County resource guide
Autism Resources in Orange County, Florida
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Orange County. Florida statewide resources also apply.
Orange County (Orlando metro) is home to CARD at the University of Central Florida — one of Florida's 8 regional CARD centers providing free autism support services to families, educators, and providers across the region. Orange County Public Schools operates autism-specific classrooms at multiple levels. Orlando Health and AdventHealth offer developmental pediatric evaluations. Florida's iBudget waiver and Family Network on Disabilities (FL PTI) are key statewide resources.
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 Orange County:
Orange County Public Schools — Exceptional Student Education
Contact Orange County ESE to initiate Child Find. The district must complete the evaluation within 60 days of receiving your written consent.
Contacts verified May 2026 — call to confirm current numbers
Learn how to write your evaluation request →Provider directory
Local Providers32 providers in Orange County
About our listings
Provider listings on Autism Parent Club are submitted by practices or researched from public sources. All listings are reviewed by a person before publication, and no provider has paid to appear here. Read how we verify listings, or use the “Suggest a correction” link below to flag anything inaccurate.
0 providers in Orange County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Diagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Orlando
Orlando Health — Arnold Palmer Hospital Developmental Pediatrics
Developmental pediatric evaluations at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, part of Orlando Health. Autism assessments and care coordination for Orange County families.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Tavares · multi-county
Early Steps — Central Florida Region (Lake County)
Florida's Early Steps program provides free in-home early intervention for children birth–3 in Lake County. Home-based speech, OT, and developmental therapy under IDEA Part C. Growing Lake County has improving therapist availability compared to more rural areas.
FREE if income-eligible. Self-referral accepted. Do not wait for a diagnosis — refer as soon as developmental concerns arise.
Kissimmee · multi-county
Early Steps — Central Florida Region (Osceola County)
Florida's Early Steps program provides free in-home early intervention for children birth–3 in Osceola County. Home-based speech, OT, and developmental therapy under IDEA Part C. Bilingual (English/Spanish) therapists available — important for Osceola County's large Spanish-speaking population in Kissimmee and Poinciana.
FREE if income-eligible. Bilingual (English/Spanish) therapists available — ask specifically for bilingual services. Self-referral accepted.
Sanford · multi-county
Early Steps — Central Florida Region (Seminole County)
Florida's Early Steps program provides free in-home early intervention for children birth–3 in Seminole County. Home-based speech, OT, and developmental therapy under IDEA Part C. Seminole County's suburban density means better therapist availability than more rural areas of Central Florida.
FREE if income-eligible. Self-referral accepted. Suburban Seminole County has better therapist availability than rural Central Florida counties.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Sanford · multi-county
Action Behavior Centers — Seminole County
Center-based ABA therapy serving Seminole County through the Orlando metro provider network. BCBA-supervised with Florida Medicaid and commercial insurance accepted. Seminole County's affluent suburbs typically have strong commercial insurance — file insurance first for best access.
Strong commercial insurance coverage typical in Seminole County. FL Medicaid also accepted. Orlando metro ABA provider network is one of Florida's strongest.
Orlando · multi-county
Behavior Analysis Support Services — Orlando
Center-based and in-home ABA therapy for children in the Orlando metro. BCBA supervision, naturalistic teaching focus, and parent coaching.
Accepts Florida Medicaid waiver (iBudget) and commercial insurance.
Kissimmee · multi-county
BlueSprig Pediatrics — Kissimmee
Center-based ABA therapy in Kissimmee serving Osceola County. BCBA-supervised programs with Florida Medicaid and commercial insurance accepted. Bilingual (English/Spanish) staff are available — important given Osceola County's large Latino population. Serves Kissimmee, Poinciana, and St. Cloud communities.
Bilingual (English/Spanish) ABA staff available. FL Medicaid and commercial insurance accepted. Kissimmee center serves Poinciana and St. Cloud families.
Tavares · multi-county
Centria Autism — Lake County
In-home ABA therapy serving Lake County families. BCBA-supervised with Florida Medicaid and commercial insurance accepted. Lake County's growth has attracted some ABA providers, though center-based options remain limited — in-home services are the primary model for most families.
In-home ABA is the primary model in Lake County. Orlando-based center ABA is accessible for families who can travel. FL Medicaid and commercial insurance accepted.
