Safe Harbor Boys Home

Peace and Conflict Resolution   Neighborhood Justice Center, Tallahassee  Health   Seminole Community Mental Health Center, Inc.  Angel Flight of Florida  Body Positive Resource Center  CH.A.D.D. of Bay County, FL.  Florida Spinal Cord Injury  Gainesville March of Dimes  Gilda's Club of South Florida  Health Foundation of South Florida  Hospice of North Central Florida  March of Dimes  Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Inc.  United Ostomy Association-Tallahassee    Job Training and Workplace  Naples SCORE  Pride of Florida    Family and Parenting   Family Counseling Services of Greater Miami  Lifelink  Parents Without Partners, Inc.