Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD)
The APD works in partnership with local communities and private providers to assist people who have developmental disabilities and their families. APD also provides assistance in identifying the needs of people with developmental disabilities for supports and services.
Disabilities served by APD include:
- Intellectual disabilities (Full Scale IQ of 70 or below)
- Severe forms of autism
- Spina bifida cystica or myelomeningocele
- Cerebral palsy
- Prader-Willi syndrome
- Down syndrome
- Phelan-McDermid syndrome or
- Individuals between the ages of 3-5 at high risk for a developmental disability
Individuals Considered High Risk: Defined
Individuals considered high risk are children ages 3 to 15 years old with either:
- A developmental delay in cognition, language, or physical development
- A child surviving a catastrophic infectious or traumatic illness known to be associated with developmental delay
- Child with a parent or guardian with developmental disabilities who requires assistance in meeting with the child’s developmental needs, or
- A child who has a physical or genetic anomaly associated with developmental disability.
Be Prepared & Streamline the Process
To be eligible for APD:
- You need to provide proof of a developmental disability diagnosis. This may include, but is not limited to, school records, testing, or medical records.
- Applicants must be domicile is in Florida (may be established as provided in section 222.17, Florida Statutes). Examples of documents that may be used as proof of domicile include: Florida Driver’s License or ID Card, Florida’s Voter Registration Card, Florida’s Court Filed Declaration of Domicile, Homestead exemption filing, mortgage or lease agreement, or employment/school records.
- Applicants must be at least 3 years of age
Applications will have to be submitted to the APD office that serves your area, either by mail or by hand delivery. Faxed submissions will be returned for an original signature. Applications may be accepted from:
- A parent or court-appointed guardian of a minor child, a legally competent adult, or an authorized legal representative
- Applicants under 18 years of age, the person’s legal representative must sign the application for APD services
- Applicants 18 years of age or older must sign the application and all necessary documents unless he has been determined incapacitated by a court of law
- Adults unable to sign may mark the signature line. The mark shall be identified and witnessed as “his/her mark”
- Adults that are incapacitated, a legal representative, as identified in a court order, shall execute all documents on behalf of the applicant