Information & Resources
for Brevard County
Go to Recreation, Social Services, or
Support Groups, for Brevard
Local Advocacy &
Resource Organizations
The ARC of Brevard
The ARC of Brevard is
a well respected community organization that has been privileged to
support children and adults with developmental and other disabilities
for more than 50 years in Brevard County, Florida.
Our goal is to provide you with
information about our services, share our experiences with you, and
together build a flexible, individualized program.
1694 Cedar Street,
Rockledge, FL, 3295 Phone:
321-690-3464
Website:
www.arcofbrevard.org
Early Learning Coalition of
Brevard
Providing children in Brevard County
quality programs, resources and services necessary to succeed in school.
Available programs include: School Readiness Child Care, Florida First
Start, Early Education Training & Support, Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK).
P.O. Box 560692, Rockledge, FL 32956-0692
Phone: 321-637-7241
Website:
www.elcbrevard.org
Family Care Council Area 7
Established in 1993 by Florida Statute,
the Family Care Council (FCC) advises the Agency for Persons with
Disabilities (APD) on the needs of self-advocates and their families.
The 14 local Family Care Councils work with APD in educating,
advocating, and empowering families of persons with developmental
disabilities (DD). They also assist APD with the delivery of
services to persons receiving Med-Waiver funds.
Statewide
Website: www.fccflorida.org
Click on "7" on map for local contact information.
Florida Diagnostic and
Learning Resources System (FDLRS)
FDLRS (pronounced Fiddlers) 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. Statewide
Website:
www.paec.org/fdlrsweb/index.htm
FDLRS East
(Covers Brevard & Volusia
Counties)
Brevard Location:
Educational Services Facility, Brevard
District School Board
2700 Judge Fran Jamieson Way
Viera, FL 32940
Phone: (321) 633-1000, ext. 540 Website:
www.fdlrs.brevard.k12.fl.us/fdlrs/
Parents Planning Programs (PPP)
for the Developmentally Disabled of Florida
356 Las Olas Drive
Melbourne Beach, FL 32951
Phone (321) 724-8899
www.pppflorida.org
A non-profit organization formed by parents
seeking to prepare for the future of their loved ones who have
developmental disabilities. Offers residential and recreational
programs in Brevard County.
Recording for the Blind &
Dyslexic
400 N. Miramar Ave.,
Indialantic, FL 32903
(321) 952-4404
Website:
http://www.rfbd.org
Contact: Claudia L. Kickery,
Assistant Educational Outreach Director
.
As the Assistant Educational Outreach Director in this area, I am
available to: Assist schools with registration; help with
application, book & equipment ordering processes; conduct
orientation for staff members; provide training for teachers,
students and parents; make follow-up site visits to address any
concerns. Client Eligibility:
Must have a 504 or an IEP (Individual Education Plan). At the
college level, must have print disability as certified by
appropriate personnel.
Space Coast Center for
Independent Living
Serves Brevard & Indian
River Counties
Centers for Independent Living are
501(c)(3), consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability,
non-residential, private, nonprofit federally mandated agencies. CILs
work to empower persons with disabilities to take charge of their lives
and guide their own destinies.
Contact: Donna Taylor
803 North Fiske Blvd., Suite B
Cocoa, FL 32922
(321) 633-6011 TTY: (321) 633-6011 FAX: (321) 633-6472
sccil@bellsouth.net
Recreation
Brevard County Parks &
Recreation
Main Website:
http://www.brevardparks.com/disabilities/index.php
North Area
(Titusville)
The North Area Persons with Disabilities
Program offers a variety of social activities to mentally and physically
challenged individuals. Regular activities provide socialization and
offer opportunities for new friendships. To receive a monthly
calendar or for more information call 321-264-5058 or 321-264-5105.
Email:
northarea@brevardparks.com
Schedule includes bowling, dances, games, crafts & activities, Special
Olympics events, special field trips and other events. See main
website above & click on North Area for times & locations.
Central Area (Merritt
Island)
Therapeutic
Recreation and Inclusion Services:
Programs in Central Brevard reflect the use
of Therapeutic Recreation for children and
adults at all ability levels. Weekdays
include School visits with students in
Exceptional Education classes and Adult
Day-Care Centers providing services to
develop and use their leisure in ways that
enhance their health, independence and
well-being. Evening activities are more
social and create opportunities for
transition into our community of inclusion.
Some activities require an admission and-or
transportation fee. Monthly calendar is
available by calling 455-1380.
Email:
mibeaches@brevardparks.com.
