Special Assistance Guide

Easterseals South Florida has served families for 79 years, providing services, education and outreach so children with disabilities can live, learn, work and play — with Head Start, early education, and special education programs.

Parent to Parent of Miami's nonprofit parent center is dedicated to empowering families of children with disabilities. Its signature event, Journey of Dreams, will be held on Saturday, November 7, celebrating the work of community leaders while raising critical funds to expand programs.

The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) partners with organizations to provide services and support for Floridians with a developmental disability that occurred before age 18. APD serves people with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, intellectual disabilities, Phelan-McDermid syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, severe forms of autism and spina bifida.

For over 100 years, the American Heart Association and its volunteers, supporters and partner organizations have worked to build longer, healthier lives — advancing health and hope for everyone, everywhere.

Early Steps provides early intervention services to children ages 0–3 with a disability or developmental delay, including family support and training, therapy, and service coordination — evaluation is free and services are covered by insurance or Part C funds.

Cortney Vega Sports Athletic Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness of Sickle Cell Disease, an inherited, chronic blood disorder that affects approximately 100,000 Americans across many nationalities and ancestries.

Best Buddies is the world's largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities — helping them form friendships, secure jobs, live independently, and be valued by society.

CARD is one of seven state-funded, university-based centers in Florida dedicated to optimizing the potential of people with autism spectrum disorder and related disabilities, currently serving over 17,000 families in Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties.

The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) runs Florida Medicaid and licenses the state's health care facilities. Since July 2025 it also handles enrollment in the Children's Medical Services plan for children with special health care needs.

Broward Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organization is a Plantation nonprofit that supports people with Down syndrome and their families through parent workshops, visits to new parents, a monthly newsletter and social events.

Children's Medical Services is a division of the Florida Department of Health with statewide programs for children with special health care needs, including Early Steps early intervention for infants and toddlers from birth to 36 months.

Children's Services Council of Broward County uses a small share of local property taxes to fund hundreds of nonprofit programs for Broward children and families, including services for children with special needs.

Disability Rights Florida is the statewide Protection and Advocacy system for people with disabilities, offering free legal advocacy, information and referral to Floridians with disabilities of all ages.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) supports people with muscular dystrophy, ALS and other neuromuscular diseases nationwide, with MDA Care Centers, research funding and free MDA Summer Camp for kids ages 8 to 17.

The Advocacy Network on Disabilities is a Miami-Dade nonprofit for people with intellectual, developmental and other disabilities. Its All Children Together (ACT) Resource Network helps community programs include children and youth with disabilities.

The Children's Trust uses a property tax approved by Miami-Dade voters to fund hundreds of programs for children and families countywide, from early childhood and after-school programs to services for children with disabilities.

Nicklaus Children's Hospital offers three hospital locations plus pediatric primary care, specialty consultations, rehabilitation services, diagnostics, and walk-in urgent care across Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Martin counties, with more than 40 pediatric specialties.

Super Kids Development Center provides family-centered ABA therapy for children with autism and related developmental needs. Since 2017, its multilingual, multicultural team has supported families with personalized care, parent training, a School Readiness Program, communication development and everyday life skills, helping each child grow at home and beyond.

A1A's core team brings over 50 years of combined experience helping enhance the lives of patients and families, with treatment plans customized for each individual based on detailed clinical assessment.

Baptist Health South Miami Hospital's Child Development Center provides evaluations and therapy to help children reach their full developmental potential, including occupational and physical therapy, speech/language therapy, and feeding therapy.

Live Well Therapy Group provides compassionate mental health care across Florida — individual, couples, child & adolescent and family therapy, plus psychiatry, medication management and psychological testing, in person or online. Insurance accepted.

Elevate Therapy Group offers compassionate ABA therapy to children and families across Florida — home, school and community-based care plus parent training, promoting emotional growth, social skills and independence. Most insurance plans and Step Up scholarships are accepted.

Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood offers physical, occupational and speech therapy for children with developmental delays, autism and other conditions at rehab centers in Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Coral Springs and Wellington.

GiGi's Playhouse Miami in Miami Lakes is a Down Syndrome Achievement Center offering free therapeutic, educational and career training programs, such as literacy and math tutoring and speech therapy, for people with Down syndrome of all ages.

Equine-Assisted Therapies of South Florida offers therapeutic riding for children ages 4 and up and adults with disabilities, plus hippotherapy with physical, occupational and speech therapists, at Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek.

