For more information and resources pertaining to ESE initiatives access the weblinks to specific websites:
*Please note that while we provide links to a variety of reports, inclusion on this list does not constitute endorsement.
- Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities- Florida’s protection and advocacy system is a not-for-profit organization. The Advocacy Center is authorized by Federally mandated programs to help protect the legal, human and civil rights of individuals with disabilities. The Advocacy Center provides information on Tier Notices and what to do if you disagree with your Tier Assignment.
- Agency for Persons with Disabilities- In October 2004, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) became an agency separate from the Department of Children and Families, to provide services to Floridians with developmental disabilities. Prior to that time, it existed as the Developmental Disabilities Program. The APD works in partnership with local communities and private providers to assist people who have developmental disabilities and their families. APD is the state agency that administers the Developmental Disabilities and Family and Supported Living Waivers, and the Consumer Directed Care program. See the home page of their website for information on enrolling in Tier Waivers.
- Bright Feats- Bright Feats directory is a list of medical providers and commercial businesses that are helpful to families with children of ranging abilities. Bright Feats is a full color publication distributed quarterly. Research and referrals ensure this listing continues to be a useful source of information for those interested in the well being of special needs children. This website provides monthly updates and new information between issues.
- Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR) Quick Find ~ NIHYCY Resources - CPIR is a souce of information on disabilities in infants, toddlers, children, and youth. This website is full of easy-to-read information on IDEA, the law authorizing early intervention services and special education. They also have available to parents, State Resource Sheets that help families connect with the disability agencies and organizations in their state.
- Central Florida Parent Center, Inc. (CFPC)- Non-profit organization which provides parents of children and young adults with all disabilities and special needs (ages 0-26) in central and northeast Florida with accurate information, interactive training, quality assistance, and empathetic support.
- Children’s Medical Services (CMS)- The Children’s Medical Services (CMS) program provides children with special health care needs with a family centered, managed system of care. Children with special health care needs are those children under age 21 whose serious or chronic physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional conditions require extensive preventive and maintenance care beyond that required by typically healthy children. The website provides contact information by Region of the State.
- Developmental Disabilities Council- The Florida Developmental Disabilities Resources Website has been designed as a public reporting resource for individuals with developmental disabilities living in or moving to the State of Florida. The primary function of this Website is to make available performance and demographic information specific to providers serving individuals with developmental disabilities through the Developmental Disabilities and the Family and Supported Living Waivers.
- Disability Resources on the Net - Disability Resources, Inc. serves thousands of individuals with disabilities through a multidisciplinary network of service providers and consumers to help promote and improve awareness, availability and accessibility of information to help people with disabilities live, learn, love, work and play independently. Information is available on about books, pamphlets, magazines, newsletters, videos, databases, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, telephone hotlines and on-line services that provide free and inexpensive or hard-to-find information.
- Division of Vocational Rehabilitation- The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) is a state agency that provides job training and employment services for eligible persons with disabilities. If you are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for your disability, you are presumed eligible for VR services if you intend to secure employment. See Florida’s DVR website below for a variety of information and handbooks related to VR services.
- Do2Learn - Uses technology and the web to provide special learning resources for individuals with disabilities and the professionals and caregivers who serve them. Working with leading educators, clinicians, teachers and parents, they have developed serious games and learning material targeting specific deficits of individuals with neurological disorders including ASD, fetal alcohol effects, intellectual disabilities, attention disorders, learning and communication disorders and others. Do2Learn specifically address deficits in the areas of behavior, socialization, communication, coping, and daily living skills.
- Family Cafe - 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.
- Family Connect - is a website created by American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and the National Association for Parents of Childen with Visual Impairments (NAPV) to give parents of visually impaired children a place to support each other, share stories and concerns, and find resources on raising their children from birth to adulthood.
- Family Star (Support, Training, Assistance, and Resources) - The Family to Family (F2F) Health Information Center assists families of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) and professionals to make informed decisions about health care through support, training, assistance and resources so that families can be effective partners in the health care decision making process at all levels. This program is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Division of Services for Children with Special Health Needs.
- Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS)- Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) is a network of nineteen state and federally funded associate centers which provide support services to educators, families of students with exceptionalities and community agencies through Florida. Centers are part of the public school systems and serve from one to nine counties. FDLRS / Springs Center serves Alachua, Citrus, Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy and Marion Counties. The Springs center provides support services to educators, parents, and other professionals.
- Florida Network on Disabilities - is a national network of individuals of all ages who may be at-risk, have disabilities, or have special needs and their families, professionals, and concerned citizens. The mission of Family Network on Disabilities is to ensure through collaboration that individuals have full access to family-driven support, education, information, resources, and advocacy and to serve families of children with disabilities, ages birth through 26, who have the full range of disabilities described in section 602(3) of IDEA.
- National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities - The center that provides information to the nation on disabilities in children and youth; programs and services for infants, children, and youth with disabilities; IDEA, the nation’s special education law; No Child Left Behind, the nation’s general education law; and research-based information on effective practices for children with disabilities.
- Parent to Parent (P2P USA) - Parent to Parent is a national non-profit organization committed to promoting access, quality and leadership in parent to parent support across the country. The site highlights statewide organizations that have parent to parent support as a core progam and demonstrate a commitment to implementing evidence-based P2P endorsed practices.
- Parents of the Panhandle Information Network (POPIN) - Free help and information to families of students with disabilities; focusing on their educational needs, and the professionals that serve them. This program is funded by the U.S Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)
- Special Olympics - Visit the official website for Special Olympics in Alachua County.
- The Access Center - Resources available to enhance access to the general education curriculum for students with disabilities.