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Governor Scott Announces Proposed $8 Million to Benefit Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
Also Announces Additional $5 Million for Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts for K-12 Students with Disabilities

WINTER PARK, Fla. —Today, Governor Rick Scott announced a proposed investment of $8 million to enroll all individuals with critical needs from the waiting list to the Developmental Disabilities Medicaid Waiver Program. This is the second year in a row that funding is provided to remove all individuals with critical needs from the waiting list. Governor Scott’s 2015-2016 “KEEP FLORIDA WORKING” budget also recommends an increase of $5 million, for a total of $23.4 million, for personal learning scholarship accounts for eligible K-12 students with disabilities. This funding will provide beneficial services such as tuition and fees for instructional services, private tutoring, curriculum, and other specialized learning services.

Governor Rick Scott said, “I am pleased to announce that for the second year in a row, Floridians will be removed from the critical needs waiting list with our proposed funding. We are also recommending an increase of $5 million for personal learning scholarships for Florida’s K-12 students with disabilities. These life changing investments will create more opportunities for all Floridians to get a great education and choose the right course of learning that best meets their needs. Every individual should have the opportunity to get a great job and education regardless of the challenges they may face, and that is why we are making this funding a priority.”