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Agency Supports: Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD)
APD works in partnership with local communities and private providers to assist people who have developmental disabilities and their families in living, learning and working in their communities. APD’s goals for the clientele they serve include increasing access to community based services, treatment and residential options; increase the number of individuals with developmental disabilities in the workforce; and APD also provides assistance in identifying the needs of people with developmental disabilities for supports and services.
How does the service/topic help the person with a disability or family support system?
APD provides:
- Medicaid HCBS Waiver through iBudget Florida Click Here
- Placement in an intermediate care facility for with developmental disabilities
- Supported employment services: Click Here
- Consumer Direct Care Plus (CDC+)
- Individual and Family Supports (IFS) funding for non-waiver customers expenses
How can a parent/caregiver gain access to APD services?
To be eligible for services from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, you must be a Florida resident and have one of the following seven developmental disabilities: autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Phelan Mcdermid syndrome, or spina bifida. Once you move to Florida, you can apply for services through one of the APD regional offices. Contact information for each office can be found by clicking on the map located here.
After applying, and if you have been found eligible to receive services, you will be placed on a waiting list based on the date you were determined eligible as well as prioritized by category. The Waiting List Prioritization Tool is the mechanism by which the agency will determine who will receive offers for waiver enrollment when the agency has funding for enrolling individuals on the waiting list to the waiver. To learn more about the Waiting List Priority Categorization, Click Here. You and your family may want to consider the services that are being received now, and determine if you would be able to go without those services for an extended period of time after relocating to Florida.
If you feel you are Medicaid eligible, please contact the Florida Department of Children and Families at 1-866-762-2237.
If you are under the age of 21, you may qualify for services under the Medicaid State plan. Please contact the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration at 1-888-419-3456 for more information.
Recommended websites, YouTube videos, books on this topic?
AbdCares.org: 
Applying for Services Application Click Here
FccFlorida.org: Family Care Council SE Support Groups Click Here
AbdCares.org: What is Supported Employment and What to Expect From Your Job Coach. Click Here
When looking for this service are there any questions or observations you would recommend parents to investigate before selecting a provider?
The Florida Navigator is an online tool designed to empower and inform individuals with developmental disabilities, caregivers, and professionals about specific State of Florida services. Whether this is your first time looking for state services, or you are already experienced working with government agencies, this tool is for you. Click Here to find a simplified path of information to guide you through the stages of life and tailor the results to your specific needs. The goal of this tool is to better streamline the search for quality state services you or your loved one may be eligible to receive. The Florida Navigator will share available state programs from the following agencies:
- Agency for Health Care Administration
- Agency for Persons with Disabilities
- Department of Children and Families
- Department of Education
- Department of Elder Affairs
- Department of Health
References:
Agency for Persons with Disabilities – State of Florida website.
apd.myflorida.com
All information is provided from Agency for Persons with Disabilities website, apd.myflorida.com; Family Care Council Florida, fccflorida.org
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