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Serving Floridians with Developmental Disabilities

Agency for Persons with Disabilities

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The Agency

The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) works in
partnership with local communities to support people
with developmental disabilities in living, learning, and
working in their communities. APD provides critical
services and supports for customers with developmental
disabilities so they can reach their full potential. The
agency serves people with spina bifida, autism, cerebral
palsy, Prader-Willi syndrome, Down syndrome, and
intellectual disabilities. There is no charge or co-payment
for services provided through the agency. State and
federal tax dollars fund the services.

Eligibility

A person must live in Florida, be at least three years
old, and have a developmental disability that occurred
before the age of 18 to be eligible for APD services.
Children ages three to five who are at risk of being
diagnosed with a developmental disability may also be
served by APD. APD may provide a free assessment to
determine if someone is eligible for services.

Programs

APD customers may be served in their community
by funding provided through iBudget Florida. Other
customers are provided assistance without being enrolled
in a waiver program. Some APD customers are served by
our two Developmental Disabilities Centers. The agency
helps more than 50,000 Floridians with developmental
disabilities each year.

iBudget Florida

APD provides a variety of services to about 30,000
customers who are currently enrolled in iBudget Florida.
iBudget Florida is a better way for APD to manage the
Home and Community-Based Services Medicaid waiver.
Customers get to choose, with the assistance of their
waiver support coordinator, how they want spend their
yearly budget as long as their health and safety needs are
covered. It is a simpler and more equitable, self-directed,
and sustainable system that gives customers wider
choices, greater flexibility, and more control over their
services.

The Consumer-Directed Care Plus (CDC+) program
allows customers to select their own non-Medicaid
waiver providers to deliver care. They develop a
purchasing plan to manage their allocated monthly
budgets in order to meet their long-term care needs.
Florida has the largest and most comprehensive CDC+
project in the nation, with about 2,000 individuals with
developmental disabilities currently enrolled.

Developmental Disabilities Centers

Some people with developmental disabilities prefer
to receive services and supports living in a home
with others that have similar disabilities. The state of
Florida has two centers: Sunland Center in Marianna
and Tacachale Center in Gainesville. About 700 people
currently live in these facilities.

In addition, the agency serves people found
incompetent to go to trial due to their developmental
disabilities. These individuals are served at the APD
centers and at a facility located in Chattahoochee.
About 200 people live in these locations.

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Applying for Services

An individual who has or might have
a developmental disability, or their
authorized representative may apply for
services by contacting the Agency for
Persons with Disabilities offi ce in their
region. Please be aware that APD has a
long waiting list for people to receive
services through the Medicaid waiver.
The supports and services for Floridians
with developmental disabilities are paid
for with tax dollars and are administered
through APD’s six regional offi ces around
the state.

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4030 Esplanade Way, Suite 380
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0950
1-866-APD CARES (1-866-273-2273)
(850) 488-4257
apdcares.org