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 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
Bambi J. Lockman, Chief
Exceptional Education and Student Services
K-12 Public Schools
Department of Education
325 West Gaines Street, Suite 614
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400
(850) 245-0475
PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITES:
AGES 3 THROUGH 5
Marilyn Hibbard, Program Specialist
Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services
K-12 Public Schools
Department of Education
325 West Gaines Street, Suite 601
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400
(850) 245-0478
PROGRAMS FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS WITH DISABILITIES:
AGES BIRTH THROUGH 2
Janice M. Kane, Chief Early Steps Program
Children’s Medical Services
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A06
1317 Winewood Blvd., Building 6, Room 130
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1707
(850) 245-4200
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
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