Speech therapy
Speech-language pathology, AAC, pragmatic language, and feeding.
Orlando
Total Communication — Orlando
Pediatric speech-language pathology with a strong autism practice. AAC evaluations and therapy, social communication, and feeding. Multiple Central Florida locations.
Respite care
Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Statewide · multi-county
Florida ADRC network — respite through the Elder Helpline
Worth knowing before you start looking: Florida has NO state Lifespan Respite Care Program and no state respite voucher scheme, unlike many other states. What exists instead runs through eleven regional Aging and Disability Resource Centers and the National Family Caregiver Support Program, which does cover people caring for a child of any age with a disability. One call to the Elder Helpline screens you against several respite streams at once — the name is misleading, and it is still the right number.
Do not be put off by "Elder" — the helpline screens caregivers of children with disabilities too. Also ask your APD area office what the iBudget waiver funds for respite.
~3,000 providers nationwide
ARCH National Respite Locator
A free national database of respite providers searchable by state and locality — home care agencies, community-based organizations and state programs. The single best starting point for finding respite anywhere in the country, and it is the tool state agencies themselves point families toward.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Before you pay out of pocket, check what your state's Medicaid waiver funds — respite is covered by nearly every state waiver, and many families never think to ask.
Most states run one
Your state's Lifespan Respite Care Program
Lifespan Respite Care Programs are federally seeded, state-run programs that help families of any age and any disability find and pay for respite — often including vouchers or subsidies that do not depend on having a Medicaid waiver. Most states have one, they are chronically under-used, and they are rarely mentioned by anyone else in the system.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Search for "[your state] Lifespan Respite" or use the ARCH directory. Ask specifically about voucher or subsidy programs — that is the part families most often miss.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Melbourne · multi-county
CARD at UCF — Brevard County Services
Free state-funded autism resource center serving Brevard County through the UCF CARD. Family consultation, school advocacy, IEP support, and community resource navigation at no cost.
FREE. State-funded. Same center as Orlando — call and request a Brevard consultant.
Daytona Beach · multi-county
CARD at UCF — Volusia County Services
The UCF Center for Autism and Related Disabilities serves Volusia County families with free consultation, IEP advocacy, and resource navigation. No cost, no income limit.
FREE. State-funded. Request a Volusia County consultant when you call.
Orlando · multi-county
CARD at University of Central Florida
Free state-funded autism resource center serving Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Brevard, and Volusia counties. Provides family consultation, IEP advocacy, community resource navigation, and training for educators and providers.
FREE. State-funded. No income limit. This is the first call for Orlando-area families.
Tavares · multi-county
CARD at University of Central Florida — Lake County Services
Free state-funded autism resource center serving Lake County through the UCF CARD Central Florida region. Family consultation, IEP advocacy, school support, and community resources at no cost. Lake County's rapid growth means CARD is an especially critical resource as local provider supply lags behind population growth.
FREE. State-funded. First call for any Lake County family — CARD at UCF serves the entire Central Florida region.
Kissimmee · multi-county
CARD at University of Central Florida — Osceola County Services
Free state-funded autism resource center serving Osceola County through the UCF CARD. Family consultation, IEP advocacy, and community resources at no cost. Bilingual (English/Spanish) consultation available — critical for Osceola County's large Puerto Rican and Dominican community. CARD at UCF serves Kissimmee, St. Cloud, and Poinciana families.
FREE. State-funded. Bilingual (English/Spanish) consultation available — especially important for Osceola County's large Latino community. First call for any Osceola County family.
Sanford · multi-county
CARD at University of Central Florida — Seminole County Services
Free state-funded autism resource center serving Seminole County through the UCF CARD. Family consultation, IEP advocacy, school support, and community resources at no cost. Seminole County's proximity to UCF means excellent CARD access — no waitlist for initial consultation.
FREE. State-funded. Seminole County families are well-positioned to access UCF CARD in person or virtually. First call for any Seminole County family.
Activities, clubs & recreation
Clubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
Fort Lauderdale · multi-county
Florida Adaptive Sports
A social sports club for disabled Floridians of all ages, framed explicitly around friendship as much as fitness. Programs include wheelchair tennis and basketball, adaptive ice skating, rowing and sailing, and inclusive recreation, run across several Florida cities.
