The Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) provides diagnostic and instructional support services to district exceptional student education programs and families of students with exceptionalities statewide. FDLRS supports the State education goals of high student achievement, safe schools, and high performing workforce. FDLRS activities reflect these goals and demonstrate outcomes toward accomplishing them. Funding is provided through federal and state dollars through the Bureau of Exceptional Education & Student Services (BEESS). For Polk County Resources from FDLRS, click here.

Family Resource Coalition, Inc. is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) designated to provide resources and other assistance to Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs and their Families throughout Florida.  For Polk County resources from the Family Resource Coalition, click here.

Polk County Public Schools Transition Services - The Polk County School System has entered partnerships with Florida Southern College, Warner Southern College, University of South Florida, Ridge Vocational Technical Center and Traviss Vocational Technical Center to create a unique program for students who desire independence. This is one program option for ESE students who are 18-21 years old and want to work toward achieving their desired post-school outcomes. The program provides a college atmosphere with same age peers and affords each student an opportunity to plan a transition into adulthood through continued education, work experience, and leisure activities.

Arthritis Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to researching the causes of and cures for arthritis, supporting community outreach and education programs, which directly help families cope with this devastating disease, and initiating grass-roots advocacy efforts which give it a face. For Polk County resources from the Arthritis Foundation, click here.

The Center for Independent Living of Central Florida is a private, non-profit organization that was founded in 1976 by Central Floridians dedicated to helping people with disabilities achieve their self-determined goals for independent living. CIL is a consumer-driven organization whose philosophy is based on peer role models: people with disabilities empowering people with disabilities and their families on the road to independence.

Central Florida Autism Institute (CFAI) is a non-profit grass roots organization started by families of children with autism and by concerned professionals. Together we desire simple options of dignity for our children with autism.

Central Florida Speech & Hearing Center was established in 1960. First known as the Children’s Rehabilitation Ranch, it was developed to provide physical and speech therapy services to children in Lakeland. In the first five years, roughly 60 patients were seen each year. In 2006, we provided services to both children and adults numbering 15,000. In the early days, we were staffed by all volunteers. Today, 34 paid staff provide services throughout Polk, Highlands and Hardee county as well as throughout Florida and southern Georgia.

Central Florida Deaf Services is a non-profit 501(C)(3) organization. CFDS works with people who are deaf, hard of hearing and deaf-blind of all ages in Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties by providing services, programs, and advocacy to fulfill their needs.

Child Find is a continuous process of public awareness activities, screening and evaluation designed to locate, identify, and refer as early as possibleall young children with disabilities and their families who are in need of Early Intervention Program (Part C) or Preschool Special Education (Part B/619) services of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), For Polk County resources for Child Find through the Florida Diagnostic Learning & Resource System (FDLRS), click here.

The Deaf Service Center Association, Inc. of Florida is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization incorporated in the State of Florida. The DSCA is composed of thirteen (13) member not for profit hearing loss service providers across the state. For Polk County resources from The Deaf Service Center Association, Inc. of Florida, click here.

Down Syndrome Association of Polk County is a support group consisting of parents throughout Polk County. They send out regular newsletters and have meetings once a month as well as other events.

Easter Seals Camp Challenge is a place where dreams come true. Founded in 1961, Camp Challenge is Florida’s only Easter Seals Camp and is designed especially for children and adults with cognitive or physical disabilities. The camp is more than a fond memory for happy campers; it is also an integral part of their pursuit of independence. The facility provides year-round respite care and summer camp programs.

Epilepsy Services of West Central Florida serves people in Hillsborough, Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties. Persons with epilepsy can participate in a number of agency programs: medical care and treatment, case management, employment counseling and placement, prevention and education and camp.

Florida Division of Blind Services is Florida's state agency responsible for ensuring that people of all ages in the state who are blind or visually impaired can live independently and achieve their goals. For Polk County resources from the Florida Division of Blind Services, click here.

Florida Relay Service is a statewide non profit 501(c)3 organization that administers the Specialized Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program for citizens of Florida who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf/Blind and Speech Impaired. FTRI is also responsible for the education and promotion of the Florida Relay Service. For Polk County resources from the Florida Relay Service, click here.

Florida Association for the Deaf is an organization that promotes Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Late Deafened Floridians to interact with each other as well as with the hearing community, legislature and agencies/organizations serving Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Late Deafened citizens. We help you to get the most from your lifestyle. FAD functions as the state organization to promote the well-being of an individual. For Polk County resources from the Florida Association for the Deaf, click here.

Goodwill Industries is North America’s leading nonprofit provider of education, training, and career services for people with disadvantages, such as welfare dependency, homelessness, and lack of education or work experience, as well as those with physical, mental and emotional disabilities. For Polk County resources from Goodwill Industries, click here.

Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) community-based, nonsectarian agency, providing critical help to Floridians since 1960. Each year Gulf Coast serves more than 50,000 children, adults, families and elders who have catastrophic medical, psychiatric, physical, developmental and emotional needs. The agency is known nationally and internationally as a leader in innovative programming. For Polk County resources from Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services, Inc., click here.

