This page gathers autism and disability resources for families in Hillsborough County, Florida. You'll find 18 local resources listed here, alongside Florida statewide programs and nationwide services, all verified and in one place. For children under three, Florida's starting point is Early Steps; for school-age children, special education and IEPs run through your local school district. Confirm details directly with each provider.
Diagnosis & Early Intervention
Getting an evaluation and accessing early services.
Free CDC milestone checklists and a Milestone Tracker app help you follow your child's development from 2 months to 5 years, so you know what to watch for and when to act. A gentle first step when you're unsure whether to seek an evaluation.
Part of Florida's public school system, Child Find offers free developmental screenings for children 34 months to age 5 who are not yet in public school, with no insurance required. They help identify children who may benefit from early intervention or special education and connect families to next steps.
Florida's official early intervention program provides free evaluations and services for babies and toddlers birth to 36 months who have developmental delays or conditions like autism. Anyone, including parents, can make a referral, and there is no income requirement.
At Nemours Children's Hospital in Orlando, developmental-behavioral pediatricians and specialists provide comprehensive autism diagnostic evaluations and personalized care plans for Central Florida children. Their team-based approach brings together psychology, neurology, and therapy under one roof.
A University of Florida program that supports families across the state affected by autism at no cost, helping you understand a diagnosis and find providers who perform evaluations. Staff offer guidance, consultation, and connections to services from the earliest stages onward.
A free local support and referral line for Hillsborough families worried about a young child's development or special needs. Warm, knowledgeable staff will listen and point you to the right screenings and services nearby.
Short-term, in-home early-intervention help for Hillsborough children birth to age 5 who have developmental delays but may not qualify for other programs. Funded by the Children's Board, it includes parent coaching and service coordination.
Free developmental screenings for Hillsborough children ages 34 months to 5 years who aren't yet in public school, funded by the Florida Department of Education. No doctor's referral or insurance is needed to get started.
Florida's free early-intervention system for Hillsborough County babies and toddlers, run through USF Health. If your child from birth to 36 months has developmental delays or concerns, they can evaluate and support your family at no cost.
School & IEP Rights
IEPs, 504 plans, special education, and school advocacy.
Every state has a federally funded Parent Training & Information Center offering free help with IEPs, special-education rights, and early intervention. This hub's directory locates the center that serves your state.
A national nonprofit protecting the rights of students with disabilities. Use their member directory to find a special-education attorney or trained advocate near you when you need help with an IEP or a dispute with a school.
Every state has a federally mandated Protection & Advocacy agency that offers free legal help when a school isn't following your child's IEP or evaluating them as required. This directory connects you to the office serving your area.
Florida's official protection and advocacy organization, offering free and confidential help when your child faces barriers to a free and appropriate education, from IEP disputes to special education and transition services. Their advocates can guide you through your rights and step in when a school isn't meeting your child's needs.
A federally funded Parent Training and Information center that has helped Florida families for over 35 years, with free support focused on the educational needs of children with disabilities. Their parent coordinators can walk you through IEPs, your rights, and how to be an effective advocate at school.
The Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System is a statewide, state-supported network that helps students with exceptional needs and their families. Their Family Help Desk connects you with parent-friendly guidance and expert answers on IEPs, behavior, and specific disabilities.
A local partnership with Hillsborough County Public Schools that connects families to an ESE Parent Liaison, a fellow parent who has navigated special education and can walk you through IEP meetings, evaluations, and school transitions. They also run a Family Help Desk for questions about IEPs, behavior, and specific disabilities.
This is the district department that oversees IEPs and special education services for more than 30,000 students with disabilities, from birth through age 21. Their site explains your procedural safeguards and how to be a full partner in the decisions made about your child's plan.
This is the federally funded Parent Training and Information center for Hillsborough and the surrounding West Coast counties. Their staff give parents free, one-on-one help understanding special education rights, getting ready for IEP meetings, and advocating for their child.
Therapy & Treatment
ABA, speech, OT, and finding the right providers.
You matter too. Psychology Today's therapist finder filters for 'caregiver stress' and 'autism family,' and Open Path Collective offers reduced-cost therapy sessions nationwide. You cannot support your child well without also supporting yourself.
This trusted advocacy nonprofit explains how to get ABA (Behavior Analysis) therapy covered through Florida Medicaid and how to appeal if services are denied. They can help you understand your child's rights when a plan is turned down.
APD is the state agency that connects Floridians with autism and other developmental disabilities to long-term supports, Medicaid waiver services, and behavioral help. This is the starting point for applying for state disability services.
Florida's university-based CARD network offers free consultation, training, referrals, and support to families of any age with autism and related disabilities. Find the regional center near you and connect with someone who can help you navigate services.
A free, university-based program that has supported Tampa Bay families for over 30 years, offering guidance, consultation, and referrals for anyone with autism or a related disability at any age. There is no cost and no diagnosis paperwork required to reach out.
Financial Assistance & Benefits
Medicaid waivers, SSI, ABLE accounts, and legal aid.
ABLE accounts let people with disabilities (onset before age 26) save money tax-free without losing Medicaid or SSI eligibility. This center compares every state's ABLE program so you can pick the best one for your family.
Florida's official tax-free savings and investment accounts that let your family set aside money for disability-related expenses without risking SSI or Medicaid eligibility. Accounts are free to open, and savings can go toward housing, health, education, assistive technology, and everyday needs.
