The Access Center provides resources available to enhance access to the general education curriculum for students 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. Resource Directory

The Bright Feats directory is a list of medical providers and commercial businesses that are helpful to families with children of ranging abilities. We bring to this directory our own expertise as a nurse and a teacher who are both parents of special needs children. 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 will provide monthly updates and new information between issues. Please contact us if you would like us to include a resource that is important to you or your family in dealing with special needs. It is our personal mission to connect families with resources to help their children achieve.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services A list of contact phone numbers and web links to help you find answers to your Medicare questions or program issues.

Center for Parent Information & Resources The center 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.

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.

Disability Information The federal government's one-stop website for people with disabilities, their families, employers, veterans, workforce professionals and many others.

Florida’s protection and advocacy system is a not-for-profit organization. Disability Rights Florida is authorized by Federally mandated programs to help protect the legal, human and civil rights of individuals with disabilities. Disability Rights Florida provides information on Tier Notices and what to do if you disagree with your Tier Assignment.

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.

The Family Network on Disabilities (FND) 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.

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.

Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) Gulfcoast Associate Center 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-Gulfcoast Associate Center serves Pinellas, Hernando and Pasco County. Each center provides services in the four areas of Child Find, Human Resources Development, Parent Services and Technology.

The Florida Inclusion Network provides learning opportunities, consultation, information and support to educators, families, and community members resulting in the inclusion of all students.

I Can Online Disability News A web site designed to improve the lives of the half-billion people with disabilities in the world. It provides information on adaptive sports, job search, independent living, relationships, self-discovery, social security, public health insurance benefits and more. The topics are approached from the perspective of those living with disabilities and aim to address their specific needs.

Office of Special Education (OSEP) - US Department of Education This site was created to provide a "one-stop shop" for resources related to IDEA and its implementing regulations, released on August 3, 2006. It is a "living" website and will change and grow as resources and information become available. When fully implemented, the site will provide searchable versions of IDEA and the regulations, access to cross-referenced content from other laws (e.g., the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), etc.), video clips on selected topics, topic briefs on selected regulations, links to OSEP's Technical Assistance and Dissemination (TA&D) Network and a Q&A Corner where you can submit questions, and a variety of other information sources. As items are completed and added to this site, we invite you to grow and learn with us as we implement these regulations.

The PACER Center was created by parents of children and youth with disabilities to help other parents and families facing similar challenges. Today, PACER Center expands opportunities and enhances the quality of life of children and young adults with disabilities and their families. PACER is staffed primarily by parents of children with disabilities and works in coalition with 18 disability organizations. With assistance to individual families, workshops, materials for parents and professionals, and leadership in securing a free and appropriate public education for all children, PACER's work affects and encourages families in Minnesota and across the nation.

The Multiagency Network for Students with Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities (SEDNET) creates and facilitates a network of key stakeholders committed to assisting in the provision of quality system of care for students with or at risk of emotional and/or behavioral challenges.

U.S. Department of Education Empowering Parents School Box

The SSPS Website is designed to be an informational source to parents, caregivers and teachers of exceptional students. The website strives to provide as much information about the services and supports available through the Pasco School District, the State of Florida, community agencies and community groups. The website does not endorse nor represent any particular resource/agency; its intent is to provide information that may be of interest to a variety of audiences.

 

(10/8/20)