Quick Guide: Applying for APD Services
Click the Diagnosis Below for Specific Application Information
Autism
Documentation:
Must provide one or more of both diagnostic testing and collateral documentation. Examples are listed below. Please provide all testing and documentation you have available.
Diagnostic Testing Examples:
The following evaluations are some examples of tests used to make a diagnosis of autism:
ADOS-2: Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition
GARS-3: Gilliam Autism Rating Scale
CARS-2: Childhood Autism Rating Scale
ASRS: Autism Spectrum Rating Scales
ADI-R: Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised
Collateral Documentation Examples:
School records, such as Individualized Education Plans and achievement testing
Medical or therapeutic documentation
Any psychological evaluation, educational evaluation, or adaptive testing
Progress notes from speech and behavioral therapies
Baker Act records
Licensed Professionals:
A diagnosis may only be accepted from one or more of the following:
Florida-licensed psychiatrist,
Florida-licensed psychologist,
Board-certified pediatric neurologist who is qualified by training and experience to make a diagnosis of autism,
Board-certified developmental pediatrician, or
Collateral information received from another state may be accepted if the evaluator is licensed through the same credentials required for licensure in Florida for the professions.
Cerebral Palsy
Documentation:
Must provide one or more of the following to support a diagnosis:
Documentation examples:
Documentation from a physician attesting to the diagnosis
Medical treatment records or visit summaries that indicate the diagnosis
Medical history records that indicate the diagnosis
Licensed Professionals:
Written documentation of diagnosis is accepted from one or more of the following:
A medical doctor
A doctor of osteopathy
Medical records documenting a diagnosis of cerebral palsy before the age of 18
Down Syndrome
Documentation:
Must provide one or more of the following to support the diagnosis:
Documentation examples:
Medical records documenting a chromosome analysis (also referred to as a karyotype) finding the individual has an extra genetic material on their number 21 chromosome must be provided
Documentation from a physician attesting to the diagnosis
Medical history and treatment records or visit summaries that indicate the diagnosis
Licensed Professionals:
Documentation is accepted from a medical doctor or a doctor of osteopathy.
Intellectual Disability
Documentation:
Must provide one or more of each of the following to support a diagnosis. Please provide all testing and documentation you have available:
Diagnostic testing
Adaptive testing
Collateral documents
Diagnostic Testing Examples:
Standardized tests may be submitted as proof of an intellectual disability. The following are presumptively accepted standardized tests of intelligence to establish eligibility for an intellectual disability. The applicant must demonstrate that any test not presumptively accepted by the Agency is valid.
Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test (all ages)
Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (under 6 years of age)
Differential Ability Scales – Preschool Edition (under 6 years of age)
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) (children up to 15 years, 11 months)
Differential Ability Scales (children up to 15 years, 11 months)
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)
Test of Nonverbal Intelligence
Comprehensive Test of Nonverbal Intelligence
Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test (UNIT)
Leiter International Performance Scale-Revised
Adaptive Testing Examples:
Vineland
Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (ABAS)
AAMR Adaptive Behavior Scale
Adaptive Behavior Evaluation Scale (ABES)
Skills of Independent Behavior - Revised
Collateral Documentation Examples:
School records, such as Individualized Education Plans and achievement testing
Medical or therapeutic documentation of intellectual disability
Licensed Professionals:
In all cases, assessments or evaluations for eligibility should be obtained from appropriately licensed professionals with experience and training in the instruments and population for whom eligibility is to be determined.
For adaptive testing:
The performance measures for this category of adaptive functioning deficits must be validated by the professional judgment of a psychologist who is experienced in working with people who have retardation, who has specific training and validation in the assessment instrument that is used, and who is one of the following:
A Florida-licensed psychologist
A Florida-licensed school psychologist
A certified school psychologist
Phelan-McDermid Syndrome
Documentation:
Must provide one or more of the following to support a diagnosis:
Documentation Examples:
Genetic testing
Written documentation from a physician that clearly states diagnosis
Licensed Professionals:
Documentation is accepted from a medical doctor or a doctor of osteopathy.
Prader-Willi Syndrome
Documentation:
Must provide one or more of the following to support a diagnosis:
Documentation examples:
Documentation from a physician attesting to the diagnosis
Medical treatment records or visit summaries that indicate the diagnosis
Medical history records that indicate the diagnosis
Licensed Professionals:
Written documentation of diagnosis is accepted from one or more of the following:
A medical doctor
A doctor of osteopathy
Medical records documenting a diagnosis of Prader-Willi syndrome
Spina Bifida Cystica or Myelomeningocele
Documentation:
Must provide one or more of the following to support a diagnosis:
Documentation Examples:
Documentation from a physician attesting to the diagnosis
Medical treatment records or visit summaries that indicate the diagnosis
Medical history records that indicate the diagnosis
Licensed Professionals:
Written documentation of diagnosis is accepted from one or more of the following:
A medical doctor
A doctor of osteopathy
Medical records documenting a diagnosis of Spina bifida cystica or myelomeningocele before the age of 18
Applicants between the ages of 3-5 at high risk for a developmental disability
Documentation:
Must provide supporting information to document one or more of the items below:
A developmental delay in cognition, language, or physical development.
A child surviving a catastrophic infectious or traumatic illness known to be associated with developmental delay.
A child with a parent or guardian with developmental disabilities who requires assistance in meeting the child’s developmental needs.
A child who has a physical or genetic anomaly associated with developmental disability.
APD may assist with providing individual evaluations or assessments necessary for the diagnosis of a developmental disability. Please reach out to APD if you need assistance scheduling a comprehensive evaluation.
Licensed Professionals:
Documentation from a physician or doctor of osteopathy attesting to the indicators identified.
Medical treatment records or visit summaries that indicate the items above.
Medical history records that indicate the items above.