Written by Victor Antunez, a Miami autism dad, this free newsletter covers inclusive family-friendly events, disability news, and resources for families raising children with autism and disabilities across Miami-Dade County, three editions a week.

Health Channel, created by South Florida PBS, provides trusted health and wellness information through television, digital content, and expert-led resources to help families make informed decisions about their health.

Discovery Cove has partnered with IBCCES to become a Certified Autism Center, offering specialized services to guests with autism and other special needs so every family has an enjoyable, memorable visit.

Kaseya Center offers sensory-friendly services through KultureCity, including free sensory bags, noise-canceling headphones, and a calming sensory room, plus accessible seating, parking, and sign language interpreters.

Best Day Foundation pairs children and young adults ages 4 to 24 with special needs with a volunteer buddy for a day of surfing, bodyboarding, kayaking and other adventures. Its Florida chapter holds beach days in Palm Beach.

Parkland Buddy Sports is a Parkland nonprofit offering free peer-to-peer sports programs, including soccer, basketball, football, tennis and kickball, for children and young adults with special needs.

Broward County Parks manages more than 50 parks, and its Special Populations section offers year-round recreation for children, teens and adults with disabilities, from adaptive kayaking and sports to dance and social events.

Miami-Dade Parks, a Certified Autism Center, runs Therapeutic Recreation and Inclusion programs for children with disabilities, such as afterschool camps, adapted swim lessons and S.T.A.R.S. sports for youth with autism.

Special Olympics Florida offers year-round sports training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities across the state, at no cost to athletes or their families.

Mission Fishin is a volunteer-led South Florida organization that offers free private fishing and boating trips for children with special needs and their families, including siblings.

Autism Speaks is a national autism organization offering families free tool kits, such as the 100 Day Kit after a young child's diagnosis, and an Autism Response Team that helps in English and Spanish.

The Autism Society of America is a national organization that connects autistic people and their families with information, referrals and local affiliates through its National Helpline, and offers online training and resources.

UM-NSU CARD, a University of Miami and Nova Southeastern University program, offers free support, training and support groups for people of all ages with autism and related disabilities in Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe.

Beehave is a developmental-behavioral pediatrics practice serving South Florida, offering thorough evaluations and direct communication with families to turn parental concern into a clear diagnosis and care plan.

The Dan Marino Outpatient Center provides specialized pediatric care for children with developmental and rehabilitation needs, including evaluations, diagnostics, and physical, occupational, speech-language, feeding and swallowing therapies.

FDLRS, a statewide network funded by the Florida Department of Education, supports children with exceptional needs from birth through high school, with Child Find screenings, a Family Help Desk for parents and educator training.

Children's Diagnostic & Treatment Center in Fort Lauderdale provides medical care, developmental evaluations, Early Steps early intervention and case management for Broward children with special health care needs.

Las Madrinas de los Seguros is an insurance agency licensed in over 40 states, available every day of the year from 7 am to midnight — from individual health plans and Medicare to life insurance, group benefits and property & casualty.

Ambetter Health provides affordable, quality health insurance plans with a focus on preventive care and wellness programs, offering a wide network of providers and personalized support.

Miami Lighthouse for the Blind is Florida's largest and oldest nonprofit serving the blind and visually impaired, providing education, training, research, and vision enhancement to about 90,000 people a year, from babies to seniors.

The NSU Health audiology clinic in Fort Lauderdale tests hearing for all ages, with pediatric exams, newborn hearing screenings, auditory processing evaluations from age 5, hearing aid fittings and balance testing.

The Stuttering Foundation of America is a nonprofit offering free brochures, e-books and videos for people who stutter, including guides for parents of preschool and school-age children, with materials in Spanish.

University of Miami Health audiologists and speech-language pathologists evaluate and treat hearing, speech and language problems in children of all ages, from newborn hearing screenings to therapy offered in English and Spanish.

The Center for Hearing and Communication is a nonprofit with an office in Fort Lauderdale offering hearing tests, hearing aids, speech and language therapy and counseling for people of all ages with hearing loss.

The Florida Division of Blind Services serves blind and visually impaired Floridians of all ages, with early intervention from birth to age 5 and a Children's Program up to age 21 teaching skills like braille and mobility.

The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) is an organization of eye doctors who treat children's eye problems and strabismus, with a find-a-doctor tool and patient information.

The Broward Center offers inclusive access through Sensory-Inclusive Performances with adjusted sound, lighting and effects, plus accessibility services including sign language interpretation, audio description, open captioning and a sensory quiet room.

