Exceptional Student Education Contacts

Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD/UF) PO Box 100234 Gainesville, FL 32610-0234 (800) 754-5891 or (352) 846-2761 FAX: (352) 846-0941 card@ufbi.ufl.edu http://neurosci90.health.ufl.edu/card.html	CARD is a state-funded organization that provides support to family members and professionals working with individuals of all ages with autism, pervasive developmental disorders, autistic-like disabilities, dual sensory impairments, or sensory impairments with other disabling conditions. CARD gives training workshops, maintains a resource library and conducts school, agency and home consultations. CARD services are free of charge.
Florida Outreach Project (FOP) PO Box 100234 Gainesville, FL 32610 (800) 667-4052 or (352) 846-2757 FAX: (352) 846-0941 (352) 846-2759 (TTY) erdman@ufbi.ufl.edu http://neurosci90.health.ufl.edu/fop/fop.html	FOP provides free services to individuals with deaf-blindness, their families, schools, service providers, and communities. any individual age birth to 22 who is both deaf and visually impaired is eligible for FOP services. Services include training workshops, a resource library, and school, agency and home consultations.
Developmental Evaluation and Intervention Program (DEI) 1701 SW 16 Avenue, Bldg. A Gainesville, FL 32608 (800) 334-1447 or (352) 334-1480 FAX: (352) 334-1359	DEI is an early intervention program serving infants and toddlers (birth to three) who have developmental delay. DEI uses a family-centered approach to plan for the needs of the child. They will help with diagnosis and evaluation as well as coordinate services and therapies. All services are free of charge.
Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) 1621 NE Waldo Road PO Box 390 I/O 18 Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 955-5793	APD is a program funded by state and federal money that provides support to people with development disabilities from ages three through adulthood. In order to be eligible for APD, you must have one of the following five diagnosis before the age of 18: mental Retardation, Autism, Prader Willie, Cerebral palsy, or Spina Bidfida. Services include case management, respite, therapies, and providing adaptive equipment, among others. APD administers the Medicaid waiver. Services to eligible clients are free (See Family Care Counsel under Parent Support Groups).
Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources Systems (FDLRS or Fiddlers) Spring Associate Center 3881 NW 155 Street Reddick, FL 32686 (800) 533-0326 or (352) 591-4300 FAX: (352) 591-4304	FDLRS is a program of the Florida Department of Education. They provide services to school districts, agencies, communities, and families and other persons working with students with disabilities. They are responsible for funding, tracking, evaluating, and connecting services for children from birth to 21 years of age. They do intake and screening to qualify children for special education services, including assistive technology. They also conduct parent and teacher training workshops. All of their services are free.
Children's Medical Services (CMS) 1701 SW 16 Avenue Gainesville, FL 32610 (352) 334-1400 FAX: (352) 334-1476	CMS Network is a health plan for children under the age of 19 with special health care needs, such as medical services, therapies, supplies, or equipment. Children with a diagnosis of developmental delay eligible for services, but those with a diagnosis of autism are not. CMS considers autism a behavioral disorder, not a medical one. In order to be eligible, the child with autism must have an associated medical problem (like seizure disorder). In addition to medical care, CMS offers nurse case managers who coordinate care and help with related family issues. Cost is determined by the family's income.
Advocacy Center 2671 Executive Center, Circle West, Ste 100 Tallahassee, FL 32301-5092 (800) 342-0823 FAX: (850) 488-8640	The Center seeks to ensure the human and legal rights of people with disabilities through the provision of information and advocacy. Services include information and referral, complaint investigation, legal consultation, mediation, negotiation and representation.
Isaiah Foundation Suzanne Gross PO Box 14582 Gainesville, FL 32604 (352) 371-1768	The Isaiah Foundation provides respite to families who have members with disabilities. Respite care providers are trained lay persons, nurses, and teachers that come into the home in order to give parents a break from the physical and emotional drain of caring for their child with special needs.
Social Security 2002 NW 13 Street Gainesville, FL 32601 (800) 772-1213 or (352) 375-4178 www.ssa.gov	Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are benefits paid to disabled children under the age of 18 who come from homes with limited income resources. At 18, the parents' income will no longer be used to determine the child's eligibility. Call or visit your local office to apply.
Exceptional Student Education (ESE) 620 E. University Avenue Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 955-7671 FAX: (352) 955-7129	Children with disabilities between ages three and 21 are entitled to receive educational services beginning with prekindergarten classes. Transition services are available for students 16 and older to help prepare them to move from school to adult life. The school is legally bound to include parents in all decisions about a child's education. Parents are urged to participated in writing the child's individualized education plan (IEP).
Florida Inclusion Network (FIN) Libby Willis 4567 St. John's Bluff Rd. S., Bldg. 9, Rm. 1130 Jacksonville, FL 32224-2645 (904) 620-1385 FAX: (904) 620-1615 http://www.fau.edu/fin/	The mission of FIN is to provide technical assistance and support to schools and districts who include students with disabilities in regular classrooms. Services are free of charge and include onsite technical assistance, training, information dissemination, linkages with demonstration sites, and financial support.
Center for Independent Living (CIL) 222 SW 36th Terrace Gainesville, FL 32607 352) 378-7474 www.cil.ncf.org	Independent Living Centers provide a board range of assistance to individuals with disabilities in order to help them achieve greater independence in either their family or community situations. They primarily serve adolescents and adults. They offer training in independent living skills, transition services, and legal advocacy.
Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC) 3303 NW 83 Street Gainesville, FL 32606 (354) 334-4060 http://www.arcalachua.org/	ARC advocates for persons with developmental disabilities. They provide direct service including adult day programs, community based employment, and early intervention. They also manage group homes and offer supported living services.
United Way 6031 NW 1 Place Gainesville, FL 3607-2025 (352) 332-4626 http://www.unitedwayalachua.org/uwiar	The United Way connects people in need to community resources. They offer up to date information on agencies and programs designed to address specific problems. When calling be prepared to describe your situation and see what your community has to offer.

Asperger/High Functioning Autism Support Group Robbin Anderson @ CARD: (352) 846-3700	Parents meet monthly to share experiences. Call for information on when and where meetings are held.
Family Network on Disabilities (FND) Richard La Belle 1-800-825-5736 http://www.fndfl.org/
Family Care Counsel (FCC) Pat Beach (352) 376-2648	FCC is an advisory board made up of parents and consumers that oversees the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD). Parents can call for information and are welcome to attend FCC meetings. The FCC reports directly to the governor's office. Parents are urged to report complaints concerning the APD to the FCC.
Autism Society for Florida (ASF) Susan Morantes, Secretary PO Box 26683 Weston, FL 33326 (954) 349-2820	Autism Society of America (ASA) 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Ste. 300 Bethesda, MD 20814-3015 (800) 3Autism, ext. 150 FAX: (301) 657-0869 http://www.autism-society.org
Florida Network on Deaf-Blindness (FNDB) Melinda Morrison (352) 846-3474 FAX: (352) 846-0941 e-mail: morrison@ufbi.uf1.edu	National Family Association for Deaf-Blind (NFADB Region 4A) (800) 255-0411 http://www.nfadb.org