County resource guide
Autism Resources in Hillsborough County, Florida
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Hillsborough County. Florida statewide resources also apply.
Hillsborough County (Tampa metro) is served by CARD at the University of South Florida, which provides free consultation, training, and resource connection across the region. Hillsborough County Public Schools operates one of Florida's largest special education programs. Tampa General Hospital and Johns Hopkins All Children's in neighboring Pinellas offer evaluation services. Family Network on Disabilities (FL PTI) provides free statewide IEP advocacy.
School evaluation
Request a School Evaluation
Under IDEA, your school district must evaluate your child for free if you request it in writing. Here’s who to contact in Hillsborough County:
Hillsborough County Public Schools — Exceptional Student Education
Call or write Hillsborough ESE to request a Child Find evaluation. Keep a copy of any written request and note the date submitted.
Contacts verified May 2026 — call to confirm current numbers
Learn how to write your evaluation request →Provider directory
Local Providers13 providers in Hillsborough County
About our listings
Provider listings on Autism Parent Club are submitted by practices or researched from public sources. All listings are reviewed for accuracy before publication. To suggest a correction, use the “Suggest a correction” link below.
Diagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Tampa
USF Health — Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
Autism evaluations through USF Health's academic medical center. Developmental pediatricians with specialized autism training. Connected to USF's research and CARD programs.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Tampa · multi-county
Applied Behavior Consultants — Tampa Bay
In-home and clinic-based ABA therapy serving Tampa Bay families. BCBA-supervised program with focus on early intervention and school readiness.
Accepts Florida Medicaid and commercial insurance.
Clearwater · multi-county
Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center — Clearwater
Center-based ABA therapy, speech, and occupational therapy under one roof. Hopebridge is a national provider with BCBA supervision at every location. The Clearwater center serves Pinellas County families.
Accepts Florida Medicaid and most commercial insurance. Florida law requires ABA coverage.
Speech therapy
Speech-language pathology, AAC, pragmatic language, and feeding.
Tampa
Speech & Language of Tampa Bay
Pediatric speech-language pathology specializing in autism communication. AAC, early language intervention, and social pragmatic therapy.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Tampa · multi-county
Autism Society of Greater Orlando — Tampa Chapter
Support groups, family events, and community resources for Tampa Bay families. Monthly parent meetups and social programs.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
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.
Bradenton · multi-county
CARD at University of South Florida — Manatee County Services
Free state-funded autism resource center serving Manatee County through the USF CARD Tampa Bay region. Family consultation, IEP advocacy, school support, and community resources at no cost. Manatee County's rapid growth means CARD is an essential resource — free consultation available immediately, no waitlist.
FREE. State-funded. First call for any Manatee County family — CARD at USF serves the full Tampa Bay Gulf Coast region.
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.
New Port Richey · multi-county
CARD at USF — Pasco County Services
Free state-funded autism resource center serving Pasco County through the USF CARD. Consultation, school advocacy, and resource navigation for families in New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, and Zephyrhills.
FREE. State-funded. Pasco is one of the fastest-growing counties — call early.
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.
Lakeland · multi-county
CARD at USF — Polk County Services
The USF CARD center provides free consultation, school advocacy, and resource navigation for Polk County families as part of its Central Florida service region. No cost, no income limit.
FREE. State-funded. Call and request a Polk County 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.
For providers
Be the first featured provider in Hillsborough County
Featured listings include your logo, extended description, a direct contact button, and top placement above standard listings. Families searching for help in Hillsborough County see you first.
Missing a provider? Submit a listing — it’s free →
School districts & government services
Public programs and school district contacts for Hillsborough County.
School & special education
- Hillsborough County Public Schools — Exceptional Student Education
sdhc.k12.fl.us/special-education redirects to hillsboroughschools.org.
Services & benefits
- APD Suncoast Region — Hillsborough
Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities; DD waiver enrollment.
Adult services
- APD Suncoast Region — Hillsborough
Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities; DD waiver enrollment.
Respite & support
- APD Suncoast Region — Hillsborough
Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities; DD waiver enrollment.
Helpful guides
Guides for Hillsborough County families
Step-by-step help on the topics that matter most.
School & IEP
Navigating the IEP process
Your rights under IDEA, how evaluations work, and what every IEP section means.
Finding help
ABA, OT, speech and waitlists
How to find qualified providers, navigate insurance, and get off waitlists faster.
Getting started
Where to start after diagnosis
A week-by-week checklist for the first 90 days — from evaluation to early intervention.
Benefits & money
SSI, Medicaid waivers, ABLE accounts
Federal benefits your child may qualify for and how to apply without losing your spot.
Mental health
Co-occurring conditions and support
Managing anxiety, ADHD, and depression alongside an autism diagnosis.
Daily life
Sensory processing and OT
Understanding sensory needs, sensory diets, and how occupational therapy helps.
Adulthood
Employment, housing, legal planning
Supported employment, housing options, guardianship alternatives, and ABLE accounts.
Communities served
Cities in Hillsborough County
Serving families across Hillsborough County including Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, Plant City, Temple Terrace, Sun City Center, Seffner, Lutz, Ruskin and Apollo Beach and more.
See all Florida resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Florida.
Florida state guide →Nearby counties in Florida
See something that needs fixing?
Providers move, phone numbers change, and links break — it happens. If anything on this page is out of date, wrong, or no longer working, please tell us and we’ll fix it. Keeping this accurate for autism families is the whole reason we’re here.
Report a correction →Help the community
Know a great provider in Hillsborough County?
If a therapist, clinic, or specialist helped your family, tell us about them and we’ll add them to the directory so other families can find them too.
Tell us about a provider →For providers
Are you a provider serving Hillsborough County?
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