At American Pediatric Dental Group, children with special needs find understanding, patience, and care — desensitization visits, private rooms, and sedation when needed, accepting all insurances.

Supercuts takes pride in accommodating all customers' needs, with many years of experience working with children with disabilities both in its salons and at Nicklaus Children's Hospital — skilled stylists make the experience comfortable and enjoyable.

The Children's Bereavement Center runs free grief support groups in Miami and online for children from age 4, teens, young adults and adults in English, Spanish and Creole, including groups after the loss of a child or baby.

Eagles' Haven, run by JAFCO in Coral Springs, is a free wellness center for the Parkland and Coral Springs community after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting, offering support groups, crisis support and classes for all ages.

Tomorrow's Rainbow offers free grief support groups for children ages 3 through high school and their caregivers, plus equine-assisted psychotherapy for trauma, at its mini ranch in Coconut Creek.

Child Find at Broward County Public Schools is the entry point to special education for children from birth to age five in Broward County, with free screenings for ages 3 to 5 and referrals to Early Steps for infants and toddlers.

The Kapila Family Foundation Starting Right Program at Nova Southeastern University's Autism Institute is a parent-child early intervention class for children 18 to 36 months old with delays in language and social skills.

Fetal Care Services at Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami help families whose baby is diagnosed before birth with a condition needing care at delivery, with nurse navigators, fetal imaging, genetic counseling and specialists.

Sprout Behavioral Services provides early intervention ABA therapy for children at its Hollywood and Wellington clinics, at home and in the community across Broward and Palm Beach counties, with regular support for parents.

Sunrise Community (Sunrise Group) is a Miami-based nonprofit serving people with disabilities in seven states, with residential homes, day programs and supported living at several locations in Miami-Dade.

Namaste Nourished is a group practice of registered dietitians in Fort Lauderdale that treats eating disorders, ARFID, picky eating and body image concerns in children, teens and adults, in person or by telehealth across Florida.

The Renfrew Center treats eating disorders in adolescent girls, women, and transgender and non-binary people, with a residential campus in Coconut Creek, an adolescent program, outpatient care and virtual treatment.

The Center for Individual & Family Counseling (CIFC) is a community mental health center in Miami offering individual therapy, play therapy and ABA for children ages 4 to 17, along with family, couples and adult counseling.

Healing Arts Institute of South Florida in Fort Lauderdale offers counseling for children, teens, adults and families using trauma-informed care, CBT and other evidence-based therapies, plus music and art therapy programs.

Henderson Behavioral Health offers outpatient and in-home therapy, psychiatric care and case management for children and families in Broward and other Florida counties, plus a 24/7 mobile crisis team for youth and adults.

Mental Health America of Southeast Florida, a Lauderhill nonprofit, offers parenting and co-parenting classes, a trauma support team for youth and families, and support for families after a suicide loss.

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is a national grassroots organization whose local affiliates offer free support groups and classes, including NAMI Basics for parents of youth with mental health conditions.

NSU Health at Nova Southeastern University offers mental health care for children and teens in South Florida, including ADHD and trauma programs, neuropsychological and school evaluations, and family therapy, in person or by telehealth.

SEDNET, the Multiagency Network for Students with Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities, links Florida schools, agencies and families to support students with or at risk of emotional and behavioral challenges.

The ARCH National Respite Network helps family caregivers of children and adults with special needs find respite and crisis care through its National Respite Locator Service and state respite programs.

Based in Fort Lauderdale, Deliver the Dream runs family retreats and local Family Fun Days for families facing serious illness, crisis or disability, including an Autism Family Retreat with lodging and meals covered.

The Kidz Korner in Plantation provides 24-hour medical, respiratory and rehabilitative inpatient care for medically fragile children from preemies to age 21, with customized short respite stays for families.

Access Plus is Nova Southeastern University's supported college program for academically capable students with autism spectrum disorder, with daily peer-mentored study halls and support in residence and campus life.

The Center for Independent Living of Broward helps people with disabilities live independently, with youth and employment services for ages 14 to 21 covering job readiness, career exploration and interview skills.

Joshua's Path, a program of Jewish Family Services of Broward County, supports neurodivergent adults with the BOOST social skills course, resource referrals, monthly workshops and caregiver support groups.

Turning 18 is a free online guide for Florida families that explains legal options, from supported decision-making to guardian advocacy, for adults with developmental disabilities and youth aging out of foster care.