Port St. Lucie is one of the few places on the Treasure Coast where a key autism office sits inside the city limits: FDLRS Galaxy, the screening and family resource center for St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River and Okeechobee counties, shares a Brandywine Lane address with the school district's offices. Other services, such as CARD and APD, come from offices in Palm Beach County. This guide lists who to call, what the city offers for recreation, and how to plan for hurricane season. For the countywide view, see our St. Lucie County autism resources guide. Details are from each agency's own page as of October 2026; confirm before you go.
Who screens young children in Port St. Lucie?
- Under 3: Treasure Coast Early Steps, run by Easterseals Florida, serves St. Lucie County along with Palm Beach, Martin, Indian River and Okeechobee. Call 561-882-6426 to make a referral. The program is funded in part by the Children's Services Councils of Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties. The statewide Early Steps line is 1-800-218-0001. See our Early Steps guide.
- Ages 3 to 5: FDLRS Galaxy, 9461 Brandywine Ln., 2nd Floor, Port Saint Lucie, FL 34986, phone 772-429-4600, is the FDLRS associate center for Indian River, St. Lucie, Okeechobee and Martin counties. FDLRS centers run Child Find screening for preschool children.
- Diagnosis: ask your pediatrician for a referral for a diagnostic evaluation. See how to get an autism diagnosis in Florida.
How do St. Lucie Public Schools handle ESE?
St. Lucie Public Schools' district office is at 9461 Brandywine Lane, Port St. Lucie, FL 34986. The district lists an Executive Director of Exceptional Student Education and Student Services at (772) 429-4577. For a child already enrolled, start with the ESE staff at your child's school, and put any request for an evaluation in writing.
Florida's evaluation rule applies in every district: after a parent's written request, the district has 30 days to ask for consent or explain in writing why it refuses, and once you consent, the evaluation must be finished within 60 calendar days, not counting certain school breaks. School eligibility for autism comes from the district's own evaluation and is separate from a medical diagnosis.
If you want your child's private BCBA or RBT to observe or work with them at school, Florida law (s. 1003.572) allows it when the teacher and principal agree to the time and place, and the district may not add requirements beyond the statute or charge fees for it. See private ABA in public school.
Which CARD and APD offices serve Port St. Lucie?
CARD: St. Lucie County is served by the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at Florida Atlantic University, which also covers Palm Beach, Martin, Indian River and Okeechobee counties. Call 561-213-5751 or email card@fau.edu. FAU CARD's offices are on its Jupiter campus (5353 Parkside Dr., Jupiter) and Boca Raton campus. CARD offers consultation, training and help finding resources; it does not provide ABA therapy. See which CARD serves my county.
APD: St. Lucie County is in APD's Southeast Region and is served by the West Palm Beach office at 111 South Sapodilla Avenue, Suite 204, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, phone (561) 837-5564. APD serves people whose developmental disability, including autism, began before age 18. See how to apply for APD services.
Does Port St. Lucie offer recreation for kids with special needs?
Yes. The City of Port St. Lucie Parks and Recreation Department lists a Special Populations Programs section. The 2026 listings include:
| Program | Where | Ages | Cost listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Populations Music & Motion (Thursdays, September to May) | Minsky Gym | 6 and older | $35 per person per month |
| Dance for All Abilities (Saturdays) | PSL Community Center | 7 and older | $30 per class; $105 per month |
| Special Populations Dance (evening socials on set dates) | MIDFLORIDA Event Center | 15 and older | $10 per person; caregivers free |
For Music & Motion, the city lists Minsky Gym at 772-344-4142. Dates, times and fees can change, so check the city's Recreation Programs page before you register. A recurring group activity like this can also be a good place to practice skills your child is working on in ABA, such as waiting for a turn or joining a group.
How does the St. Lucie special needs shelter work?
St. Lucie County's Public Safety Department runs a Special Needs Shelter with the Florida Department of Health. Key points from the county's page:
- Pre-registration is online, and is strongly suggested. For a paper application, email special.needs@stlucieco.org or call Public Safety at 772-462-8100.
- Clients must re-register every year; the county clears the registration system annually.
- The shelter is at the Havert L. Fenn Center, 2000 Virginia Avenue, Fort Pierce. If a second shelter is needed, it will be at the Port St. Lucie Community Center, 2195 SE Airoso Boulevard.
- Eligibility is medical: people who need daily nursing assessment, oxygen, electrically powered equipment at home, or who are so limited by immobility that others must meet their basic medical needs.
- Each client must come with one caregiver.
- The registration website shuts down 2 to 3 days before tropical-storm-force winds are expected.
Autism alone does not meet these criteria, so an autistic child without these medical needs may be directed to a general shelter. Many families plan ahead to stay with relatives or friends outside the evacuation area instead. Pack a sensory kit and familiar items either way. See special needs shelter registration in Florida.
How can we get ABA in Port St. Lucie?
Hope Center for Behavior Change serves St. Lucie County, including Port St. Lucie, in homes, schools, daycares and community settings. We do not have an office in Port St. Lucie or St. Lucie County; our nearest center is in West Palm Beach. What that looks like in practice:
- Call or send the form. We check your benefits for free and explain your share.
- Assessment. A BCBA meets your child, usually 2 to 4 hours over one or two sessions, at home or at a center.
- Plan. The BCBA writes the plan (up to two weeks), the clinical director reviews it, you sign, and we submit it to your insurer.
- Start. We have no waitlist; services usually begin 3 to 5 business days after approval. Overall it can be as little as three weeks from the first call, longer if paperwork is slow.
Parents get weekly training, and staff can join IEP meetings where the school allows. 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. Our team speaks English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Bengali and Russian.
See where we provide ABA and our intake timeline, then request a free consultation or call 561-337-8865.