Family Network on Disabilities (FND)
What it is. Florida's federally funded Parent Training and Information Centers. Free one-on-one help by phone with school planning and advocacy, free workshops and webinars (Welcome to ESE, IFSP-to-IEP transition, Section 504, RTI/MTSS, Road to Graduation, health-care transition), a parent-to-parent matching program, and Family STAR, the state's Family-to-Family Health Information Center for children with special health care needs. Direct assistance and education.
Who it's for. Parents and caregivers of children and young adults with any disability or mental-health challenge, anywhere in Florida. FND's site lists no income, diagnosis, or insurance requirement. Regional projects cover Orange (PEN) and Volusia, Alachua, and Duval (POPIN).
First step. Call 1-800-825-5736 or (727) 523-1130, or submit the request-a-callback form (opens in a new tab) (name, email, county, and what you need help with). Upcoming workshops: fndusa.org/events (opens in a new tab).
Good to know.
- Good first call before an IEP meeting, or when a school has not responded to an evaluation request.
- Website available in English, Spanish, Russian, and Haitian Creole.
Cost. Free. A few partner events charge a small fee.
Official source. fndusa.org (opens in a new tab) · Programs (opens in a new tab)
Not yet confirmed: whether staff attend IEP meetings in person; callback languages; typical response time.