Florida's main Medicaid waiver for people with autism and other developmental disabilities, covering home- and community-based supports like therapy, respite, personal care, and residential services so your child can live at home or in the community. Apply through APD to get on the path to services (there is often a waitlist, so applying early matters).
SSI is a federal program that provides monthly cash payments to children and adults with disabilities who have limited income and resources, and it can also open the door to Medicaid. You can start an application online or by phone, and a child may qualify from as early as birth.
This is Florida's Agency for Persons with Disabilities office that serves Hillsborough County, and it's the front door to the iBudget Medicaid waiver that funds services like therapy, respite, and in-home support for a child with a developmental disability. Start an application here to get on the path toward funded, long-term care.
Bay Area Legal Services provides free civil legal help to eligible lower-income Hillsborough County families, including guardianship, benefits denials, and other matters that often come up when raising a child with a disability. Call their Legal Aid Line to see if you qualify, and interpreters are available at no cost.
Area 6 is the volunteer council of parents and family members that serves Hillsborough County and works alongside the state disability agency to guide families through waiver services and advocate for their needs. It's a warm place to connect with other parents who have navigated the same benefits and funding questions you're facing.
Support Groups & Community
Find your people, in person and online.
The nation's oldest grassroots autism organization. Their National Helpline connects families to information and referrals, and their affiliate finder points you to a local chapter in your area for in-person support and events.
The largest national community-based organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Local chapters offer advocacy, family support, and lifelong services. Use the chapter finder to locate the office nearest you.
Dial 2-1-1 (or visit 211.org) to reach a free, confidential referral line for local health and human services in almost every US community, including disability services, respite, food, housing, and financial assistance.
A statewide nonprofit that runs free monthly online parent support groups, including an "Across the Spectrum" group and a dedicated group for military families. It's a warm, welcoming place to connect with other Florida parents who truly get it.
Governor-appointed volunteer councils in every region of the state, made up of parents and family members, that mentor families and help you navigate developmental disability services alongside Florida's Agency for Persons with Disabilities. They exist to make sure your family's voice is heard.
A statewide Parent Training and Information Center run by families, for families, offering free workshops, one-on-one guidance, and a caring community for over 35 years. Trained coordinators can walk you through your child's rights, services, and next steps.
A statewide council that advocates for people with autism and other developmental disabilities and offers free family-focused resources, including its well-known Partners in Policymaking training. A good starting point if you want to learn how to advocate for your child.
Year-round sports, recreation, and a statewide Family Action Network where parents and caregivers connect, share, and cheer each other on. It's a joyful way for your child to build skills and friendships while you find your own community of families.
A PATH-accredited therapeutic riding center run by Hillsborough County, offering horseback riding, lessons, and camps for children and adults age 4 and up with disabilities. Riding builds confidence, balance, and social connection.
A county program that gives children ages 5-17 with disabilities the chance to play, learn, and grow alongside their peers through after-school programs and summer camps at locations across Hillsborough. Fees are kept low so families can take part.
A county Parks & Recreation program offering year-round adaptive and competitive sports for kids and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities, from swimming and cycling to basketball and archery. Youth can join a sport for just $25.
Adult Transition & Long-Term Planning
Aging out of school, adult services, and long-term planning.
A neurodivergent employment agency offering job support nationwide over Zoom: resume building, mock interviews, and career guidance, plus direct outreach to employers to help secure placements. Supports neurodivergent individuals roughly ages 16 to 50, and has been in business over 15 years.
A long-established Florida nonprofit that helps families plan for a child's future, including setting up special needs trusts that protect savings without risking Medicaid or SSI. Their trust services team can guide you through individual and pooled trust options at any budget.
APD is Florida's state agency for people with developmental disabilities like autism, connecting adults to long-term Medicaid waiver services for living, working, and support in the community. This page walks you through applying for the iBudget waiver and other services as your child ages into adulthood.
Florida VR is the state's largest employment program for people with disabilities, helping teens and adults with autism explore careers, get job training, and find and keep meaningful work. Services can start at age 14 with pre-employment transition support and continue through supported employment as an adult.
A statewide, cross-disability organization that has connected Florida families to information, training, and resources since 1998, including its Florida Youth Council for transition-age young adults. Their free annual conference is one of the largest gatherings of disability resources in the state.
This is Florida's state agency that funds adult services for people with autism and developmental disabilities, including the Medicaid iBudget Waiver for residential, day, and support services. The Tampa office serves Hillsborough County and is your starting point for long-term adult supports.
This local workforce agency helps adults with disabilities in Hillsborough County return to or find work at no cost, with a Disability Program Navigator who assists with goal-setting and long-term planning. Services include assessments, job search help, and employability skills training.
This state program helps young adults with disabilities train for, find, and keep a job, including transition services that start while your teen is still in high school. They have several offices across Hillsborough County, including Tampa, Brandon, and Plant City.
A trusted Tampa nonprofit since 1953, MacDonald Training Center offers adults with disabilities job coaching, employment placement, day services, and residential support all in one place. It is a warm option for families thinking about what comes after high school.
A note on these listings. This directory is informational and not an
endorsement. Programs, phone numbers, and eligibility change, so always confirm details
directly with the provider before relying on them. Nothing here is medical or legal advice.
Spot something out of date? Suggest or report a resource →