Disabilities

Aging Disability and Resource Center

Some Aging Resource Centers (through the Florida Dept. of Elder Affairs) provide services to adults aged 18 and older, as well as seniors, who have a severe and persistent mental illness as well as services for adults aged 50 and older who have a developmental disability. The centers in Orlando, St. Petersburg, and Ft. Lauderdale provide information and referral to adults with mental illness while the centers in St. Petersburg and Ft. Myers provide information and referral for adults 50 years and older with developmental disabilities. For further information view the website http://elderaffairs.state.fl.us/english/arc.php or call the toll-free number (800) 963-5337 or TDD (800) 955-8771.

ASSOCIATIONS

You might be able to locate a state or national association that focuses on a particular disability. An association may provide information on treatment options and financial resources. Their website may include online message boards or a search tool for locating an association chapter in your local community where you might be able to get support and suggestions from people who are dealing with the same disability. Use an Internet search engine, like Google.com, and type the name of your condition into the search engine. For example type cerebral palsy association, brain injury association, mental health association, or whatever interests you.

Following are four Florida associations. They aren’t the only associations in Florida focused on disability, but they are a sample of what you might find:

The Family Cafe
www.FamilyCafe.net

Family Network on Disabilities of Florida, Inc.
www.fndfl.org
(800) 825-5736

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
www.fddc.org
(800) 580-7801 or TDD (888) 488-8633

Florida Directory of Early Childhood Services
www.CentralDirectory.org
(800) 654-4440

CARES:

The CARES Program is available to people with disabilities and to seniors. CARES stands for Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long Term Care Services. They do assessments to see what help is needed to keep a person in his or her home, provide help getting home and community based services, or help with placement in a nursing home. For more information call the toll-free number. (800) 963-5337 or to view their website click http://ElderAffairs.state.fl.us/doea/cares.php.

DISABILITY RIGHTS FLORIDA

This is a nonprofit organization that provides protection and advocacy services in Florida, as well as information and referral to state and community programs. Call their toll-free number (800) 342-0823 or TDD (800) 346-4127, or to view their website click www.DisabilityRightsFlorida.org.

DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION:

If your medical condition is going to prevent you from working, or already prevents you from working, you may be able to get help from the following, including possible medical treatment that will help you be able to return to work – The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation at the Florida Department of Education provides services for persons with a disability, including help looking for employment, getting assistive technologies, independent living program, rehabilitation and reemployment for injured workers, plus vocational rehabilitation services to people with disabilities who are migrant and seasonal workers. Call them toll-free at (800) 451-4327 (Voice and TDD), or to view their website click www.RehabWorks.org.

FAMILY NETWORK ON DISABILITIES:

The Family Network on Disabilities works to ensure access to information, resources, and advocacy for families of children with disabilities, from birth through age 26. To learn more, visit http://fndusa.org.

FEDERAL DISABILITY PROGRAMS:

Social Security pays benefits to people who cannot work because they have a medical condition that is expected to last at least one year or result in death. Such disability benefits are paid through two programs: The Social Security disability insurance program and the Supplemental Security Income program (SSI). To find out more call the toll-free number (800) 772-1213 or TTY (800) 325-0778, or to view their website click www.ssa.gov/pubs/10029.html.People eligible for SSI may also qualify for Medicare and/or Medicaid.

If you are denied benefits you have the right to appeal the decision. If you have questions about the process call the above phone number or contact the Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities (at the top of this section).

FEDERAL WEBSITE:

The following is a federal website that lists various government resources for persons with a disability, click www.DisabilityInfo.gov.

FLORIDA AGENCY FOR PERSON WITH DISABILITIES

assists people who have developmental disabilities and their families. You can view the agency’s website by clicking http://apd.MyFlorida.com. The website includes a list of district offices and their contact information, or you can call the toll-free number (877) 232-4968 (voice and TTY).

FLORIDA DIVISION OF BLIND SERVICES

provides services to persons who are blind or have serious visual impairments and to persons who have conditions that make it hard to read regular print. The program provides children and family services, school-to-work program, independent living services, vocational rehabilitation, employer and business enterprise services, and the Braille and Talking Book Library. For more information call the Division of Blind Services toll-free number (800) 342-1828, or to view their website click http://dbs.myflorida.com.

FLORIDA TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY:

Florida Telecommunications Relay runs the Specialized Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program for citizens of Florida who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf/blind and speech impaired. They provide all kinds of equipment free of charge. For more information call the toll-free number (800) 222-3448 or TTY (888) 447-5620, or to view their website click www.ftri.org.

HOUSING:

For information on special needs housing for people with a disability go to the Florida website www.FloridaHousing.org (click “Special Needs Housing” on the left). Also view the federal website www.Disability.gov/housing.

MEDLINE PLUS:

The National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health provide this website with a wealth of information on health conditions, treatment options, research, clinical trials, related organizations, and much more. To view their website, click www.MedlinePlus.gov.

PUBLIC SCHOOL PROGRAMS:

To find out about local school programs for disabled children contact your local County School District. To find your district, click the following link www.fldoe.org/eias/flmove/supers.asp. You'll see phone, address, and e-mail contacts for the school superintendents. For more information click the county that interest you.

SHINE:

For questions on health insurance you can contact the SHINE program.  SHINE provides counseling to people with disabilities and seniors on health insurance, including Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care insurance, prescription assistance programs, and other health insurance issues. For more information call the toll-free number (800) 963-5337 and ask for a SHINE counselor or view the website www.FloridaShine.org.

OTHER RESOURCES:

Be sure to look at the other topics listed in the Medical Help Section by clicking Referral Links.