South Area (Melbourne)
The South Area
provides a variety of social activities for
children and adults with intellectual and-or
physical disabilities. Activities offer
opportunities to socialize, practice new
skills, participate in field trips, learn
life skills, establish new friendships and
serve the community. Various activities
throughout the year range from weekly Friday
dances, to monthly field trips, to movie
nights, and Special Olympic practices.
Each month a calendar of events is
distributed to participants through
either their day program or at Friday Night
Dances. Call 321-255-4436 for more
information. Email:
southharea@brevardparks.com.
Interventions Unlimited Social Skills Summer Camp
Our programs are designed to provide a
consistent structure focusing on the social and academic needs of the
children. Our goal is to provide a motivating, positive, therapeutic,
and most importantly fun environment for your child. The
social skills program will focus on developing, strengthening, and
maintaining social relationships with peers in a fun and interactive
environment. The program utilizes the principles of Applied Behavior
Analysis (ABA) to teach children specific skills required for successful
social interaction.
Click
here to download 2013 Application
2013 Reading Camp Flyer
2013 Social Skills Camp
Flyer
Call (407) 678-8889 or
e-mail
info@interventionsunlimited.com.
Social Services
Children's Medical Services (CMS)
The Children's
Medical Services (CMS) program provides children with special health
care needs with a family centered, managed system of care. 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. Website:
http://www.cms-kids.com/default.htm The website provides
contact information by Region of the State.
CMS - Rockledge
1133
Seminole Drive
Rockledge, FL 32955
(321)
690-3850
Asst. Regional Medical Director: William Knappenberger, M.D.
Nursing Director: Julie Byczek, R.N.
Early Steps
Early Steps is administered by
Children's Medical Services (CMS) in
accordance with IDEA, Part C.
Early Steps offers early intervention
services for families with infants and toddlers (birth to thirty-six
months) who have developmental delays or an established condition likely
to result in a developmental delay.
Sixteen contracted local Early Steps across the state coordinate with
community agencies and other contracted providers for the delivery of
needed supports and services.
Toll Free Phone: 888-654-440
Website:
http://www.cms-kids.com/Earlystepshome.htm
Space Coast/
Catch of Brevard, Inc. Early Steps Program
2565 Judge Fran
Jamieson Way
Viera, FL
32940
321-634-3688
Fax: 321-504-0955
Althea Puzio –
Program Manager
e-mail:
althea_puzio@doh.state.fl.us
Space Coast Area Transit (SCAT)
Public transport system for Brevard
County. There isn't any eligibility requirement for most services.
Some may be determined by a funding agency.
401 South Varr Avenue,
Cocoa, Florida 32922.
321) 635-7815
Carmen Baez, Customer
Service Supervisor:
carmen@ridescat.com
Website:
http://www.ridescat.com/
Support Groups
Brevard Melbourne Traumatic
Brain Injury (TBI) Support Group
Contact: Brenda Buchweitz (HealthSouth
Sea Pines at 321-728-0258)
Brevard Rockledge Traumatic
Brain Injury (TBI) Support Group
Contact: Vikki Weinberg 321-
268-5103 Co-chair John Dillon
Brevard Asperger
Support Group
Contact: Irene Mazloom at (407)823-2176
CHADD – South Brevard Satellite
Support
group for Children & Adults with Attention Defecit/ Hyperactivity
Disorder.
Working TOGETHER with our Experience, Education, &
Support we will become better Advocates for our children! Please join us and share your thoughts and experiences. Support
groups are a great way to learn more about the skills that will make a
difference in your child's life!
Families Exploring Down Syndrome
(FEDS) - Brevard
FEDS (Families Exploring Down Syndrome) We are a group of parents who
support each other as we travel down this road together. This website
was created to help new parents and old to find information about Down
syndrome in our county.
Come to a breakfast
to gain information about therapies, schools or just enjoy being with
other moms who have beautiful children that happen to have that little
extra chromosome. Come meet the sweet new babies!
When: First Tuesday
of the month, Time: 9:30 a.m. – Noon
For Location and
additional information Contact Kim at 321-720-6017
Website:
www.fedsofbrevard.org
F.E.L.L.
Friendship, Expression of Laughter, and
Life. A support group that meets weekly to share information with one
another. Through the dynamics of self awareness, one can learn about
living ones dreams and getting off grudge island. For
more information, contact Terry Tomaka at (321) 722-4150, ext. 5119 or
ttomaka.flp@gmail.com.
Or Sandy Reid, Early Steps Family Resource Specialist at
Sandra_Reid@doh.state.fl.us
or (321)
409-2136, ext. 209 or (321) 292-1370.
Parent Training &
Information Center:
Central Florida Parent
Center / AWARE Project
Milagros Pou,
Diane Joslin, or
Eileen Gilley
Home Office - (888) 612-9273
or (727) 789-2400
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