County resource guide
Alachua County, Florida
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Alachua County. Florida statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
18 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Gainesville
UF Health — Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
Autism evaluations through UF Health's academic medical center — one of Florida's most comprehensive diagnostic programs. Multi-disciplinary team of developmental pediatricians, psychologists, and neurologists. Connected to UF's research programs and CARD center.
Academic medical center — high-quality comprehensive evaluations. Expect a waitlist; request early.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Starke · multi-county
Early Steps — North Central Florida (Bradford County)
Florida's Early Steps program provides free in-home early intervention for children birth–3 in Bradford County. Home-based speech, OT, and developmental therapy under IDEA Part C.
FREE if income-eligible. Self-referral accepted.
Trenton · multi-county
Early Steps — North Central Florida (Gilchrist County)
Florida's Early Steps program provides free in-home early intervention for children birth–3 in Gilchrist County. Speech, OT, and developmental therapy delivered in the home — the only practical EI model for this very rural county.
FREE if income-eligible. Self-referral accepted.
Bronson · multi-county
Early Steps — North Central Florida (Levy County)
Florida's Early Steps program provides free in-home early intervention for children birth–3 in Levy County. Home-based speech, OT, and developmental therapy under IDEA Part C — the home-based model is the standard in this rural county.
FREE if income-eligible. Self-referral accepted.
Palatka · multi-county
Early Steps — North Central Florida (Putnam County)
Florida's Early Steps program provides free in-home early intervention for children birth–3 in Putnam County with developmental delays or autism risk. Speech, OT, PT, and developmental therapy delivered in the home.
FREE if income-eligible; sliding scale otherwise. Self-referral accepted.
Gainesville · multi-county
Early Steps — North Central Florida (Region 3)
Florida's Early Steps program provides free in-home early intervention services for children birth–3 with developmental delays or disabilities, including autism. Services in Alachua County include speech, OT, PT, and developmental therapy delivered where families live.
FREE if income-eligible; sliding scale otherwise. Ask your pediatrician for a referral or self-refer.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Starke · multi-county
Autism Learning Partners — Bradford County (Telehealth)
Telehealth and in-home ABA therapy for Bradford County families. BCBA-supervised with Florida Medicaid accepted. Bradford County's rural setting means telehealth parent coaching is the most accessible ABA model.
Accepts FL Medicaid. Telehealth is the primary model for Bradford County.
Trenton · multi-county
Behavioral Health Works — Gilchrist County (Telehealth)
Telehealth and in-home ABA therapy for Gilchrist County families. BCBA-supervised with Florida Medicaid accepted. One of the most rural counties in Florida — telehealth parent coaching is the only realistic ABA model for most families.
Telehealth is the primary ABA delivery model for Gilchrist County. Accepts FL Medicaid.
Bronson · multi-county
Behavioral Health Works — Levy County (Telehealth)
Telehealth and in-home ABA therapy for Levy County families. BCBA-supervised with Florida Medicaid accepted. Levy County's rural setting means local in-person ABA options are extremely limited — telehealth parent coaching is the primary model.
Telehealth is the primary ABA model for rural Levy County. Accepts FL Medicaid.
Gainesville
Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center — Gainesville
Center-based ABA, speech, and occupational therapy in Gainesville. Hopebridge's integrated care model provides BCBA-supervised ABA alongside speech and OT under one roof, reducing the coordination burden for families.
Accepts Florida Medicaid and commercial insurance. Florida law mandates ABA coverage.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Gainesville · multi-county
CARD at University of Florida
Free state-funded Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at UF, serving Alachua, Marion, Levy, Gilchrist, Dixie, Columbia, Union, Bradford, Putnam, and Flagler counties. Family consultation, IEP advocacy, school support, and professional training at no cost to families.
FREE. State-funded. Home base for UF's CARD — Gainesville families get in-person access.
Starke · multi-county
CARD at University of Florida — Bradford County Services
Free state-funded autism resource center serving Bradford County through the UF CARD. Family consultation, IEP advocacy, and resource navigation for Starke area families at no cost. Bradford County is rural — CARD at UF provides the most comprehensive support.
FREE. State-funded. Telehealth consultation widely available for Bradford County families.
Palm Coast · multi-county
CARD at University of Florida — Flagler County Services
Free state-funded autism resource center serving Flagler County through the UF CARD. Family consultation, school advocacy, IEP support, and community resource navigation for Palm Coast and Bunnell families at no cost.
FREE. State-funded. Flagler is served by UF CARD — request a Flagler County consultant.
Trenton · multi-county
CARD at University of Florida — Gilchrist County Services
Free state-funded autism resource center serving Gilchrist County through the UF CARD. Family consultation and resource navigation for Trenton area families. Gilchrist is one of Florida's smallest and most rural counties — CARD at UF is the essential first call.
FREE. State-funded. Telehealth consultation is the norm for Gilchrist County families.
Bronson · multi-county
CARD at University of Florida — Levy County Services
Free state-funded autism resource center serving Levy County through the UF CARD. Family consultation, IEP advocacy, and resource navigation for Chiefland, Bronson, and Williston families at no cost. Levy is a very rural county where CARD is the essential first resource.
FREE. State-funded. Levy is rural — CARD at UF is the primary autism resource hub. Telehealth consultation available.
Ocala · multi-county
CARD at University of Florida — Marion County Services
Free state-funded autism resource center serving Marion County through the UF CARD. Family consultation, IEP advocacy, school support, and resource navigation for Ocala families at no cost. Marion County is one of Florida's larger rural counties — CARD provides both in-person and telehealth consultation.
FREE. State-funded. Ocala is the regional hub for North Central Florida — CARD at UF serves Marion County as part of a large region.
Palatka · multi-county
CARD at University of Florida — Putnam County Services
Free state-funded autism resource center serving Putnam County through the UF CARD. Family consultation, IEP advocacy, and resource navigation for Palatka and surrounding area families at no cost. Putnam is a rural county with limited local specialty services.
FREE. State-funded. CARD at UF is especially critical in rural Putnam County — call early.
Gainesville
Family Network on Disabilities — North Central Florida
Florida's federally funded PTI center offering free special education advocacy for Alachua County families. Parent advocates help families understand IDEA rights, navigate IEP meetings, and access disability services.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Parent advocates who have lived the process.
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