Family Support and Services
We know that finding and using services can be overwhelming.
CARD works with people at all ages of their lives regardless of the age of diagnosis. CARD consultants can assist families through the early days of diagnosis, help you find and use community resources, teach strategies and evidence-based practices for skill-building and behavioral concerns, create visual supports, prepare for IEP meetings, and more. We provide school observations of individual students and offer support and recommendations to staff only with permission from both the district and the family. Although by statute we are not permitted (statute) to provide the following services directly, we can refer you to appropriate providers for:
- Diagnostic evaluations
- Direct Therapy
- Crisis intervention
- Case management
- Legal or educational advocacy
We provide short-term services. You will need to contact us when you need further assistance.
Your first contact with your Coordinator will most likely be by phone. The Office will contact you to set up an initial phone consultation, to get more information on your needs. Based on those needs, your Coordinator will provide advice, resources and work with you to develop an action plan if needed to address your concerns. You may request additional phone consultations, or use email to communicate with your coordinator at any time. Please be aware that the coordinators are not case managers. They will provide you with resources, but you will be responsible for follow up steps to access those resources.
Phone, Zoom, in-office, and email consultations can be requested at any time. Additional consultation requests requiring travel, including home visits, school observations, meeting support and community-based consultations, will be evaluated by the ASD Specialist and CARD Director, and approved based on complexity of need and available resources. Our goal is to help families and individuals become empowered, competent, and confident in their own ability to manage their needs independently through training and consultation or referral to an agency that can provide the level of support needed to achieve this goal.
Our resource guide contains over 600 entries for organizations and service providers, from medical specialists to barbers and swim instructors, who are familiar with ASD. The difference between our resource guide and others is that providers in our guide must be recommended by at least two families already affiliated with CARD.
Our library contains over 1000 books, DVDs and other resources on ASD and related disabilities.
UCF CARD provides over 200 family education seminars across our seven counties (and via the internet) each year. Families are alerted to topics through our bimonthly e-newsletters and our Facebook page.
Throughout the year, CARD offers parent and adult education seminars across our seven county area. Some topics will repeat—especially those needed by families of newly diagnosed children and behavioral topics. All CARD sponsored trainings are free of charge and may be attended by parents of children with ASD. In addition, if you have a training need, speak with your coordinator, and there may be a previously recorded seminar on that topic that you can view from the comfort of your home.
We provide 10 support and social groups for parents of children and adults with ASD, as well as teens and adults with ASD. Talk with your ASD Specialist to learn more about these offerings.
Our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube pages provide additional information and opportunities for families and adults with ASD. We have private groups for parents of adults, homeschoolers, Spanish speakers, and adults with ASD. When things come to our attention and require a quick response, we will post about them on our Facebook page. Through these kinds of quick opportunities, families have been able to receive tickets to performances, bicycles, conference opportunities and other items of value. So like us on Facebook and follow us to stay in-the-know.
UCF CARD provides consultative support to individuals with ASD and related disabilities and their families residing in the seven counties served by the Center. The individual must reside in the county (while the family members may reside elsewhere). CARD services are “cradle to grave”–which means that CARD will be there to support the individual and family through the many transitions and phases of the lifespan. While the individual with ASD is living in Central Florida, they will remain active with UCF CARD. Some families use CARD services regularly, and others choose to reconnect with us only at certain points in their child’s journey. It is up to your family what services and supports you choose to use.
Each individual will be assigned a CARD ASD Specialist based on the location of their home or school. Their CARD ASD Specialist will be the point of contact that will follow the individual throughout the lifespan, from early intervention through adulthood. Unfortunately, due to logistical and funding limitations, individuals may not “pick” their CARD ASD Specialist.
While most family relationships to the child are straightforward, court judgments, custody arrangements and parent abandonment or death may complicate the ability of the center to best serve the child. In such cases, the CARD ASD Specialist will work with the family to develop a communication plan that will be in the best interest of the child. Please note that individuals over the age of 18 are considered their own guardians unless documentation of guardianship or other “consent to represent interests” has been provided to UCF CARD. This means that parents of adults must have written permission from their child to speak to us regarding the client.
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CARD Conference 2021
Hear from CARD families and adults with ASD around the state how CARD benefits individual throughout the lifespan