County resource guide
Monroe County, Florida
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Monroe County. Florida statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
6 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Key West
Lower Keys Medical Center — Developmental Referrals
Monroe County's hospital in Key West offering pediatric care and developmental referral coordination. For comprehensive autism evaluations, families must travel to Miami (3–4 hours by car, or via ferry/air). Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami is the primary referral destination. Telehealth with CARD at UM is the most accessible first step.
The Keys' isolation is the primary challenge. Budget time for the 3–4 hr drive to Miami, or use Nicklaus Children's telehealth. Some families fly to Miami for evaluations.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Key West · multi-county
Early Steps — South Florida Region (Monroe County)
Florida's Early Steps program provides free in-home early intervention for children birth–3 in Monroe County. Home-based services are especially critical in the Keys — therapists travel from Homestead and Miami-Dade to serve Key Largo, Marathon, and Key West families.
FREE if income-eligible. Home-based model is the standard in Monroe County. Therapist travel from Miami-Dade area may create scheduling delays.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Key West
Autism Learning Partners — Monroe County (Telehealth)
Telehealth ABA parent coaching for Monroe County families in the Florida Keys. The 110-mile island chain makes in-person center-based ABA nearly impossible — telehealth parent coaching is the primary evidence-based option. BCBA-supervised with Florida Medicaid accepted.
Monroe County's geography makes in-person ABA effectively inaccessible locally. Telehealth parent coaching is the realistic starting point. Some families travel to Miami for intensive services. FL Medicaid accepted.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Coral Gables · multi-county
CARD at University of Miami
Florida's state-funded Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at UM. Free consultation, resource navigation, school advocacy support, and training for families and educators across Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. No cost to families — funded by the state of Florida.
FREE. This is the single most important call for Miami-Dade families. State-funded.
Key West · multi-county
CARD at University of Miami — Monroe County Services
Free state-funded autism resource center serving Monroe County through the UM CARD. Family consultation, resource navigation, and school advocacy for Keys families at no cost. Monroe County's geography — 110 miles of islands connected by a single highway — creates significant access challenges. CARD provides telehealth consultation as a primary modality.
FREE. State-funded. Monroe County families face unique geographic challenges — CARD telehealth consultation is the most practical first step. Miami is 3–4 hrs from Key West.
Key West
Family Network on Disabilities — Monroe County
Free special education advocacy for Monroe County families through Florida's federally funded PTI. FND helps Keys families navigate IEP meetings and IDEA rights — phone and remote support is the primary service model given the distance from mainland offices.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Phone/remote support primary — Keys geography makes in-person office visits impractical.
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See all Florida resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Florida.
Florida state guide →