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Families ask delegation to require clearer APD eligibility rules, faster reimbursements and a parent oversight group
Summary
Parents and self-advocates told the Brevard County delegation that Florida's Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) needs objective, published eligibility rules for autism services, faster Family Empowerment Scholarship and FESUA reimbursements, and an oversight panel to reduce inconsistent decisions that leave families in limbo.
Several parents and self-advocates told the Brevard County legislative delegation that state systems for autism supports are unclear and slow, creating recurring gaps in care and the risk of long-term instability for adults with complex needs.
Sandy Studeville, who spoke with her adult son Michael, asked the delegation to push APD to adopt objective eligibility criteria aligned with DSM-5 and adaptive functioning measures. "Florida's eligibility rules for services are vague and inconsistent under the autism category," Studeville said. She told delegates that subjective terms such as "severe" and "marked" lead to conflicting determinations and appeals and that other states rely on clearer diagnostic and…
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