St. Lucie County shares many of its autism resources with the rest of the Treasure Coast and with Palm Beach County to the south. That can be confusing: some offices are in Port St. Lucie, while others that serve St. Lucie families sit in West Palm Beach, Jupiter or Boca Raton. This guide sorts out which office does what for families in Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce and the rest of the county. Contact details come from each agency's own page as of October 2026; confirm before you go.
Who do I call first in St. Lucie County?
- Under 3: Treasure Coast Early Steps, run by Easterseals Florida, serves St. Lucie, Palm Beach, Martin, Indian River and Okeechobee counties. The state's Early Steps directory lists a separate intake line for families outside Palm Beach County: (772) 380-9972. The program's main office is at 213 South Congress Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33409, and 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 Galaxy, in Port St. Lucie, handles Child Find screening for St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River and Okeechobee: 9461 Brandywine Lane, 2nd Floor, Port St. Lucie, FL 34986, phone 772-429-4600. Screening is free.
- Any age: ask your child's pediatrician to refer you for an autism diagnostic evaluation. Our guide to getting an autism diagnosis in Florida explains who can diagnose.
Which CARD center serves St. Lucie County?
Florida's seven regional autism centers (CARD) are set up by s. 1004.55 of Florida law. St. Lucie County is served by the CARD at Florida Atlantic University, which also covers Palm Beach, Martin, Indian River and Okeechobee counties. CARD helps people of all ages with autism and related disabilities, and their families, through individual and family assistance, school consultation, training and resource help.
- Phone: 561-213-5751
- Email: card@fau.edu
- Offices on FAU's Jupiter campus (5353 Parkside Dr., Jupiter, FL 33458) and Boca Raton campus (777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431)
The offices are south of the county, so ask whether a CARD specialist can help by phone, video or at your child's school. CARD is not a therapy provider; it works alongside your child's ABA and school team. See which CARD serves my county.
Where is the APD office for St. Lucie families?
The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) serves people whose developmental disability, including autism, began before age 18. APD can offer support coordination and, through the iBudget waiver, home and community services, though many families wait years for waiver funding. St. Lucie is in APD's Southeast Region, and the region's office that lists St. Lucie among the counties it serves is in West Palm Beach:
- 111 South Sapodilla Avenue, Suite 204, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
- Phone: (561) 837-5564
You do not have to visit in person to apply; APD offers an online application. See how to apply for APD services.
How do St. Lucie Public Schools handle autism evaluations?
St. Lucie Public Schools' district office is at 9461 Brandywine Lane, Port St. Lucie, FL 34986. The district groups Student Services, Exceptional Student Education (ESE) and FDLRS together; its directory lists the Student Services and ESE leadership line as (772) 429-4577.
- Your child is in a district or charter school: write to the school asking for an initial evaluation and ask who the school's ESE contact is.
- Your child is 3 to 5 and not in kindergarten: start with FDLRS Galaxy (above).
Florida's evaluation rule gives the district 30 days after a parent's request to either seek consent or explain in writing why it refuses. After 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.
Under s. 1003.572, a private BCBA or RBT can work with your child at a public school when the teacher and principal agree on time and place. See private ABA in Florida public schools.
How much is FES-UA for a St. Lucie student?
The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA), managed by Step Up For Students, can pay for approved therapies such as ABA, private school tuition and other approved costs. Amounts depend on the student's county of residence and matrix level. Step Up's 2026-27 table lists for St. Lucie:
| Matrix level | Ages or grades | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Levels 1 to 3, or a qualifying diagnosis | Ages 3 and 4, grades K to 3 | $11,170 |
| Levels 1 to 3 | Grades 4 to 8 | $10,586 |
| Levels 1 to 3 | Grades 9 to 12 | $10,395 |
| Level 4 (254) | All | $21,590 |
| Level 5 (255) | All | $34,640 |
New 2026-27 applications close November 15, 2026. A scholarship student gives up the district's duty to provide a free appropriate public education while on the scholarship, so read our FES-UA explainer first.
Where is the special needs shelter in St. Lucie County?
The Florida Department of Health in St. Lucie County and the county's emergency management division operate a special needs shelter for people who need medical assistance during a disaster but do not need a hospital. The Department of Health lists the shelter at the Havert L. Fenn Center, 2000 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce, FL 34982. Pre-registration goes through the statewide Florida Special Needs Registry. Questions can go to the Department of Health in St. Lucie County at 772-462-3800.
Special needs shelters are mainly for people with medical or care needs beyond basic first aid. An autistic child without those needs may be directed to a general shelter, and registering does not guarantee a space. The county's own emergency management pages could not be opened when this guide was checked, so confirm current rules with the county. See how to register for a special needs shelter.
Are there inclusive or sensory-friendly programs nearby?
FAU CARD has published a guide to accessible parks from Palm Beach County to St. Lucie County, and CARD staff are worth asking about sensory-friendly activities near you. We could not open St. Lucie County's or the City of Port St. Lucie's program pages when this guide was checked, so ask your county library branch and city parks office directly about sensory-friendly hours, adaptive programs and accessible playgrounds.
ABA therapy in St. Lucie County with Hope Center
Hope Center for Behavior Change serves families in St. Lucie County in homes, schools, daycares and the community. We do not have a center in St. Lucie; our nearest center is in West Palm Beach at 750 S Military Trail, Suite D-E, West Palm Beach, FL 33415. There is 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. See where we provide ABA, ask for a free consultation and benefits check, or call 561-337-8865.