Autism and ABA Resources in Plant City, FL: Local Offices and Next Steps

Plant City sits at the eastern edge of Hillsborough County, closer to Lakeland than to downtown Tampa. That location shapes where you go for autism help: most county offices are in Tampa or Brandon, and if you live just over the line in Polk County, a different set of offices serves you. This guide lists the offices Plant City families use, with phone numbers and addresses taken from each agency's own page in October 2026, then walks through how to start ABA. Offices move and numbers change, so confirm before you go.

Does Hope Center provide ABA in Plant City?

Yes, but not from a Plant City office. Hope Center for Behavior Change has no location in Plant City. Our team provides ABA to Plant City families in homes, schools, daycares and the community. Our nearest center is in Temple Terrace at 9385 N 56th St, Suite 211, Temple Terrace, FL 33617, open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Some families come to the center for some sessions; many Plant City families choose home and school sessions so their child does not spend time on I-4.

• Insurance: Blue Cross Blue Shield (Florida Blue), Aetna, Cigna (Evernorth), UMR, Personify Health and TRICARE East (Humana Military). Self-pay with a sliding scale is available for all services. Costs depend on your plan, and we check your benefits for free.
• Timing: we have no waitlist. Services usually begin 3 to 5 business days after your insurer approves the treatment plan.
• Languages: English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Bengali and Russian.

See our Tampa and Temple Terrace ABA page and our in-home ABA page.

Who do I call first if I think my child is autistic?

The first call depends on your child's age.

• Under 3: Bay Area Early Steps, run by USF Health Pediatrics, covers Hillsborough and Polk counties. For inquiries and referrals call (813) 974-0602 or (866) 549-1710. Spanish-speaking families can call (813) 821-8038, option 8. The statewide Early Steps line is 1-800-218-0001. USF says there is no income requirement and most services happen in the home at no cost to your family. See our Early Steps guide.
• Ages 3 to 5, not yet in kindergarten: FDLRS Hillsborough handles Child Find screening for the county. It is at 311 N. Kings Ave., Brandon, FL 33510, phone 813-837-7777. Screening is free. See FDLRS and Child Find.
• Any age: ask your child's pediatrician for a referral for an autism diagnostic evaluation. Our guide on getting an autism diagnosis in Florida explains who can diagnose.

What can CARD-USF do for a Plant City family?

The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University of South Florida (CARD-USF) is one of seven state-funded regional autism centers set up under Florida law (s. 1004.55). It serves Hillsborough, Polk and 12 other west and southwest Florida counties, so it covers you whether you live inside Plant City limits or across the Polk line. 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

CARD offers family consultation, training and help finding resources. It is not a therapy provider, so it works alongside your child's ABA and school team. Read CARD vs an ABA provider for how the two fit together.

Which APD office serves Plant City?

The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) serves Floridians whose developmental disability, including autism, began before age 18. Services can include support coordination, respite and, through the iBudget waiver, home and community services. Many families wait a long time for waiver funding, so apply early. APD's autism eligibility page says it accepts an autism diagnosis only from a Florida-licensed psychiatrist or psychologist, a board-certified pediatric neurologist or a board-certified developmental pediatrician.

Hillsborough County is in APD's Suncoast Region. Its Tampa office serves DeSoto, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties:

• 1313 North Tampa Street, Suite 515, Tampa, FL 33602
• Phone: (800) 615-8720

See how to apply for APD services.

We live on the Polk County side. What changes?

Public programs follow your county of residence, not your mailing address. If your home is in Polk County (for example, toward Lakeland), these are your offices instead:

Use the Hillsborough County guide for the full county picture. Hope Center also serves Lakeland and Winter Haven families in homes, schools and daycares, without an office there. See the Polk County guide.

How do Plant City schools handle evaluations and private ABA?

Plant City public schools are part of Hillsborough County Public Schools. If your child is enrolled, start with the school's ESE (exceptional student education) contact and put your request 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. Once you consent, the evaluation must be finished within 60 calendar days (some school breaks do not count). See the 60-day evaluation timeline. For a child aged 3 to 5, FDLRS Hillsborough is the usual starting point.

Florida law (s. 1003.572) lets a private BCBA or RBT hired by the family observe, collaborate with school staff and provide services at school when the child's teachers and the principal agree on the time and place. The law says districts may not add requirements beyond those in that subsection. Our guide to private ABA in Hillsborough schools covers how to ask, and our school-based ABA page explains how our staff work with teachers.

Are there sensory-friendly and inclusive programs near Plant City?

• Bruton Memorial Library (302 McLendon Street, Plant City, FL 33563) has listed a 30-minute Sensory Friendly Storytime for children of all abilities, most recently on April 20, 2026. The listing describes a visual schedule, a smaller group and fewer distractions, and says children are not expected to sit still or stay quiet. Call 813-757-9215 or email libraryinfo@plantcitygov.com to ask about upcoming dates.
• Hillsborough County Adaptive Recreation is for children with special needs and disabilities who may not thrive in a traditional after-school or summer camp. Its main office is at Miller Park & Life Center, 6105 E. Sligh Ave., Tampa, FL 33617, which the county says has its largest adaptive playground. Parks & Recreation: (813) 744-5978. Miller Park is a short drive from our Temple Terrace center.
• Plant City Parks & Recreation runs the city's recreation buildings and neighborhood parks from 1904 South Park Rd, (813) 659-4255. Ask about accommodations when you register for a camp or class.

Should we register for a special needs shelter?

Hillsborough County's special needs disaster assistance page lists criteria that include "a person with mental or cognitive limitations requiring assistance," along with medical needs such as dependence on electricity or help with medication. Autism is not named, so the Florida Department of Health reviews each application. The county prefers online registration at snr.flhealthresponse.com; you can also call the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County at (813) 307-8063. The county notes that these shelters "do not provide bedside nursing care or one to one care," encourages one caregiver to come along, and closes registration once an evacuation begins. Register before storm season. See our Hillsborough special needs shelter guide.

How do we start ABA with Hope Center from Plant City?

1. Call or send the form. Tell us your Plant City address, your child's age and diagnosis, your insurance and how soon you want to start.
2. Return the intake documents. We verify your benefits for free.
3. Initial assessment. A BCBA meets your child for 2 to 4 hours over one or two sessions, at your home or at our Temple Terrace center.
4. Treatment plan. The BCBA writes the plan (up to two weeks), our clinical director reviews it, you sign it and we submit it to your insurer.
5. Start. Sessions usually begin 3 to 5 business days after approval, at home, school, daycare or the center.

As an example only: a family that returns paperwork quickly may go from first call to first session in as little as three weeks. Slow documents or insurer delays can stretch that to months. Our intake timeline explains each step. Request a free consultation and benefits check or call 561-337-8865.