Temple Terrace and the New Tampa and Tampa Palms neighborhoods sit around the University of South Florida, and that matters for autism families: two of the region's main public autism resources are run by USF. This is also where Hope Center's Tampa-area center is. This guide covers the USF-area offices, county and city programs nearby, and what to expect when you visit our center. For all of Hillsborough County, see our Hillsborough County autism resources guide. Details are from each agency's own page as of October 2026; confirm before you go.
What does CARD-USF offer families near the university?
The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at USF serves a 14-county region that includes Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk. CARD-USF says it is funded by the Florida Department of Education through an annual grant and that its services are delivered at no cost wherever families, schools or agencies are located in its region.
- Address: 13301 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MHC 2113A, Tampa, FL 33612
- Phone: 813-974-2532
CARD can help with understanding a new diagnosis, school strategies, training and finding local resources. It is not an ABA provider. Its website has Spanish and Haitian Creole versions. See which CARD serves my county.
Who do I call if my toddler or preschooler might be autistic?
- Under 3: USF's Bay Area Early Steps program holds the Early Steps contract for Hillsborough and Polk counties. Call (813) 974-0602 or toll-free (866) 549-1710, or use the online referral form. USF says there is no income requirement and most services are provided at home at no cost to the family. Its Tampa location is the John S. Curran, MD, Children's Health Center, 13101 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612. See our Early Steps guide.
- About 34 months to 5 years, not in public school: FDLRS Hillsborough Child Find offers free developmental screenings with no doctor's referral and no insurance needed. To request one, call (813) 837-7723 (English) or (813) 837-7714 (Spanish). FDLRS Hillsborough's main office is at 311 N. Kings Ave., Brandon, FL 33510, phone 813-837-7777.
Which APD office serves Temple Terrace?
Hillsborough County is in APD's Suncoast Region and is served by the Tampa office at 1313 North Tampa Street, Suite 515, Tampa, FL 33602, phone (800) 615-8720. APD serves Floridians whose developmental disability, including autism, began before age 18; waiver funding often has a long wait, so many families apply early. See how to apply for APD services.
What about school, and private ABA at school?
Temple Terrace and New Tampa students attend Hillsborough County Public Schools. The district office is at 901 East Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33602, phone (813) 272-4000. For a child already enrolled, start with the ESE staff at your child's school, and put any evaluation request in writing. For questions about ESE for children in kindergarten and up, FDLRS Hillsborough's Parent and Family Services team can help: email fdlrsparentservices@hcps.net or call 813-837-7732 (English) or 813-837-7728 (Spanish).
Florida law (s. 1003.572) lets a child's private BCBA or RBT observe and work with them at a public school when the teacher and principal agree to the time and place. Ask the school how it handles the paperwork. See private ABA in public school.
Are there inclusive recreation options near Temple Terrace?
- Miller Park & Life Center, 6105 E. Sligh Ave., Tampa: a Hillsborough County recreation center focused on programs and amenities for people with disabilities. It hosts the county's Adaptive Recreation after-school and summer program for children ages 5 to 17, plus Special Olympics and adaptive sports. County Parks and Recreation lists (813) 744-5978.
- Buddy Baseball: the City of Temple Terrace lists this non-competitive league for boys and girls with special needs ages 8 to 22, with buddies ages 10 to 22, among the programs at its Family Recreation Complex, 6610 Whiteway Dr. Leisure Services: 813-506-6600.
- Temple Terrace Public Library, 202 Bullard Pkwy.: a city library that is part of the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative (813-506-6770). The cooperative says sensory-friendly toolkits are available at all Hillsborough County public libraries, so ask at the desk.
What should we know about hurricane season in Hillsborough?
Hillsborough County's special needs shelter criteria include people with mental or cognitive limitations who require assistance, as well as medical needs such as dependence on electricity for oxygen or feeding tubes. The shelters do not provide one-to-one care, and the county encourages you to bring a caregiver. Register online (preferred), through a home health provider, or by calling the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County at (813) 307-8063. After review, you get a status letter. Registration stops once evacuations begin. Check your evacuation zone with the county's HEAT tool or Emergency Management at (813) 236-3800. See how to register for a special needs shelter.
What is it like to visit Hope Center in Temple Terrace?
Our Tampa-area center is at 9385 N 56th St, Suite 211, Temple Terrace, FL 33617, open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Our older Fletcher Avenue address is no longer used.) Families from Temple Terrace, New Tampa, Tampa Palms and nearby neighborhoods can choose center sessions, home sessions, or a mix with school and daycare sessions where allowed.
| If this sounds like your child | A center may help | Home may help |
|---|---|---|
| Needs practice with peers or new places | Yes | Less often |
| Main goals are routines at home (sleep, meals, toileting) | Less often | Yes |
| Travel time is hard on your family's schedule | Less often | Yes |
| Sensitive to car rides or transitions | Can be built up gradually | Yes, to start |
Your BCBA will help you decide, and the mix can change over time. Read center vs in-home ABA for more.
We have no waitlist. Services usually begin 3 to 5 business days after insurance approves the plan, and you can ask to meet your assigned staff first. Plans are written by BCBAs, delivered by RBTs and reviewed by our clinical director; parents get weekly training. 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 our Tampa ABA page, request a free consultation and benefits check, or call 561-337-8865.