Jacksonville and Duval County have a strong local base of autism resources. The regional CARD center, the Early Steps program and the FDLRS center are all inside the city, and APD has a regional office on Hodges Boulevard. The City of Jacksonville also runs its own disability services division and special medical needs registry. This guide gathers those offices in one place, with contact details from each agency's own page as of October 2026. Confirm before you go.
Who do I call first in Jacksonville?
- Under 3: Northeastern Early Steps, run by the University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, Department of Pediatrics, serves Duval, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties. It is at 910 North Jefferson Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209. The state's Early Steps directory lists its phone as (904) 427-7600. 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: FDLRS Crown, 1531 Winthrop St., Jacksonville, FL 32206, handles Child Find screening for Duval, Clay and Nassau counties. Call 904-346-4601.
- Any age: ask your pediatrician for a referral for an autism evaluation. See how to get an autism diagnosis in Florida.
If your child is already in Early Steps, transition planning starts at least 90 days before the third birthday. Unless you opt out, Early Steps notifies Duval County Public Schools so the district can plan an evaluation, and with your approval it sets up a transition meeting with a district representative. By the third birthday, an IEP should be in place if your child is found eligible.
What does the Jacksonville CARD do?
The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at UF Health Jacksonville is one of seven regional CARD centers created by Florida law (s. 1004.55). It serves Duval, Baker, Clay, Flagler, Nassau and St. Johns counties.
- 6271 St. Augustine Rd., Suite 1, Jacksonville, FL 32217
- Phone: (904) 633-0760
CARD says its services are free of charge to people with autism and related disabilities, their families and the professionals who work with them. To become eligible, CARD needs documentation of a qualifying diagnosis or condition; if you are unsure about your child's diagnosis, call and ask what they can do in the meantime. CARD also serves adults, which matters as your child grows. It is not a therapy provider, so it works alongside your ABA team and school. See which CARD serves my county.
Where is the APD office for Duval 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 often takes years, so apply early. Duval is in APD's Northeast Region:
- 3631 Hodges Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32224
- Phone: (386) 238-4607
The Jacksonville office also serves Baker, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties. See how to apply for APD services.
How do Duval County Public Schools handle autism evaluations?
For a child in a Duval public or charter school, write to the school asking for an initial evaluation and ask who the school's ESE contact or case manager is. We could not open Duval County Public Schools' ESE pages when this guide was checked, so start with your child's school, or with FDLRS Crown for children aged 3 to 5. The district's main site is dcps.duvalschools.org.
Florida's evaluation rule requires the district to respond to a parent's written request within 30 days, either by asking for consent or by explaining in writing why it refuses. Once you consent, the evaluation must be completed within 60 calendar days, with some school breaks excluded. School eligibility for autism is the district's decision and is separate from a medical diagnosis.
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 Duval County schools.
How much is FES-UA for a Duval 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 Duval residents:
| Matrix level | Ages or grades | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Levels 1 to 3, or a qualifying diagnosis | Ages 3 and 4, grades K to 3 | $10,573 |
| Levels 1 to 3 | Grades 4 to 8 | $9,985 |
| Levels 1 to 3 | Grades 9 to 12 | $9,793 |
| Level 4 (254) | All | $21,649 |
| Level 5 (255) | All | $34,797 |
New 2026-27 applications are accepted until November 15, 2026. Read our FES-UA explainer first.
How does Jacksonville's Special Medical Needs Registry work?
The City of Jacksonville keeps a Special Medical Needs Registry for people who would need help evacuating or sheltering. The city's definition includes people medically dependent on electricity or oxygen and people with physical, cognitive or medical conditions who may need basic help from medical professionals.
- Register online through the city's registry, or download the form (English or Spanish) and submit it by mail, fax or electronically. For help, call the Emergency Preparedness Division at (904) 255-3172.
- Registering does not automatically qualify someone for a special needs shelter. Department of Health medical staff review each application, and people who are not eligible are referred to other options, which may include a general shelter.
- The registry is updated every year starting in January, and each person must re-register to stay active.
See how to register for a special needs shelter.
Are there adaptive recreation programs in Jacksonville?
The City of Jacksonville's Disabled Services Division partners with local rehabilitation and nonprofit agencies to offer adaptive recreation in city parks. Listed activities include athletics, baseball, basketball, cycling, football, goalball and kayaking. For details, call (904) 255-5466 (TTY 904-255-5475). If your child wanders, call 911 immediately and check water first, then ask the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office what tracking or registry programs it offers now; see Project Lifesaver in Florida.
Is there help for Jacksonville military families?
Military families in Jacksonville use TRICARE East, run by Humana Military, which Hope Center accepts. TRICARE covers ABA for eligible children through its Autism Care Demonstration, which has its own referral and outcome-measure rules. See TRICARE ABA therapy and our Autism Care Demonstration guide.
ABA therapy in Duval County with Hope Center
Hope Center for Behavior Change has a center in Jacksonville at 7751 Belfort Parkway, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32256, 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, and offer self-pay with a sliding scale. Visit our Jacksonville ABA page, request a free consultation and benefits check, or call 561-337-8865.