Alliance for Independence, Inc., formerly the Polk County Association for Handicapped Citizens, is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization that provides an adult day training program to people with developmental disabilities and is under the direction of a volunteer Board of Directors. The primary goal for our services is to provide people with knowledge and practical experience to be independent adults so they can become contributing members of their community.

Polk County School Board – Exceptional Student Education Department meets the needs of over 15,000 students from preschool through 22 years of age. A continuum of services is provided for each of the exceptionalities. Transition programs are also available to those students who are graduating with a special diploma so that they may become functional adults within their society.

Polk County Special Olympics mission is to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people with intellectual disabilities who wish to participate, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.

Polk Training Center provides citizens with developmental disabilities the opportunity for community inclusion, skills development, basic adult education, and vocational training. The day program offers individuals the opportunity to improve upon the skills they already have or acquire additional skills needed to assist them in being active in our community.

Sunrise Community, Inc. mission is to provide people with disabilities the assistance and support necessary to enable them to live valued lives in the community. For Polk County resources from Sunrise Community, Inc., click here.

Tampa Lighthouse for the Blind provides comprehensive rehabilitation programs for persons who are blind or visually impaired in two locations in Florida. On-site services are provided in Tampa and in Winter Haven for persons residing in Hillsborough, Polk and surrounding counties.

Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation is an employment resource for businesses and people with disabilities. Their mission is to enable individuals with disabilities to obtain and keep employment. For Polk County resources from the Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, click here.

The Florida Lions Camp is a private, non-profit camp established and dedicated to serving the needs of youth and adults with visual impairments and other challenging disabilities. The Florida Lions Camp began operation in 1974. The camp is considered to be one of the leading facilities of this type in the United States. All individuals, five years of age or older, are eligible to attend. Our goal is to enhance the quality of life for our campers through a diversity of experiences and instill self-worth and independence for those who are visually or otherwise challenged.

Children Medical Services (CMS) program provides a family-centered and coordinated system of care for children with special health care needs. The CMS network of providers links community-based health care services with university-based medical specialty programs and includes prevention and intervention services, primary care, medical and therapeutic specialty care, and long term care for children with special health care needs. Children with special health care needs are those children under age 21 whose serious or chronic physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional conditions require extensive preventive and maintenance care beyond that required by typically healthy children.

Heartland for Children Heartland for Children is the system administrator for foster care and related services including, intake and placement, temporary shelter, case management, in-home protective services, kinship care, out-of-home placement, foster care supervision, post placement supervision, foster home recruitment/licensing/retention, independent living, adoption, intensive residential treatment, family preservation, family reunification, family prevention and intervention services. HFC contracts with local agencies the provision of services to the children and families within the system, as well as work with the community as a whole to support the residents of this tri-county area.

The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass is a free lifetime access pass for any person with a disability or for the caregivers of a person with a disability. It allows access to ALL national parks for free. All that is required is a letter from the physician stating the disability and you take it to your local National Forestry & Wildlife Division to get the pass. Each pass will admit up to 4 adults and children under 16 are always free.

Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ADP) in October 2004, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) became an agency separate from the Department of Children and Families, specifically tasked with serving the needs of Floridians with developmental disabilities. Prior to that time, it existed as the Developmental Disabilities Program. The APD works in partnership with local communities and private providers to assist people who have developmental disabilities and their families. APD also provides assistance in identifying the needs of people with developmental disabilities for supports and services. The Agency Supports Persons with Developmental Disabilities in Living, Learning and Working, in their Community.

United Way of Central Florida For more than 25 years, United Way of Central Florida has been investing your charitable gifts in services that change people’s lives right here in Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties. Because it’s our community, too. Our community is unique in that no one town is the same.  Each area has different needs and opportunities, which must be met to make a significant impact on the lives of the citizens who live and work there.  That is why United Way community investment volunteers focus on the distinct needs of each community we serve, carefully investing in programs that not only respond to community needs, but that also create a measurable impact. United Way of Central Florida is focused on KIDS, FAMILIES AND WELLNESS.  We deal with social issues collectively, leveraging investments to create solutions that bring results for our communities.  Investing with United Way is the best way to have the greatest local impact.

Pediatric Therapy Services, Inc. offers Occupational, Physical, and Speech-Language Therapy.
A full service Pediatric Therapy Clinic serving all children from birth to 18 years.

Beth Ingram & Associates is a community-based private speech language, occupational and physical therapy practice established in 1986, which is committed to professional assessment and treatment of a wide variety of communication, language and physical disorders. Our extensive involvement with the medical community, as well as with public and private schools, allows us to develop a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to the unique needs of our patients.

Lakeland City Lakeland City Baseball the Challenger Division is a baseball team that allows children with different types of disabilities to participate in baseball that is safe and fun. The two locations were games are played is Lakeland and Lake Wales.