Orlando · multi-county
Nathaniel's Hope
5210 S. Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32809
An Orlando charity built around children with special needs — whom they call VIPs — and their families. Buddy Break is their respite program, run through partner churches so a parent gets a genuine few hours off while their child is looked after by trained volunteers. They also run MAKE 'm SMILE celebration events, a VIP Birthday Club and Hopetown. Everything they offer is free to families.
All programs are free. Buddy Break runs at partner churches — ask which sites are nearest you rather than traveling to the Orlando office.
Orlando · multi-county
OCA — Opportunity, Community, Ability
5165 Adanson Street, Orlando, FL 32804
A Central Florida nonprofit founded in 2008 serving children and adults with autism and other disabilities, from early childhood through adulthood. The recreation side runs after-school activities, school-break camps, Special Olympics training and the Running Man Theatre Company — theater being one of the formats that tends to work unusually well for verbal autistic young people. Their adult programs cover a Companion Program, First Flight Academy, and life-skills and vocational tracks, which matters because provision usually falls off a cliff at 18. Campuses in Orlando and Longwood.
Second campus at 280 S Ronald Reagan Blvd, Longwood, FL 32750. Open Monday–Friday 8am–5:30pm.
Clermont · multi-county
Special Olympics Florida
1915 Don Wickham Drive, Clermont, FL 34711
Year-round sports training and competition at no cost to athletes or their families, organized by region across the state.
Eligibility centers on intellectual disability or a closely related developmental disability. Worth a direct conversation about fit if your family member is autistic without one.
200+ locations nationwide
ACEing Autism
Weekly Saturday tennis clinics built specifically for autistic children aged 5 to 18, run by volunteers at more than 200 locations across the country, serving over 7,000 players. Sessions run in six-week blocks of an hour. This is the clearest example of the interest-based model working: the sport supplies the structure, the turn-taking and the reason to be there, so the social side happens sideways rather than being the task.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Cost varies by location — around $120 for a six-week session at some sites, with scholarships available. Use the map on their site to find your nearest program, schedule and local contact.
~4,000 camps nationwide
American Camp Association — camp finder
A free searchable directory of close to 4,000 summer camps that can be filtered for camps serving autistic campers, by distance, session length, activities and cost. The best single starting point for finding a day or overnight camp anywhere in the country.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Registration for specialized camps typically opens December–February and popular overnight camps fill within days. Start the funding conversation in autumn.
Nationwide — find your local chapter
Best Buddies
One-to-one friendship matching between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, plus employment, leadership and inclusive living programs. Over 4,000 chapters across all 50 states, serving school-age through adult. If what your family wants is a friend rather than an activity, this is the most direct answer in the country.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
A national organization, not a local listing — use the finder on their site, or call 1-800-89BUDDY, to locate your nearest chapter.
Local affiliates across most of the country
Easterseals — camps and recreation
Day and overnight camps run through local Easterseals affiliates, several of them autism-specific, with weekend respite and family camp sessions as well. Many affiliates operate sliding-scale fees, and several camps serve adults alongside children.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Programs vary a great deal between affiliates — check what your nearest one actually runs rather than assuming the national description applies.
Week-long camps hosted nationwide
iCan Shine (iCan Bike)
Teaches people with disabilities to ride a conventional two-wheeled bicycle, using adapted roller bikes over a week-long camp that gradually transfers balance to the rider. Learning to ride a bike is a milestone a lot of autistic children are quietly written off for, and this is the program that most reliably delivers it. Camps are hosted by local organizations across the country, so availability is by host town rather than by chapter.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their site for host locations and dates — camps run in different towns each year, so somewhere near you may host this year and not next.
Local chapters in a number of US cities
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)
Volunteer-led one-to-one recreation for children and young adults with developmental and physical disabilities, at no cost to families or carers. The one-to-one model is the point: a volunteer is paired with your child for the session, which makes it workable for people who cannot manage a group setting unsupported.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Free to families. Runs through local chapters in a number of US cities rather than everywhere — check whether yours has one.
900+ divisions nationwide
Little League Challenger Division
Baseball for children and adults with a physical or intellectual disability, across more than 900 divisions. The main division serves ages 4–18, or up to 22 if still enrolled in school; the Senior League Challenger Division serves 15 and above with no upper age limit.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Use the league finder on their site to locate the nearest Challenger division, or ask about starting one.
