Hernando County, Florida

Spring Hill

BayCare Health — Hernando Hospital Pediatric Services

Developmental screenings and autism referrals through BayCare Health in Hernando County. For comprehensive autism evaluations, BayCare connects families to St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa or developmental specialists in the Tampa Bay network.

Many Hernando families commute to Tampa for comprehensive evaluations. BayCare can coordinate referrals.

Inverness · multi-county

Early Steps — Suncoast Region (Citrus County)

Florida's Early Steps program provides free in-home early intervention for children birth–3 in Citrus County. Services include speech, OT, PT, and developmental therapy delivered in the home or community setting under IDEA Part C.

FREE if income-eligible; sliding scale otherwise. Self-referral accepted.

Bushnell · multi-county

Early Steps — Suncoast Region (Sumter County)

Florida's Early Steps program provides free in-home early intervention for children birth–3 in Sumter County. Speech, OT, PT, and developmental therapy delivered in the home or community under IDEA Part C.

FREE if income-eligible; sliding scale otherwise. Self-referral accepted.

Spring Hill

Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center — Spring Hill

Center-based ABA, speech, and occupational therapy in Spring Hill serving Hernando County. Hopebridge's integrated model reduces the coordination burden for families managing multiple therapies.

Accepts Florida Medicaid and commercial insurance.

Spring Hill

Autism Society of Florida — Hernando County Chapter

Parent support network for Spring Hill, Brooksville, and surrounding Hernando County communities. Monthly meetings and family resource connections. Hernando's growth has brought more families — and more need for local peer support.

Tampa · multi-county

CARD at University of South Florida

Free state-funded autism support center serving Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Hernando, Citrus, Sumter, and Lake counties. Family consultation, school advocacy, community resources, and professional training — all at no cost.

FREE. State-funded. First call for Tampa Bay families.

Inverness · multi-county

CARD at USF — Citrus County Services

Free state-funded autism resource center serving Citrus County through the USF CARD Tampa Bay region. Family consultation, school advocacy, IEP support, and community resources for Inverness, Crystal River, and Lecanto families at no cost.

FREE. State-funded. Call USF CARD and request a Citrus County consultant.

Spring Hill · multi-county

CARD at USF — Hernando County Services

Free state-funded autism resource center serving Hernando County through the USF CARD Tampa Bay region. Family consultation, school advocacy, IEP support, and community resources for Spring Hill and Brooksville families at no cost.

FREE. State-funded. Hernando is served by USF CARD — call and request a Hernando County consultant.

St. Petersburg · multi-county

CARD at USF — Pinellas County Services

The USF Center for Autism and Related Disabilities serves Pinellas County as part of its Tampa Bay region. Free consultation, school advocacy, IEP support, and resource navigation for families. No cost, no income limit — state-funded.

FREE. State-funded. Same CARD center as Tampa — call to request a Pinellas-area consultant.

Bushnell · multi-county

CARD at USF — Sumter County Services

Free state-funded autism resource center serving Sumter County through the USF CARD Tampa Bay region. Family consultation, school advocacy, IEP support, and community resources for The Villages, Bushnell, and Webster families at no cost.

FREE. State-funded. Call USF CARD and request a Sumter County consultant. The Villages area has been growing — services are expanding.

Spring Hill

Family Network on Disabilities — Hernando County

Free special education advocacy for Hernando County families through Florida's federally funded PTI. Parent advocates help Spring Hill and Brooksville families navigate IEP processes, IDEA rights, and disability benefit applications.

FREE. Federally funded PTI.