Persons with DisabilitiesResources

The Disability Resource Center (DRC) is an organization that works to promote Independent Living for and by individuals with disabilities; to enable them to take control of their lives; to make decisions about themselves and their future; and to ensure the necessary support services are available to enable them to be active participants in their communities.

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.

APD supports individuals with unique abilities and their families in living, learning, and working within their communities by creating multiple pathways to possibilities. APD identifies the service needs of people with developmental disabilities, and those individuals may receive social, medical, behavioral, residential, and/or therapeutic services.

The agency serves more than 60,000 Floridians with the following disabilities:

People severely impaired by autism

Cerebral palsy

Spina bifida

Intellectual disabilities

Down syndrome

Prader-Willi syndrome

Phelan-McDermid syndrome

Children age 3-5 who are at a high risk of a developmental disability

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Sub-area 2A includes Bay, Gulf, Calhoun, Jackson, Washington, and Holmes counties. Field offices serving sub-area 2A are located in Panama City.

Panama City:

3309 Frankford Ave, Suite C

Panama City, FL 32405

Office Phone: (850) 872-7652

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Sub-area 2B includes Leon, Franklin, Jefferson, Gadsden, Wakulla, and Liberty counties. The sub-area 2B field office is located in:

4030 Esplanade Way

Suite 280

Tallahassee, FL 32399-2949

850-487-1992

The SSDI program pays benefits to you and certain family members if you are “insured.” This means that you worked long enough – and recently enough - and paid Social Security taxes on your earnings. The SSI program pays benefits to adults and children who meet our requirements for a qualifying disability and have limited income and resources.

While Social Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) two programs are different, the medical requirements are the same. If you meet the nonmedical requirements, monthly benefits are paid if you have a medical condition expected to last at least one year or result in death.

SSI provides monthly payments to people with disabilities and older adults who have little or no income or resources.

Who can get SSI:

Adults and children might be eligible for SSI if they have: 

Little or no income, and 

Little or no resources, and 

A disability, blindness, or are age 65 or older.

For more information or to apply for benefits, please go to the website.

Florida’s resource for helping families of children with disabilities.

You’ll find the resources and support your family needs. Call the number above or check out their wonderful website.

We are the behind-the-scenes team ensuring Northwest Florida children have access to affordable, high quality early learning experiences, so every child is prepared for success in school.

Child Care Resource & Referral

School Readiness (Financial Assistance Program)

Voluntary PreKindergarten (VPK)

Child Developmental Screenings

Mental Health Services

Parent Advisory Committee

Office hours are Thursdays, 9-5 pm office hours. Liberty Manor provides rental apartments to people age 62 and older, as well as individuals with disabilities at any age. They do not have a website, but you can call the Manager for more information.

Any Floridian with a disability-related issue is eligible to receive Disability Rights Florida services.

Disability Rights Florida is a nonprofit organization that provides legal advocacy and rights protection for adults and children with a wide range of disabilities. Our staff attorneys, advocates and investigators address civil rights violations, abuse and neglect, and discrimination.

The Florida Department of Health and each local emergency management agency in the state developed an online registry for persons with special needs to register to receive assistance during a disaster. Once you submit your information, a nurse from the health department will call you about your registration and to discuss the special needs shelter closest to you.

Please keep in mind this is a shelter of last resort if you do not have an evacuation plan. Most times, the shelter is operated in a closed school building outside the county with cots available. Special needs patients are encouraged to being a caregiver with them to the shelter, all medications prescribed and diet-specific foods/snacks. Nurses are staffed at the shelters to assist patients during the response.

You will be contacted periodically to verify the information provided is correct and to make any necessary changes.

Children's Medical Services (CMS) is a collection of programs for eligible children with special needs. Each one of our programs and services are family-centered and designed to help children with a variety of conditions and needs.

CMS has a variety of services for expecting moms, newborn babies, infants and toddlers, school-aged children, adolescents and young adults. All of our services are provided by highly qualified physicians, nurses, social workers and other health care providers around the state. Through our family-centered programs, they make sure your child gets the care he or she needs.

The mission of DIG is to expand opportunities for participation, education, employment and acceptance of Persons with Disabilities through advocacy, litigation, education, and training.

Blind Babies Program

The Blind Babies Program was established by the Florida Legislature in 2000 to provide community-based early intervention education for children from birth through five years of age who are blind or visually impaired, and for their parents, families, and caregivers.

The program promotes early development with a special emphasis on vision skills to minimize developmental delays. This education lays the groundwork for future learning by helping a child progress through normal developmental stages. It teaches children to discover and to make the best use of their skills for future success in school.

The program helps ensure that visually impaired and blind children enter school as ready to learn as their sighted classmates. It also links children and their families to other available resources that could assist these families in the future. Early intervention services offered through the Blind Babies Program are delivered by community-based provider organizations.

Children's Program:

The Children's Program was established by the Florida Legislature in 2000 to facilitate blind and visually impaired children's fullest participation within the family, community, and educational settings.

The program supplements services already offered by the school system to foster the child's learning and ability to function independently. The student's parents, family, and caregivers are an integral part of the program to foster independence.

Children's Program Specialists serve eligible children so that they may reach educational and independent living goals. Successful outcomes enable students to transition from school to Vocational Rehabilitation or other appropriate community programs.

Fostering Voice, Choice, and Community

You’re not alone in your journey through vision loss and blindness. American Council of the Blind (ACB) welcomes and accepts you. Guided by its members, ACB advocates for equality of people who are blind and low vision, inspires community, and connects you with education, resources, and each other to support your independence.

The Epilepsy Agency of the Big Bend, Inc. (EABB) works to reduce barriers to care for those whose lives are affected by epilepsy, particularly individuals and families experiencing poverty.

The Epilepsy Agency of the Big Bend, Inc. (EABB) works to reduce barriers to care for those whose lives are affected by epilepsy, particularly individuals and families experiencing poverty.

If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the ADA Coordinator by mail at P. O. Box 1089, Panama City, FL 32402 or by phone at (850) 767-3550 at least seven (7) days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than seven (7) days. If you are hearing or voice impaired, please call 711 or email [email protected].

If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the ADA Coordinator; 301 South Monroe Street, Room 225, Tallahassee, FL 32301; 850-606-4401 at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711.