The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) is Florida's agency for people with developmental disabilities. It runs the iBudget waiver, support coordination and other community services. Many parents assume an autism diagnosis is enough to qualify. It is not always. Florida's statute sets its own definition of autism, and APD's rules say who may make the diagnosis. This guide explains each requirement in plain language, so you can gather the right records before you apply.
Rules below are from Chapter 393, Florida Statutes (2026), APD's eligibility rule (65G-4, Florida Administrative Code, amended August 30, 2026) and APD's application pages as of October 2026. APD decides every application individually.
What does APD require to be eligible?
| Requirement | What the rule says | What APD asks for |
|---|---|---|
| A developmental disability | Autism is one of the listed conditions in s. 393.063(11), alongside intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, Down syndrome, Phelan-McDermid, Prader-Willi and Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndromes | Diagnosis documentation |
| Autism as Florida defines it | Causes "severe learning, communication, and behavior disorders" with onset in infancy or childhood (s. 393.063(5)) | Diagnostic testing plus collateral records |
| Began before 18 | The disability manifests before age 18 | Records from childhood, ideally an evaluation done before 18 |
| Substantial and lasting | A substantial handicap that can reasonably be expected to continue indefinitely | Testing and records showing how the disability affects daily life |
| Age | Applicant is 3 or older; ages 3 to 5 may be served as "high-risk" | Identity documents |
| Florida domicile | The applicant's permanent legal home is in Florida; a minor needs a parent or legal guardian domiciled in Florida | Domicile verification if APD cannot confirm it from the application |
How does Florida law define autism for APD?
Section 393.063(5) defines autism as "a pervasive, neurologically based developmental disability of extended duration which causes severe learning, communication, and behavior disorders with age of onset during infancy or childhood." It adds that individuals with autism show impairment in reciprocal social interaction, impairment in verbal and nonverbal communication and imaginative ability, and "a markedly restricted repertoire of activities and interests."
Two words matter. The first is severe. APD's own list of disabilities it serves says "severe forms of autism," not every autism diagnosis. The second is substantial handicap, from the general developmental disability definition in s. 393.063(11). Together they mean APD looks at how much autism affects your child's learning, communication and behavior, not only whether a clinician wrote the diagnosis.
The statute does not use the DSM-5 "levels" (level 1, 2 or 3), and APD does not publish a rule that maps levels to eligibility. A child described as level 1 may or may not meet the statute; APD makes that call from the records. If you are unsure, apply anyway and send everything you have.
Whose autism diagnosis does APD accept?
APD's application guidance for autism says a diagnosis may only be accepted from:
- a Florida-licensed psychiatrist;
- a Florida-licensed psychologist;
- a board-certified pediatric neurologist who is qualified by training and experience to diagnose autism; or
- a board-certified developmental pediatrician.
Records from another state may be accepted if the evaluator holds the same credentials Florida requires for that profession. A diagnosis from a general pediatrician, a school team or a therapist is useful supporting evidence, but on its own it may not satisfy APD. If your child needs a new evaluation for APD, ask the evaluator before the appointment whether the report will be signed by one of these professionals. Our guide on who can diagnose autism in Florida compares the options.
What records should I collect?
APD asks autism applicants for both diagnostic testing and collateral documentation, and says to send all you have. Examples from APD:
- Diagnostic testing: ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule), GARS-3 (Gilliam Autism Rating Scale), CARS-2 (Childhood Autism Rating Scale), ASRS (Autism Spectrum Rating Scales) or ADI-R (Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised).
- Collateral records: IEPs and achievement testing; medical or therapy documentation; psychological, educational or adaptive testing; progress notes from speech and behavioral therapies (ABA progress reports fit here); and Baker Act records if any.
APD says the most helpful single document is a diagnostic evaluation completed during the developmental period, before age 18. For a young adult who was never formally evaluated, school records showing autism eligibility and childhood medical notes become more important.
What about children under 5?
Under 3: APD does not serve children under 3. APD refers them to Florida's Early Steps program (1-800-218-0001), run by the Department of Health. See our Early Steps guide.
Ages 3 to 5: Florida law lets APD serve a "high-risk child," meaning a child age 3 to 5 with a developmental delay in cognition, language or physical development, or certain other risk factors. APD's application guidance says a high-risk child may not be placed in a pre-enrollment category or receive waiver services until there is proof of a formal developmental disability diagnosis. So if your preschooler is still waiting for an autism evaluation, you can apply, but expect APD to need the diagnosis before your child can join the waiver queue.
What does "domicile" mean for my family?
Domicile is your permanent legal home, not just where you are staying. Under s. 393.063(14), a minor cannot establish Florida domicile without a parent or legal guardian domiciled in Florida. APD can often confirm residency from the application itself. If it asks for more, documents such as a Florida driver license or other government-issued photo ID help. Active-duty military families who transfer to Florida have a special rule for children who already had home and community-based services in another state; see APD for military families.
If APD finds my child eligible, what happens next?
Eligibility makes your child an APD client. It does not mean waiver services start right away. For the iBudget waiver, APD places each eligible person in a pre-enrollment category (the "waitlist") and moves people off it as funding allows. APD says it will send you a letter with your child's category and, within 60 days of the eligibility decision, help you develop a support plan. Enrollment in the waiver also requires eligibility for Medicaid or SSI and meeting an institutional level of care. Read the iBudget waiver explained and APD's waitlist categories.
If APD finds your child not eligible, it must tell you in writing, and you have the right to appeal through an administrative hearing under ss. 120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes. Follow the instructions and deadline in the notice, and ask the regional office what evidence was missing; an evaluation from one of the professionals listed above may help. A Florida attorney or Disability Rights Florida can advise on an appeal.
How do I apply, and where does Hope Center fit?
You can apply online at ApplyNow.APD.MyFlorida.com or on paper through your regional APD office. Our step-by-step guide on how to apply for APD services covers documents, deadlines and offices for Palm Beach, Broward, Hillsborough, Charlotte, Duval and Highlands counties.
Hope Center provides ABA therapy through private insurance, TRICARE East and self-pay with a sliding scale; you do not need APD to start ABA with us, and we have no waitlist. If your child has Medicaid, center policy does not allow self-pay at Hope Center; you can add marketplace or employer insurance, which we accept, and the sliding scale can help with your share. Our BCBAs do not diagnose autism. Our clinical director offers diagnostic evaluations with a supervising licensed psychologist; if you need a diagnosis for APD, ask us how the report is signed so you can check it against APD's list. The diagnostic report is usually ready within about a week once parents finish all the questionnaires. Parents can request copies of their child's treatment plan and progress reports to include as collateral records. Contact us or call 561-337-8865, and we will run a free insurance benefits check.