Broward County families have a full set of public autism resources, but several of them are different from the offices that serve Palm Beach County next door. Broward has its own CARD (run by the University of Miami and Nova Southeastern University), its own APD office in Fort Lauderdale, its own Early Steps program and its own FDLRS center. This guide lists each office Broward parents actually need, with contact details taken from each agency's own page in October 2026. Offices move and phone lines change, so confirm before you visit.
Who do I call first if I think my child is autistic?
Your first call depends on your child's age.
- Under 3: Gold Coast Early Steps, run by the Children's Diagnostic & Treatment Center at 1401 South Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316, serves Broward County. The state's office directory lists a referral line, (954) 728-1101, and a main line, (954) 728-1083. The statewide Early Steps number is 1-800-218-0001. Anyone can refer a child, and Early Steps does not charge families fees. Our Early Steps guide explains the 45-day evaluation timeline.
- Ages 3 to 5: Broward County Public Schools runs Child Find for young children. Call 754-321-7200 or use the district's online referral form. Preschool evaluations take place at Child Find and Preschool Diagnostic Services at Wingate Oaks Center, 1211 NW 33rd Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311.
- Any age: ask your pediatrician for a referral for an autism diagnostic evaluation. See how to get an autism diagnosis in Florida.
The district's Child Find page offers its family brochure, "The Road Through Child Find", in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian Creole, which helps in a county with so many multilingual families.
Which CARD center serves Broward County?
Broward is not served by FAU CARD. Florida law (s. 1004.55) assigns Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties to the CARD based at the University of Miami, which runs as a collaborative program of the University of Miami and Nova Southeastern University (often called UM-NSU CARD). CARD gives individual and family support, school consultation, training and help finding resources to people of all ages with autism and related disabilities.
- Broward families: Nova Southeastern University campus in Davie
- Phone: 954-262-7111, or 1-800-9-AUTISM, extension 2
- Email: card@nova.edu
UM-NSU CARD says its services are provided at no cost. Its registration page describes individual consultations, school observations and IEP help, support groups for parents, siblings and teens, and access to recreational activities. A related disability can qualify, including developmental delay in a child under 9 when autism is suspected. CARD is not a therapy provider, so it works alongside your child's ABA team and school. See which CARD serves my county.
Where is the APD office for Broward families?
The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) serves Floridians whose developmental disability, including autism, began before age 18. Services can include support coordination and, through the iBudget waiver, home and community services. Waiver funding often takes years, so families are wise to apply early. APD accepts an autism diagnosis for eligibility only from certain professionals, such as a Florida-licensed psychologist or psychiatrist or a board-certified developmental pediatrician.
Broward is part of APD's Southeast Region, but it has its own office:
- 3125 West Commercial Boulevard, Suite 200, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
- Phone: (954) 467-4218
(The region's West Palm Beach office serves Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties, not Broward.) See how to apply for APD services.
How do Broward schools evaluate a child for autism?
For a child already in a Broward public or charter school, put your request for an initial evaluation in writing to the school and ask for the school's ESE (exceptional student education) contact. Under Florida's evaluation rule, the district has 30 days to either ask for your consent or explain in writing why it refuses. Once you consent, the evaluation must be finished within 60 calendar days, not counting some school breaks. A school's autism eligibility decision is separate from a medical diagnosis.
FDLRS Reach, the state-funded diagnostic and learning resource center for Broward, is at 7601 N University Drive, Tamarac, FL 33321, phone 754-321-3466. FDLRS centers support Child Find screening and family help for children with disabilities.
Florida law (s. 1003.572) lets your child's private BCBA or RBT work with them at school, with the teacher and principal agreeing on time and place. Read private ABA in Broward County schools and our general guide to Florida's private ABA in school law.
Does Broward still have classroom cameras for ESE students?
Florida's classroom video camera law (s. 1003.574) created a pilot only for Broward County Public Schools, starting in the 2021-22 school year and lasting three school years. On a parent's written request, a camera with audio was placed in a self-contained ESE classroom. Bills to expand the program statewide died in 2025 and 2026. The pilot term has ended, so ask the district directly whether cameras are still available in your child's classroom. Parents in other counties have no statewide right to one.
How much is the FES-UA scholarship for a Broward student?
The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA), run by Step Up For Students, can pay for approved therapies including ABA, private school tuition and other approved costs. Step Up's 2026-27 table, by the student's county of residence, lists these amounts for Broward:
| Matrix level | Ages or grades | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Levels 1 to 3 (251 to 253), or a qualifying diagnosis | Ages 3 and 4, grades K to 3 | $10,658 |
| Levels 1 to 3 | Grades 4 to 8 | $10,060 |
| Levels 1 to 3 | Grades 9 to 12 | $9,865 |
| Level 4 (254) | All | $21,941 |
| Level 5 (255) | All | $35,295 |
New 2026-27 applications are accepted until November 15, 2026. While a student uses the scholarship, the district is not required to provide a free appropriate public education, so read our FES-UA explainer before you apply.
My employer plan won't cover ABA. Who regulates it?
Florida's autism insurance law does not reach self-funded employer plans, and the state Department of Financial Services has no authority over them. Complaints about those plans go to the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA). The DFS autism page lists the regional EBSA office here in Broward: 1000 S. Pine Island Road, Suite 100, Plantation, FL 33324, toll-free 1-866-444-3272. Our guide to fully insured versus self-funded plans shows how to tell which kind you have.
Should we register for a special needs shelter?
Florida law (s. 252.355) requires each county emergency management agency to keep a registry of residents with physical, mental, cognitive or sensory disabilities who would need help evacuating or sheltering. Broward County Emergency Management runs the county's program, but its web pages could not be opened when this guide was checked, so start with the statewide Florida Special Needs Registry, which feeds county rosters.
The Florida Department of Health lists who usually qualifies: people who rely on life-sustaining medical equipment, need caregiver help with daily activities, have medical conditions needing frequent care, or need mobility help. Autism alone may not qualify, and registering does not guarantee a space. Caregivers may shelter with the person they care for. The Florida Department of Health in Broward County (954-467-4700) leads health and medical support during county emergencies. See how to register for a special needs shelter.
Where can Broward kids find inclusive recreation?
UM-NSU CARD connects registered families with recreational activities and support groups, which is often the quickest route to sensory-friendly outings with other autism families. Broward County Parks and many city parks departments also run programs for children with disabilities; we could not open the county's program pages when this guide was checked, so call your county or city parks office and ask about adaptive or sensory-friendly options before you sign up.
ABA therapy in Broward County with Hope Center
Hope Center for Behavior Change serves families in Fort Lauderdale and across Broward County in homes, schools, daycares and the community. We do not have a center in Broward; our nearest center is in West Palm Beach at 750 S Military Trail, Suite D-E. We have no waitlist, and services usually begin 3 to 5 business days after insurance approves the plan. Our team speaks English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Bengali and Russian.
We work with Blue Cross Blue Shield (Florida Blue), Aetna, Cigna (Evernorth), UMR, Personify Health and TRICARE East, and offer self-pay with a sliding scale. See where we provide ABA and our Fort Lauderdale resource guide, then request a free consultation and benefits check or call 561-337-8865.