Applying to the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) can be done online, and it is worth doing as soon as your child qualifies, because the iBudget waiver queue is ordered by the date of eligibility. This guide walks through each step, the documents that matter for autism, the deadlines APD must meet and the regional offices for the counties Hope Center serves. If you are not sure your child qualifies, start with who qualifies for APD with autism.
Steps and deadlines come from s. 393.065, Florida Statutes (2026), and APD's application pages as of October 2026.
Step 1: Check the three basics
APD's pre-screening asks three questions. If the answer to any is no, your child may not be eligible:
- Is the applicant 3 years of age or older? (Under 3, call Early Steps at 1-800-218-0001.)
- Does the applicant live in Florida?
- Did the developmental disability present itself before age 18?
Step 2: Gather your documents
| Type | Examples APD lists |
|---|---|
| Identity | Birth certificate, Social Security card, Florida driver license or ID, U.S. passport, school photo ID (under 16), military dependent ID; for a child under 18, a parent's government-issued photo ID |
| Florida domicile | Often confirmed from the application itself; APD may ask for more |
| Autism diagnostic testing | ADOS-2, GARS-3, CARS-2, ASRS or ADI-R results |
| Collateral records | IEP and achievement testing, medical or therapy records, psychological, educational or adaptive testing, progress notes from speech and behavioral therapies |
| Non-citizen applicants | Immigration documents showing lawful status, plus proof of Florida domicile |
For autism, APD asks for both diagnostic testing and collateral documentation, and accepts a diagnosis only from a Florida-licensed psychiatrist or psychologist, a board-certified pediatric neurologist qualified to diagnose autism, or a board-certified developmental pediatrician. APD says the most helpful document is any diagnostic evaluation completed before age 18. If you are missing records, apply anyway: APD's guidance says it will request proof and can help you obtain the information.
Step 3: Submit the application
- Online (fastest to track): go to ApplyNow.APD.MyFlorida.com. By law, the online system sends an immediate email confirmation, lets you check the status and lets you respond to requests for more information. APD publishes an Online Application System user guide in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole.
- Paper: download the Application for Services from APD's Apply for Services page (English, Spanish or Haitian Creole), or ask your regional office for a copy. Submit it to the office serving your county by mail, fax, email or in person. APD must acknowledge every application it receives.
- Sign and complete every part. Under s. 393.065(1)(d), a "complete application" is signed and dated by the applicant or someone with legal authority to apply for them, answers every part, and includes documentation of a diagnosis. The decision clock starts only when the application is complete.
For help, call APD at 1-866-APD-CARES (1-866-273-2273) or your regional office.
Step 4: Ask for crisis review if your family is in crisis
APD's crisis criteria include being homeless, behavior that is life-threatening or places the person or others in extreme danger, or a caregiver in extreme duress who can no longer provide for the person's health and safety. You can request crisis waiver enrollment in the online application, through your regional office or at 1-866-APD-CARES. Each region also has a crisis line, listed below. For crisis applicants, APD must make an eligibility decision within 15 calendar days of a complete application. See APD crisis enrollment.
Step 5: Know the decision deadlines
- Crisis (Category 1): 15 calendar days after a complete application.
- Child welfare transitions (Category 2): "as soon as practicable."
- Everyone else (Categories 3 to 7): within 60 days after a complete application.
If there is a delay, APD must tell you as soon as it knows, by phone or in person with the client or caregiver, and confirm it in writing with the expected length of the delay and a contact person. Keep a log of every call.
An example only, not a promise: a family that applies online on November 2 with every document attached might hear by early January; a family missing the diagnostic report might wait longer because the clock starts when the application is complete.
Step 6: After the decision
If your child is eligible, APD sends a letter with your child's pre-enrollment category. APD says that within 60 days of the eligibility decision it will help you develop a support plan. You will also receive the information APD must give every applicant, including overviews of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Florida ABLE program, SSI and SSDI, school transition services, guardianship and its alternatives, and a note that some waiver providers serve private-pay clients. Read APD's waitlist categories and how to keep your waitlist spot.
If your child is found ineligible, APD must notify you in writing, and you have the right to appeal under ss. 120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes. Follow the deadline and instructions in the notice. Ask what evidence was missing; for autism, the missing piece can be an evaluation signed by one of the professionals APD accepts. A Florida attorney or Disability Rights Florida can help with a hearing.
Either way, keep your contact information current. The law puts that duty on the family, and APD sends an annual letter asking for updates. Respond to it.
Which APD office serves our county?
| County | APD office | Phone | Region crisis line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Beach, St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River, Okeechobee | Southeast Region, 111 S. Sapodilla Ave., Suite 204, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 | (561) 837-5564 | (561) 822-4596 |
| Broward | Southeast Region, 3125 W. Commercial Blvd., Suite 200, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 | (954) 467-4218 | (561) 822-4596 |
| Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, DeSoto | Suncoast Region, 1313 N. Tampa St., Suite 515, Tampa, FL 33602 | (800) 615-8720 | (239) 338-1327 |
| Charlotte, Lee, Collier, Glades, Hendry | Suncoast Region, 2295 Victoria Ave., Suite 221, Fort Myers, FL 33901 | (800) 615-8720 | (239) 338-1327 |
| Highlands, Polk, Hardee | Central Region, 200 N. Kentucky Ave., Suite 422, Lakeland, FL 33801 | (407) 245-0440 | (407) 768-6326 |
| Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Brevard | Central Region, 400 W. Robinson St., Suite S430, Orlando, FL 32801 | (407) 245-0440 | (407) 768-6326 |
| Duval, Baker, Clay, Nassau, St. Johns | Northeast Region, 3631 Hodges Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32224 | (386) 238-4607 | (386) 238-4607 |
Statewide: 1-866-APD-CARES (1-866-273-2273). Other counties: see APD's regional office list.
What should I say when I call APD?
"Hello, I'm calling about an application for APD services for my child, [name], date of birth [date], in [county]. I [submitted it on (date) / want to submit it]. Can you tell me whether the application is complete, what documents are still needed, and who my contact person is? I'd also like to confirm the address, phone and email you have for us."
Write down the date, the person's name and what they said.
How can Hope Center help while you apply?
You do not need APD to start ABA. Hope Center has no waitlist, and services usually begin 3 to 5 business days after insurance approves your child's plan. We work with Blue Cross Blue Shield (Florida Blue), Aetna, Cigna (Evernorth), UMR, Personify Health and TRICARE East, with self-pay for all services on a sliding scale. 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. Your child's BCBA can give you copies of the current treatment plan and progress reports to include as collateral records; we cannot fill out APD's application or predict its decision. Contact us or call 561-337-8865 for a free consultation and benefits check.