APD - APD Cares
The Agency for Persons with Disabilities
(APD) supports persons with developmental
disabilities in living, learning, and working in
their communities. APD works in partnership
with local communities and private providers
to assist people who have developmental disabilities
and their families. Register with APD
as soon as possible! It can take years to get
services but you’ll be glad you did not delay.
apd.myflorida.com
Children’s Medical Services (CMS)
CMS implements a collection of programs
for eligible children with special needs. Each
one of their programs and services are familycentered
and designed to help children with a
variety of conditions and needs. Families and
caregivers can also receive support to develop
the skills and confidence they need to help
their children learn and develop.
cms-kids.com
Crisis Care
In moments of urgent need the following
resources may offer support: 211 Help Me
Grow, Abuse Hotline, ACCESS Florida
Food Stamps, Catholic Charities of Orlando,
Coalition for the Homeless, Children’s Home
Society, Christian Sharing Center, Shepherds
Hope and UP Center Orlando (emergency
food service and more uporlando.org).
Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and
Technology (FAAST)
Serves Floridians with disabilities by providing
free access to information, referral services,
educational programs, and publications in
accessible formats on topics such as disability
rights, laws, and policies. They also provide
assistive technology (AT) device loans as well
as funding opportunities for AT. faast.org
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
FDDC was established to help plan individual
and family-centered supports for persons
with disabilities in Florida. The Council also
guides the development and administration
of services for people with developmental disabilities
by planning and funding research, innovations,
and programs designed to improve
the quality of their lives.
fddc.org
Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources
System (FDLRS)
A statewide organization providing
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 Multi-disciplinary
Centers who focus on in-depth evaluations
and several statewide projects offering specialized
services. fdlrs.org
Florida Inclusion Network
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.
floridainclusionnetwork.com
Grants and Funding Sources
For those times when you need financial
assistance to meet the needs for your child,
consider these sources: Autism Care Today
(act-today.org/apply-for-grant), Autism
Speaks, and Step Up for Students.
6 www.BrightFeats.com
/apd.myflorida.com
/cms-kids.com
/uporlando.org
/faast.org
/fddc.org
/fdlrs.org
/floridainclusionnetwork.com
/apply-for-grant)
/www.BrightFeats.com