Florida Administrative Code › 6 - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION › 6A - State Board of Education › Chapter 6A-7 - SPECIAL PROGRAMS II › Section 6A-7.0335 - Regional Centers for Implementing Services to Individuals with Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Autistic-like Disabilities, Dual Sensory Impairments, or Sensory Impairment with Other Disabling Conditions

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) Eligibility. Individuals of all ages are
				eligible for regional center services if they have been diagnosed as having
				autism as defined in section
				393.063(1),
				F.S., pervasive developmental disorder that is not otherwise specified;
				autistic-like disability; dual sensory impairment; or sensory impairment with
				other disabling conditions. The centers shall verify the disabling condition(s)
				of the individual. Such verification may consist of the most recent information
				from state and local agencies and individuals, and may include, but not be
				limited to, medical and psychological records. However, the center shall not
				defer services to the individual and family while awaiting receipt of such
				information.
(2) Direct services.
				The primary focus of the regional centers is to provide individualized, direct
				assistance to individuals and their families who are eligible under this rule.
				These services shall include nonresidential assistance; outreach programs to
				school districts, families, and agencies; dissemination of referral and
				resource information; and professional training materials and
				programs.
(3) Regional center plan.
				Each center shall prepare and submit, for approval by the Department, a project
				plan for services. The following criteria is required for project approval:
(a) Project description. A description of the
				project shall include the following components:
1. A staffing plan with, as a minimum,
				individuals with expertise in autism or autistic-like behaviors and individuals
				with expertise in sensory impairments:
2. A direct service plan that shall address
				individual and family assistance in the home, community, and school. A regional
				center shall not supplant responsibilities of other state and local agencies.
				Each school district shall be responsible for providing appropriate educational
				services for clients of a center who are school age;
3. A technical assistance and consultation
				services plan for providing specific intervention and assistance, utilizing all
				available community resources, to clients of the regional center, the clients'
				family, school districts, and other service agencies and individuals as
				appropriate;
4. A professional
				training program plan that includes developing, providing, and evaluating
				preservice and inservice training in state-of-the-art practices for personnel
				who work with the populations served by the regional centers and their
				families; and,
5. A public
				education plan to increase awareness of the public about autism, autistic-like
				disabilities of communication and behavior, pervasive developmental disorders,
				dual sensory impairments, and sensory impairments with other handicapping
				conditions.