Florida does help. It just never explains how.
There are real programmes here — early intervention, Medicaid, a scholarship, your school district — and every one of them is written in language nobody understands. Below: what we have written for families, and then each programme, in plain words, with its official link.
Written by us, for the questions that come first.
Eight explainers. None of them asks you for anything.
- What is autism?The diagnosis, the language around it, and what the label does and does not tell you.
- Early signs, by ageWhat to watch for, and why a concern is enough to ask for a screening.
- Early interventionWhy the first years matter and what is available before a diagnosis exists.
- What is ABA therapy?What the therapy is, what a session looks like, and what the evidence says.
- The insurance guideAuthorisations, deductibles, and what "covered" actually means on a plan.
- The Florida Medicaid guideHow ABA works under Medicaid, step by step, with the documents involved.
- School and the IEPWhat a district owes your child, and how that differs from therapy.
- Community resourcesSupport, respite and local organisations beyond the state programmes.
Some of these overlap with pages written for a specific reader: the family walkthrough of ABA, the family insurance guide and the full AHCA Medicaid policy. Same subject, different depth — we would rather say so than publish the same page twice under two addresses.
And the rest of what we keep here.
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Two printable guides
The ones we wish every family had before the first appointment. Free, one page each.
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The glossary
101 terms explained the way a parent would want them explained — BCBA, RBT, VB-MAPP, FBA, IEP, prompting, reinforcement.
Everything we have written down.
Written by our own clinical team, in the language the family reads. Nothing here replaces an assessment — it is what we would tell you on the phone, at length.
The programmes Florida actually runs.
These are public programmes run by the State of Florida and by independent organisations. We are not affiliated with any of them and we do not process their applications. Rules and amounts change — verify everything on the official site before you rely on it.
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Early Steps
Birth to 36 months- What it is
- Florida's early intervention system for babies and toddlers who have, or are at risk for, a developmental delay or disability. Services are provided at no cost to families and include an Individualized Family Support Plan (IFSP).
- Who qualifies
- Children from birth to 36 months with an established condition, such as a diagnosed disability, or a documented developmental delay. Autism can qualify.
- Why it matters
- You do not need a completed autism diagnosis to be referred — a concern is enough to request a screening. Do not wait.
- How to apply
- Anyone can refer a child, including a parent. Contact your Local Early Steps office.
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Florida Medicaid
How to apply- What it covers
- For children with a documented autism diagnosis and medical necessity, Medicaid covers ABA therapy, along with medical, dental and other therapy services.
- Where to apply
- Through MyACCESS, the official portal of the Florida Department of Children and Families. Create an account and select "Apply for Benefits."
- Watch out
- Only the site ending in .myflfamilies.com is official. There are look-alike sites that charge for a free application.
- Phone help
- DCF toll-free (866) 762-2237.
- Where we come in
- Once your child has Medicaid, we are an approved Florida Medicaid provider, and eligible children receive ABA therapy at no cost. The benefits check is free and commits you to nothing.
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FES-UA scholarship
Age 3 and up- What it is
- The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities. Funds go into an account the family can use for approved educational expenses.
- What it pays for
- Private school tuition, therapies including ABA, speech and occupational therapy, curriculum, tutoring and other approved expenses.
- Requirements
- Age 3 or older — turning 3 by December 31 of the application year — or eligible to enrol in a Florida public school; under 22; a Florida resident; and holding an IEP or qualifying disability documentation.
- How to apply
- Through an approved Scholarship Funding Organization: Step Up For Students or AAA Scholarship Foundation. Applications typically open early in the year for the following school year.
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School district services
IEP and 504 plans- What it is
- Public school districts must evaluate and support students with disabilities through an IEP (Individualized Education Program) or a 504 plan. This is educational, not medical, and it does not replace ABA therapy.
- How to start
- Submit a written request for evaluation to your school — email counts and creates a record. The district has legal timelines to respond.
- Your district
- Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe. Ask for the Exceptional Student Education (ESE) department.
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Support and community
Free, statewide- CARD
- The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities: free support, training and consultation for Florida families, through regional centres. UM-NSU CARD covers Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe.
- APD
- The Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities: long-term services and the iBudget waiver for eligible individuals.
- Family Network
- Family Network on Disabilities: parent-to-parent support and help navigating the school system.
- Directory
- The Autism Speaks resource guide, a searchable directory of local services.
If you need help right now.
- Medical emergencyCall 911
- Emotional crisis, 24/7Call or text 988 — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- Florida DCFMedicaid and food assistance — (866) 762-2237
- Our teamMon–Fri, 9–5 — (786) 652-6945
If you are the one being asked.
Pediatricians, school staff and case managers get these questions too, usually with four minutes to answer them. What a referral needs, what we send back, and when.
Not sure which of these is yours?
Answer five questions and we will tell you which programmes apply to your family. No account, no commitment — and if the answer is that you do not need us, that is a fine answer.