Bright Expectations is dedicated to helping our families with children who have unique abilities find support, resources, and inspiration to break barriers, defy lowered expectations, and achieve the brightest futures they can imagine.
Bright Expectations provides information on evaluation and intervention services, support programs for families, resources for health care providers, and serve as a clearinghouse of information on developmental disabilities as directed in section 383.141, Florida Statutes.
There is an old saying that it is aerodynamically impossible for bumble bees to fly because their wings are too small for their bodies. But bumble bees don’t care. They just fly!
The Information Clearinghouse on Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council advises the Florida Department of Health on the resources to include.
Prenatal and Postnatal Diagnosis Conditions
General Resources
Agency for Persons with Disabilities
Works in partnership with local communities and private providers to assist people who have developmental disabilities and their families and provides assistance in identifying the needs of people with developmental disabilities for supports and services. APD also maintains a resource directory to help individuals with disabilities learn about available resources and organizations in local communities.
866-273-2273
Early Steps Directory
Provides statewide information and resources for parents or caregivers of children with diagnosed or suspected developmental delays or unique abilities from birth to three years of age, providers, and other interested groups or individuals.
800-218-0001
Family Health Line
Free statewide hotline offering counseling information and referrals about pregnancy, infant, and toddler issues, to improve the health of Florida’s pregnant women and their children. Callers can get information on community resources and answers for basic questions about pregnancy, breastfeeding, childbirth education, and other pregnancy-related concerns.
800-451-2229
Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System
Provides diagnostic, instructional, and technology support services to district exceptional education programs and families of students with disabilities.
Healthy Start
Services are available to pregnant women, infants, and children up to age three. Services target identified risks including referrals and ongoing care coordination and support, nutrition counseling, childbirth, breastfeeding, parenting support, and home visiting.
Help Me Grow
Promotes healthy development for every child by addressing the needs for early identification of developmental and/or behavioral concerns, and linking children and their families to community-based developmental and behavioral services and supports.
Hope for Healing Florida
Provides information, resources, and treatment links to youth and families who are seeking mental health services and supports.
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
Provides information about unique abilities, including descriptions, risk factors, signs and symptoms; screenings and diagnosis; data and statistics; research and related articles.
800-232-4636
Office of Early Learning
Offers a wide variety of early childhood educational programs and services for children from birth to age 5 in Florida.
866-357-3239
Arc of Florida
Nonprofit organization that works with local, state, and national partners, and advocates for people with intellectual disabilities, autism, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, prader-willi syndrome, and other unique abilities.
800-226-1155
Family Cafe
Provides individuals with unique abilities and their families with an opportunity for collaboration, advocacy, friendship, and empowerment by serving as a facilitator of communication, a space for dialogue and a source of information.
888-309-2233
Fetal Health Foundation
Parent-founded non-profit that supports families receiving a fetal syndrome diagnosis.
Educational Resources
AAA Scholarship Foundation
Helps administer two scholarship programs in Florida. The first is an income based scholarship and the second is the Gardiner Scholarship (formerly known as the Personal Learning Scholarship Account Scholarship).
888-707-2465
ABLE United
Allows individuals with unique abilities and their family and friends to save for future expenses, like Roth IRA and 529 college savings plans, while maintaining government benefits.
888-524-ABLE (2253)
Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities
Provides support to students, families, and institutions of higher education so that students with intellectual disabilities have opportunities for on-campus college experiences that lead to employment opportunities.
407-823-5225
Florida Department of Education
Florida provides a variety of school choice options, including four scholarship programs. These programs allow parents choice among public and private schools.
800-447-1636
Step Up For Students
Helps administer two scholarship opportunities for Florida school children: the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship for low-income families and Gardiner Scholarship for children with certain special needs. These scholarships are offered as options in the same way that public education is offering an expanding array of choices.
877-735-7837
