Everyone needs help! Below is a collection of resources throughout Tallahassee-Leon County and Florida for parents with children of all developmental stages.
As always, parents are encouraged to call IMPACT Tallahassee to find out more about IMPACT Preschool, IMPACT Academy, and IMPACT Therapy’s services and availability. The front desk can be reached at (850) 325-6301 or you can email [email protected].
Psychological Evaluations and Autism Diagnosis
Capital Psychology Consultants (Dr. Marie Guilford)
https://www.mariehumeguilfordphd.com/ | (850) 224-5801
Capital City Psychiatry
http://www.capitalcitypsychiatry.com/services/psychological-testing/4/ | (850) 205-0189
FSU Multi-Disciplinary Center
https://mdc.fsu.edu/services | (850) 644-2222
Takes CHP for ASD and ADHD + Private pay options
Hopebridge (Autism evaluations/diagnosis for children under 7 years old)
https://www.hopebridge.com/ | (850) 706-5445
Agencies & Associations
- Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD): https://apd.myflorida.com/
- Center for Autism and Related Diagnosis (CARD) – FSU Autism Institute: https://fsucard.com/
- Florida Dept. of Education Division of Blind Services: https://dbs.fldoe.org/
- Children’s Home Society of Florida Early Steps: https://chsfl.org/services/for-parents/early-steps/
- Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend Region (ELC): https://elcbigbend.org/
- Family Network on Disabilities (FND): https://fndusa.org/
- Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST): https://faast.org/
- Future Pathways (Teens & Young Adults-focused): https://futurepathwaysfl.com/
- Lighthouse of the Big Bend: https://www.seeingindependence.org/
- Step Up for Students (SUFS) Scholarships: https://www.stepupforstudents.org/scholarships/
Community Resources
Success for Occupational Area Readiness (SOAR)
The Success for Occupational Area Readiness (SOAR) Program is an initiative of Lively Technical College and The Leon County School District. The SOAR Program will be a collaborative partnership between the school district, Lively Technical College and community partners (Vocational Rehabilitation, Capital Region CareerSource, KEYS Big Bend). This partnership will provide inclusive post‐secondary technical education in state-approved career certificate programs for persons with intellectual disabilities. The ultimate goal will be that 100% of students who enroll in SOAR will be able to secure gainful employment in their related industry.
The program will provide direct support for students with trained personnel to assist with social skills, technical skills, interpersonal communication, and problem-solving skills. In addition, students will receive additional assistance for skills specifically related to their program of study. To ensure student success, students will have access to support structures designed to help the student meet his/her goals. Students will have access to the SOAR Program Coordinator as well as Student Services Staff, VR case manager, and/or relevant community support agency personnel. Students will create unique student success plans with the SOAR Program Coordinator designed to ensure student success.
Learn more on their website, including which certificate programs are available for students to enroll in and how to apply.
Project Lifesaver
If you worry about your child wandering off without supervision, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office has recently partnered with the Alzheimer’s Project on Project Lifesaver. Project Lifesaver helps provide rapid response to save lives and reduce potential for serious injury for adults and children who are likely to wander due to autism, Down syndrome, and other related cognitive conditions. As part of the program, Project Lifesaver provides equipment, training, certification, and support to law enforcement and other public safety organizations or community groups throughout the country.
To find out more about how Project Lifesaver works, including how to get a FREE device, please contact Emily Brann at the Leon County Sheriff’s Office at [email protected] or call (850) 606-3391.
i-Enable
i-Enable is serving people with disabilities in Leon and Wakulla counties who need help with transportation by offering low-cost rides with vetted professionals using a flexible model designed to meet the service needs of each individual rider.
i-Enable’s mobile application provides a parent or guardian of a rider the ability to trace the trip in real time, during all points of transport, with the capability of viewing the driver assigned to the trip along with the other passengers in the vehicle. Drivers are credentialed through a Level II background check and drug testing both prior to joining and randomly throughout their employment, in addition to routine safety audits and regular training.
Rides start at $3 for in-county trips and $5 for cross-county trips for ambulatory and non-ambulatory riders.
For a rider application or or questions regarding this project, please visit i-Enable’s website or email [email protected].
Capital City Music Therapy
CCMT’s board-certified music therapists visit homes, schools, and facilities to work with clients of all ages and abilities. After assessing areas of strength and need with clients and their families, CCMT will build out an individualized plan of care to help reach goals inside the music therapy session that transfer to everyday activities.
CCMT also offers the Little Ditties Early Learning program for young children and families to support developmental milestones, family relationships, and social and emotional learning through play.
To learn more, visit CCMT’s website.
Special Needs-Focused Sports Programs
- Special Olympics Florida: https://www.specialolympicsflorida.org/
- Sportsability Alliance (Formerly Florida Disabled Outdoors Association): https://www.fdoa.org/
- Tallahassee Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Affairs Dept. Access for All: https://www.talgov.com/parks/parks-ada
Prosthetics and Orthotics
- Hanger Clinic: Prosthetics and Orthotics (Mahan Dr. Office): https://hangerclinic.com/
Information About Age of Majority and Transfer of Rights
- FND Webinar: Getting Ready for the Age of Majority
- FND Information Hub: Getting Ready for Independent Living at the Age of Majority
- Center for Parent Information & Resources Getting Ready for When Your Teen Reaches the Age of Majority: A Parent’s Guide
Since 2006, IMPACT has worked to create a community where all children, especially those with special needs, could thrive.
IMPACT was founded in 2006 to provide families with a central location for children to receive first-rate therapeutic treatment from expert, individually licensed therapists. By 2012, services had expanded to include a wide variety of therapy types, including speech, music, and physical therapy, as well as the addition of IMPACT Academy and IMPACT Preschool.
Started by parents with a need for specialized programs, IMPACT is focused on building a community for all children, especially those with special needs. IMPACT serves children aged 6 weeks to 22 years old with varying disabilities, including but not limited to Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Traumatic Brain Injuries, and Autism, and is the only full-service, comprehensive private education center in the region.
Over the last 15+ years, IMPACT has grown but remained focused on empowering and educating all children with a model that utilizes therapeutic intervention to provide a solid foundation for each child to have positive social, emotional, physical, and academic success. Whereas traditional schools cannot provide individualized care for each student, IMPACT understands that every child has the potential to succeed and deserves quality educational opportunities based on their individual developing strengths.