Avon Park is a small city in northern Highlands County, and most of the offices that serve autistic children here are somewhere else: Sebring, Lakeland, Tampa or Sarasota. That can make the first months after a diagnosis feel like a lot of phone calls. This guide lists the offices that serve Avon Park, with phone numbers and addresses from each agency's own page in October 2026, and shows how to start ABA close to home. Confirm details before you drive anywhere; offices move and numbers change.
Is there ABA therapy near Avon Park?
Hope Center for Behavior Change does not have an office in Avon Park. Our nearest center is in Sebring at 228 N Ridgewood Rd, Suite 102, Sebring, FL 33870, open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Sebring team serves Avon Park and Lake Placid families at the center and in homes, schools, daycares and the community. For many Avon Park families, home sessions mean no daily drive down US 27.
- Insurance: Blue Cross Blue Shield (Florida Blue), Aetna, Cigna (Evernorth), UMR, Personify Health and TRICARE East (Humana Military), plus self-pay with a sliding scale for all services. Costs depend on your plan; the benefits check is free.
- No waitlist. Services usually begin 3 to 5 business days after your insurer approves the plan.
- Languages: English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Bengali and Russian. See bilingual ABA therapy.
Visit our Sebring ABA page for more about the center.
Where do I start if my child is under 3?
Highlands County is part of Gulf Central Early Steps, which covers Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, Highlands, Hardee and Sarasota counties. The Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida manages the program. Its Early Steps page lists:
- Phone referrals: (239) 433-6700
- Toll free: (866) 510-5594
- Statewide Early Steps line: 1-800-218-0001
Anyone can refer a child, including parents. The council says there is no income or insurance requirement, and insurance is billed only with parent permission. Under Florida's Early Steps handbook, a child with a confirmed autism diagnosis qualifies as an established condition, without separate delay testing. Read our Early Steps guide and Early Steps vs private ABA.
What about ages 3 to 5?
FDLRS Heartland handles Child Find screening for Highlands, Hardee, DeSoto, Glades and Hendry counties, and it is in Sebring:
- 426 School St., Sebring, FL 33870
- Phone: 863-471-5510
Screening is free. If the screening suggests a disability, the district must ask for your consent to evaluate. See FDLRS and Child Find.
Which CARD and APD offices serve Avon Park?
CARD-USF
Highlands County is served by the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University of South Florida, one of Florida's seven regional autism centers under s. 1004.55. CARD-USF says its services "are delivered at no cost."
- Phone: 813-974-2532
- Address: 13301 Bruce B Downs Blvd., MHC 2113A, Tampa, FL 33612
The office is in Tampa, so ask whether a consultation can happen by phone or video. See which CARD serves my county.
APD Central Region (Lakeland office)
Highlands County is in APD's Central Region, not the Suncoast Region. The Lakeland office serves Hardee, Highlands and Polk counties:
- 200 North Kentucky Avenue, Suite 422, Lakeland, FL 33801
- Phone: (407) 245-0440
APD accepts an autism diagnosis only from a Florida-licensed psychiatrist or psychologist, a board-certified pediatric neurologist qualified to diagnose autism, or a board-certified developmental pediatrician (or an out-of-state evaluator with matching credentials). Check who made your child's diagnosis before you apply. See how to apply for APD services.
How do Avon Park schools handle autism evaluations?
Avon Park's public schools belong to the School Board of Highlands County. If your child is in school, contact the school's ESE (exceptional student education) contact and ask for an evaluation in writing. Under Rule 6A-6.0331, the district then has 30 days to ask for your consent or explain in writing why it refuses, and once you consent the evaluation must be completed within 60 calendar days, not counting some school breaks. A school autism eligibility decision is separate from a medical diagnosis.
Florida law (s. 1003.572) lets your child's private BCBA or RBT observe, collaborate and provide services at a public school when the child's teachers and principal agree on the time and place. Read private ABA in Charlotte and Highlands schools and our school-based ABA page.
Is there a library or community program to try?
The Avon Park Public Library is at 100 N Museum Ave, Avon Park, FL 33825, phone 863-452-3803. Its page lists hours of Tuesday 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Wednesday to Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday. We did not find a sensory-friendly program listed for the Highlands branches in October 2026, so call and ask about quieter times for a first visit, and whether staff can share a story time schedule ahead of time. A short visit during a slow hour, with a picture of the building shown at home first, is often an easier start than a busy event.
Should we register for a special needs shelter?
The Florida Department of Health in Highlands County says special needs shelters "are for those with disabilities or who require medical care that exceeds basic first aid," and that anyone who may need one should sign up every year. The statewide registry is at snr.flhealthresponse.com, and the department directs residents to the Highlands County Emergency Management website for the shelter application. DOH-Highlands: 863-386-6040, 7205 South George Blvd., Sebring, FL 33875.
Eligibility is decided case by case, mostly on medical needs, so an autistic child without medical needs may be directed to a general shelter. Register anyway if your child needs constant help, call to ask, and pack a sensory go-kit. See how to register for a special needs shelter and our sensory hurricane go-kit.
How do we start ABA with Hope Center from Avon Park?
- Contact us with your Avon Park address, your child's age and diagnosis, your insurance and when you would like to start.
- Return the intake documents so we can run your free benefits check.
- Initial assessment: 2 to 4 hours with a BCBA over one or two sessions, at your home or the Sebring center.
- Treatment plan: written within about two weeks, reviewed by our clinical director, signed by you and sent to your insurer.
- First sessions usually begin 3 to 5 business days after approval.
Example only, not a promise: when paperwork comes back quickly, the first call to the first session can take as little as three weeks. If documents or insurer reviews are slow, it can take months. Read our intake timeline and the Highlands County guide. Then request a free consultation and benefits check or call 561-337-8865.