200+ communities
Miracle League
Baseball on purpose-built accessible fields in more than 200 communities. Every player bats and every player scores, so ability differences do not decide the game.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their location list for the nearest field — coverage is good but not universal.
Every state — county-level programs
Special Olympics
Year-round sports training and competition at no cost to the athlete or their family, for children and adults alike. Programs run at county level in every state.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Eligibility centers on intellectual disability or a closely related developmental disability. If your child is autistic without an intellectual disability, have a direct conversation about fit before signing up rather than after.
Through local clubs and state associations
TOPSoccer (US Youth Soccer)
The Outreach Program for Soccer — recreational soccer for children and adults with intellectual, emotional or physical disabilities, usually with buddy support on the pitch. Run through ordinary local soccer clubs rather than as a separate organization.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Ask your state youth soccer association which local clubs run TOPSoccer — it is often not advertised on the club's own website.
For providers
Are you a provider serving this county?
Help families find accurate information about your services. Submit your practice for review so parents in this area can better understand their options.
Missing a provider? Submit a listing — it’s free →
School districts & government services
Public programs and school district contacts for Orange County.
School & special education
Services & benefits
- APD Central Region — Orange County
Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities; DD waiver enrollment.
Adult services
- APD Central Region — Orange County
Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities; DD waiver enrollment.
Respite & support
- APD Central Region — Orange County
Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities; DD waiver enrollment.
Helpful guides
Guides for Orange 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 Orange County
Serving families across Orange County including Orlando, Apopka, Winter Park, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Maitland, Edgewood, Windermere, Bay Lake and Oakland and more.
See all Florida resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Florida.
Florida state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Orange County, Florida?
We list 20 providers serving Orange County, covering ABA therapy, advocacy & legal, early intervention (0–3), activities, clubs & recreation and respite care, plus 2 more. Some are based in the county and others serve it from nearby areas. Every listing is reviewed by a person before it is published.
Which autism providers in Orange County accept Medicaid?
4 of the providers we list for Orange County state that they accept Medicaid, including Action Behavior Centers — Seminole County, Behavior Analysis Support Services — Orlando, BlueSprig Pediatrics — Kissimmee and Centria Autism — Lake County. Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Orange County?
ABA providers serving Orange County are listed in the ABA therapy section of this page, with phone numbers and websites. Many deliver services in the family's home or at school as well as in a clinic. Ask about waitlists when you call — they vary widely and change month to month.
Can autism therapy happen at home in Orange County?
5 providers serving Orange County deliver services in the family's home. Many children do better in a familiar setting than in an unfamiliar clinic room, and in-home visits remove the travel burden.
How do I get a free evaluation for a child under 3 in Orange County?
Contact Orange County Public Schools — Exceptional Student Education, the Early Intervention program serving Orange County. Under Part C of IDEA you can request an evaluation yourself — you do not need a doctor's referral, and the evaluation is free. Contact details are listed in the key contacts section of this page.
Does Medicaid pay for autism services in Florida?
Florida families can apply to the iBudget Florida Waiver (APD), a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is Often 10+ years — one of the longest in the country, and your place is usually set by the date you apply — so applying early matters even if you are unsure what services you need. Many waivers also disregard parental income, so families who don't qualify for regular Medicaid often still qualify here.
What if I can't find an autism provider in Orange County?
If none of the Orange County providers is the right fit, these Florida counties currently have the most listed providers: Sarasota County (24), Alachua County (23), Leon County (23), Manatee County (21). Many providers travel or offer telehealth, so it is worth calling even if they are not based nearby. You can also tell us about a provider we are missing.
Nearby counties in Florida
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Orange County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Orange Countygets an afternoon back. It takes about a minute and you don’t need to know the business details — a name and a rough location is enough for us to check.
- Which dentist here has managed a cleaning without it becoming a fight?
- Who cuts your child's hair without a meltdown?
- Where do parents here actually talk to each other?
- Is there a group here where your child has made a friend?
We check everything before it goes up, and nobody pays to be listed. How we verify.
Get told when this page changes
New provider in Orange County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Orange County — no newsletter, no digest, nothing else. Some counties hear from us a few times a year and some stay quiet for months; we would rather send you nothing than send you filler.
We store your address and county, and nothing else. How we handle it.
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 Orange 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 Orange County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
Add your practice →