Riverview is one of the fastest-growing parts of south Hillsborough County, and many families here are new to the area, often with a parent stationed at MacDill. Most public autism offices that serve Riverview are countywide or regional, and the closest county adaptive recreation site is in Ruskin. Because parts of south county sit near the bay and rivers, hurricane planning matters more here than in many Florida suburbs. This guide covers who to call, school steps, storm planning and in-home ABA. For the county view, see our Hillsborough County autism resources guide. Details are from each agency's own page as of October 2026; confirm before you go.
We just moved to Riverview. Who do we call first?
- Under 3: USF's Bay Area Early Steps program covers Hillsborough and Polk counties. Call (813) 974-0602 or (866) 549-1710, or use the online referral form. USF says there is no income requirement and most services happen at home at no cost to the family. If your child had early intervention in another state, bring those records. See our Early Steps guide.
- About 34 months to 5, not in public school: FDLRS Hillsborough offers free developmental screenings with no referral and no insurance needed. Call (813) 837-7723 (English) or (813) 837-7714 (Spanish). Its office is at 311 N. Kings Ave., Brandon.
- School age: enroll your child, then share any existing IEP with the school's ESE staff. Ask the school how it will handle a prior IEP from another district or state.
- Any age: register with CARD-USF (813-974-2532), which offers free consultation and training across 14 counties, including Hillsborough. CARD does not provide ABA therapy.
For long-term disability services, Hillsborough County is served by APD's Tampa office, 1313 North Tampa Street, Suite 515, Tampa, FL 33602, phone (800) 615-8720. See how to apply for APD services.
How do Riverview families request a school evaluation?
Riverview students attend Hillsborough County Public Schools. The district office is at 901 East Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33602, phone (813) 272-4000. Write to your child's school asking for an initial evaluation for exceptional student education. Florida's rule then gives the district 30 days to ask for consent or explain in writing why it refuses, and once you consent the evaluation must be done within 60 calendar days, not counting certain school breaks. For help with the process, FDLRS Hillsborough's Parent and Family Services team takes questions at fdlrsparentservices@hcps.net or 813-837-7732 (English), 813-837-7728 (Spanish).
If your child's private BCBA or RBT should work with them at school, Florida law (s. 1003.572) allows it when the teacher and principal agree to the time and place. See private ABA in public school.
Is there adaptive recreation near Riverview?
Hillsborough County's Adaptive Recreation program, for children ages 5 to 17 with physical and mental disabilities, lists the Ruskin Park & Recreation Center, 901 6th Street, Ruskin, among its locations, along with Miller Park & Life Center in Tampa and a summer-only site in Brandon. The program lets children with disabilities take part alongside peers without disabilities. Participants must have completed kindergarten; contact the recreation center about registration. Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation: (813) 744-5978.
The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative says sensory-friendly toolkits are available at all of its libraries, including branches in south county; ask at the desk before a storytime or visit.
How should a Riverview family plan for hurricanes?
Start by finding your evacuation zone with Hillsborough County's HEAT tool or by calling the Office of Emergency Management at (813) 236-3800. Then decide where you would go. The county says to use shelters only if you have no other place to evacuate to.
Hillsborough's special needs shelters are temporary facilities for people whose medical or other needs go beyond a general shelter. The county's eligibility criteria include a person with mental or cognitive limitations requiring assistance, alongside medical needs such as dependence on electricity for oxygen or feeding tubes. Points to know:
- Register online (preferred), through your home health provider, or by calling DOH-Hillsborough at (813) 307-8063. There are no fees.
- Your registration is reviewed, and you receive a status letter.
- The shelters do not provide bedside or one-to-one care, so bring a caregiver.
- If you need a ride, say so when you pre-register; the county arranges transportation through Sunshine Line during an evacuation.
- Registration stops when evacuations begin, so do it early in the season.
- All special needs shelters are pet friendly, and service animals may stay with you.
Pack a go-bag with your child's medications, a communication device and charger, headphones, comfort items and safe foods. See how to register for a special needs shelter.
We are stationed at MacDill. How does ABA work with TRICARE?
Hope Center works with TRICARE East (Humana Military). TRICARE's autism program has its own referral, diagnosis and documentation requirements, and a PCS move can mean starting some steps again. Our guide for MacDill AFB families walks through it, and our military families page explains how we help.
How does in-home ABA work in Riverview?
Hope Center serves Riverview without an office there. Most Riverview families choose sessions at home, at school (with the school's agreement) or at daycare. Families who want center sessions can use our Tampa-area center at 9385 N 56th St, Suite 211, Temple Terrace, open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. We also serve nearby Apollo Beach.
| Week | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Before week 1 | Benefits check, assessment, plan written and approved by your insurer |
| Week 1 | RBT builds rapport with your child through play; BCBA visits |
| Weeks 2 to 3 | Work on first goals starts; weekly parent training begins |
| Week 4 | BCBA reviews data with you and adjusts the plan |
We have no waitlist. Services usually begin 3 to 5 business days after insurance approves the plan. We also work with Blue Cross Blue Shield (Florida Blue), Aetna, Cigna (Evernorth), UMR and Personify Health, and offer self-pay with a sliding scale; costs depend on your plan. Our team speaks English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Bengali and Russian.
See our Tampa ABA page and in-home ABA, then request a free consultation and benefits check or call 561-337-8865.