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
Orlando Early Childhood — Summer/Fall 2020 5
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).
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), Down
Syndrome Foundation, Autism Speaks, and
MyChoicesinEdFL.org.
Special Needs Ministries
Churches often welcome all people, including
those with disabilities, into church life and
ministry. It’s a great place to get connected
in your community and to receive support.
Churches also often host respite programs like
Nathaniel’s Hope Buddy Break. Buddy Break
is a FREE Parents’ Day Out/respite program
where kids with all types of special needs have
fun while their parents get a break.
nathanielshope.org/our-programs/buddybreak
Support Groups
Connect with the many local support groups
that best suit your particular needs including
SNAP (Special Needs Ability Programs)
specialneedsabilityprogram.org, Family
Care Council fccflorida.org, ASGO (Autism
Society of Greater Orlando), Autism and
Related Disabilities Gym, Putting the Pieces
Together, NAMI, Central Florida DADs,
Central Florida Brain Injury Group, Down
Syndrome Foundation, Epilepsy Association
of Central Florida, Hydrocephalus Association,
Lake County Support Group with
Kandi Alexander, Lift Disability, Special
Needs Parent Support of Seminole County
and the Spina Bifida Association of Central
Florida.
The Family Café
The Family Café exists to provide individuals
with disabilities and their families with
an opportunity for collaboration, advocacy,
friendship, and empowerment by serving as
a facilitator of communication, a space for
dialogue, and a source of information.
familycafe.net
/apd.myflorida.com
/cms-kids.com
/uporlando.org
/apply-for-grant)
/MyChoicesinEdFL.org
/specialneedsabilityprogram.org
/fccflorida.org
/familycafe.net