Highlands County is rural, and most of the regional offices that serve its families are based elsewhere: Early Steps in Sarasota, APD in Lakeland and CARD in Tampa. A few key resources are right in Sebring, including the county's FDLRS center, emergency management and the library system. This guide lists who does what for families in Sebring, Avon Park, Lake Placid and the rest of the county. Contact details come from each agency's own page as of October 2026; confirm before you make the drive.
Who do I call first in Highlands County?
- Under 3: Gulf Central Early Steps, run by the Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida in Sarasota, serves Highlands along with Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Manatee and Sarasota counties. Call (941) 487-5400, or the statewide line, 1-800-218-0001. Anyone can refer a child, families pay no Early Steps fees, and services are meant to happen in the child's natural environment, such as home, rather than at the Sarasota office. See our Early Steps guide.
- Ages 3 to 5: FDLRS Heartland, at 426 School St., Sebring, FL 33870, handles Child Find for Highlands, Hardee, DeSoto, Glades and Hendry counties. Call 863-471-5510 or use the screening request on its website, which also posts a screening schedule.
- Any age: ask your pediatrician for a referral for an autism evaluation. See how to get an autism diagnosis in Florida.
Which CARD center serves Highlands County?
Highlands is served by CARD-USF, the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University of South Florida in Tampa. It is one of seven regional centers created under Florida law (s. 1004.55) and covers 14 counties in southwest Florida.
- 13301 Bruce B Downs Blvd., MHC 2113A, Tampa, FL 33612
- Phone: 813-974-2532
CARD-USF says its services are delivered at no cost wherever families, schools or agencies are located in its region. For a Highlands family, that means asking for phone, video or school-based help rather than planning a trip to Tampa. See which CARD serves my county.
Is Highlands in APD's Central or Suncoast region?
Highlands is in APD's Central Region, not Suncoast, even though its CARD and Early Steps programs are based on the Gulf coast. The Agency for Persons with Disabilities serves people whose developmental disability, including autism, began before age 18, with services such as support coordination and the iBudget waiver. The office that lists Highlands among its counties is in Lakeland:
- 200 North Kentucky Avenue, Suite 422, Lakeland, FL 33801
- Phone: (407) 245-0440
The Lakeland office also serves Hardee and Polk. Waiver funding can take years, so apply early; APD accepts applications online. See how to apply for APD services.
How do Highlands County schools handle autism evaluations?
If your child attends a Highlands County public or charter school, write to the school asking for an initial evaluation and ask for the school's ESE (exceptional student education) contact. We could not open the School Board of Highlands County's ESE pages when this guide was checked, so start with your school, or with FDLRS Heartland for children aged 3 to 5.
Florida's evaluation rule gives the district 30 days after a parent's request to either ask for consent or explain in writing why it refuses. After consent, the evaluation must be completed within 60 calendar days, excluding some school breaks. The school's eligibility decision is separate from any medical diagnosis.
A private BCBA or RBT can work with your child at a public school under s. 1003.572 when the teacher and principal agree on time and place. Read private ABA in Charlotte and Highlands schools.
How much is FES-UA in Highlands County?
The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA), run by Step Up For Students, can pay for approved therapies such as ABA, private school tuition and other approved costs. Step Up's 2026-27 table lists these amounts for Highlands residents:
| Matrix level | Ages or grades | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Levels 1 to 3, or a qualifying diagnosis | Ages 3 and 4, grades K to 3 | $10,765 |
| Levels 1 to 3 | Grades 4 to 8 | $10,160 |
| Levels 1 to 3 | Grades 9 to 12 | $9,961 |
| Level 4 (254) | All | $22,233 |
| Level 5 (255) | All | $35,769 |
New 2026-27 applications are accepted until November 15, 2026. See our FES-UA explainer for the trade-offs, including giving up the district's duty to provide a free appropriate public education while on the scholarship.
What is the Highlands County Diverse Needs Registry?
Highlands County has two separate sign-ups, and autism families may want both.
- Diverse Needs Registry: a voluntary registry run by Highlands County Emergency Management, the county GIS division and the Sheriff's Office. When a registered address comes up on a call, the dispatcher sees a note and can tell responders on the way, for example that someone in the home has a condition affecting communication or mobility. That information could help responders adjust their approach with a child who is nonspeaking or easily overwhelmed. Register again each year after March 1. Questions: Emergency Management, (863) 402-7600, option 3.
- Special Needs Shelter application: for people with a physical or mental condition that needs limited medical or nursing help not available in a general shelter. The county notes that not every person with a disability needs a special needs shelter, and admission guidelines are set by the Florida Department of Health. The Department of Health in Highlands County asks anyone who may need the shelter to register every year through the county's online application.
See how to register for a special needs shelter.
What else is available locally?
The Highlands County library system has libraries in Sebring, Avon Park and Lake Placid, and library cards are free to county residents. We did not find an official listing of sensory-friendly library hours or inclusive playgrounds in the county when this guide was checked, so ask the library system (863-402-6716) what is offered now. If your child wanders, call 911 at once and check water first, then ask the Sheriff's Office about local programs; see Project Lifesaver in Florida.
ABA therapy in Highlands County with Hope Center
Hope Center for Behavior Change has a center 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. We also provide ABA in homes, schools, daycares and the community. Families in Avon Park and Lake Placid can come to the Sebring center; for in-home services outside Sebring, call to ask whether we can staff your area. 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 Sebring ABA page, request a free consultation and benefits check, or call 561-337-8865.