Charlotte County families often find that the regional offices serving them sit outside the county: Early Steps and FDLRS in Sarasota, APD in Fort Myers and CARD in Tampa. The school district and county emergency management are local, in Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda. This guide maps each office for families in Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Englewood and the rest of the county, using contact details from each agency's own page as of October 2026. Confirm before you go.
Who do I call first in Charlotte County?
- Under 3: Gulf Central Early Steps, run by the Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida at 4630 17th Street, Sarasota, FL 34235, serves Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Manatee and Sarasota counties. Call (941) 487-5400; Charlotte County Public Schools gives the same number for children under three. The statewide line is 1-800-218-0001. No doctor's referral is needed and families pay no Early Steps fees. See our Early Steps guide.
- Ages 3 to 5, and private school students 5 to 18: Charlotte County Public Schools' FDLRS and Child Find office takes phone referrals at (941) 559-1887 or (941) 559-1885, and also has an online parent referral form. Child Find offers free developmental screening in communication, motor development, vision, hearing and preschool readiness.
- Any age: ask your pediatrician to refer you for an autism evaluation. Read how to get an autism diagnosis in Florida.
The regional FDLRS center for Charlotte, Manatee and Sarasota is FDLRS Suncoast, 1960 Landings Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34231, phone 941-927-9000.
Which CARD center serves Charlotte County?
Charlotte is one of 14 southwest Florida counties served by CARD-USF, the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University of South Florida. Florida law (s. 1004.55) sets up seven regional CARD centers to support people of all ages with autism and related disabilities, their families and the professionals who work with them.
- 13301 Bruce B Downs Blvd., MHC 2113A, Tampa, FL 33612
- Phone: 813-974-2532
CARD-USF says it delivers services at no cost wherever families, schools and agencies are located in its region, so a Charlotte family can ask for help by phone or at a local school rather than driving to Tampa. See which CARD serves my county.
Which APD office serves Charlotte County?
The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) serves Floridians whose developmental disability, including autism, began before age 18. It offers support coordination and, through the iBudget waiver, home and community services. Waiver funding can take years, so apply early. Charlotte is in APD's Suncoast Region, and APD lists Charlotte among the counties served by its Fort Myers office:
- 2295 Victoria Avenue, Suite 221, Fort Myers, FL 33901
- Phone: (800) 615-8720
That office also serves Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties. See how to apply for APD services.
How do Charlotte County Public Schools handle evaluations?
Charlotte County Public Schools is at 1445 Education Way, Port Charlotte, FL 33948, phone 941-255-0808. For a child already in a district or charter school, write to the school asking for an initial evaluation and ask for the school's ESE contact. For younger children and private school students, start with Child Find (above).
Florida's evaluation rule requires the district to respond to a parent's request within 30 days, either by asking for consent or by explaining in writing why it refuses. After you consent, the evaluation must be completed within 60 calendar days, not counting some school breaks. School eligibility is separate from a medical diagnosis.
Under s. 1003.572, a private BCBA or RBT can work with your child at a public school when the teacher and principal agree on time and place. Read private ABA in Charlotte and Highlands schools.
How much is FES-UA for a Charlotte County student?
The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA), run by Step Up For Students, can fund approved therapies including ABA, private school tuition and other approved costs. Step Up's 2026-27 table lists these amounts for Charlotte residents:
| Matrix level | Ages or grades | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Levels 1 to 3, or a qualifying diagnosis | Ages 3 and 4, grades K to 3 | $10,971 |
| Levels 1 to 3 | Grades 4 to 8 | $10,387 |
| Levels 1 to 3 | Grades 9 to 12 | $10,196 |
| Level 4 (254) | All | $21,948 |
| Level 5 (255) | All | $34,998 |
New 2026-27 applications are accepted until November 15, 2026. A scholarship student gives up the district's duty to provide a free appropriate public education while on it; see our FES-UA explainer.
Should we join Charlotte County's Special Needs Program?
Charlotte County Emergency Management runs a Special Needs Program, with the Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County, for residents with physical, mental, cognitive or sensory disabilities who need help evacuating or sheltering. The health department's shelter page says the special needs shelter is a shelter of last resort for people who do not need a hospital and who, for example, use daily oxygen or electrically dependent equipment, or have moderate cognitive conditions. Advance registration is required.
- Register online through the county's Special Needs Program page, before a storm threatens. The county stops processing applications once Charlotte enters the five-day forecast cone.
- Registration is for planning; it does not guarantee shelter space, transportation or medical treatment.
- Everyone at the special needs shelter must be accompanied by a caregiver, and only service animals may stay.
- Eligibility questions: Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County, 1100 Loveland Blvd., Port Charlotte, FL 33980, 941-624-7200. Charlotte County Emergency Management is at 26571 Airport Road, Punta Gorda, FL 33982, 941-833-4000.
See how to register for a special needs shelter.
Is there help if my child wanders?
If your child is missing, call 911 right away and check water first: pools, canals and retention ponds. Call the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office non-emergency line and ask what tracking or special-needs registry programs it offers today. See Project Lifesaver in Florida. For outings, ask your library branch and county parks office about sensory-friendly hours or accessible playgrounds; we could not find an official listing of sensory-friendly programs in the county when this guide was checked.
ABA therapy in Charlotte County with Hope Center
Hope Center for Behavior Change has a center in Port Charlotte at 4055 N Tamiami Trail, Suite 24, Port Charlotte, FL 33952, open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. We also provide ABA in homes, schools, daycares and the community. We have no waitlist, and services usually begin 3 to 5 business days after insurance approves the plan.
We work with Blue Cross Blue Shield (Florida Blue), Aetna, Cigna (Evernorth), UMR, Personify Health and TRICARE East, with self-pay on a sliding scale. Visit our Port Charlotte ABA page, request a free consultation and benefits check, or call 561-337-8865.