MILITARY FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM
As of February 2024, Florida had 65,159 active-duty military personnel stationed within its borders, as well as 1,430,000 veterans.
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The families of these service men and women face unique challenges when raising a child with autism, compounded by the realities of military service: extended family separation, access to therapies and medical treatments, frequent moves, and war. Each of these add stressors that work against effective treatments for children with autism.
The Autism Society of Florida offers a monthly military support group in an effort to share greatly needed information, but also to build community and a system of support to those who need it most. This group meets on Zoom the 3rd Wednesday of each month.
Sign up HERE.
The Organization for Autism Research has created A Guide for Military Families and its companion website, Operation Autism, expressly for military families that have autistic children. Their purpose is to give each family the tools and access to information that it needs on its unique life journey through autism.
Access guide HERE​
What Military Families Need to Know
Military families of children and adults with autism face a whole host of challenges that go above and beyond what most of us are accustomed to facing. Relocations on a normal basis - new school systems, homes, neighbors, recreation, therapists.... you name it, all contribute to the hardships of this particular community.
We hope that this video by 2 incredible woman, Carla Mercer and Carmen Brown, who both have military backgrounds, will provide some insight on how to find community, and help.
Special Considerations from the Florida Department of Education for Military Families
If you are a member of the United States Armed Forces living in Florida, your child may be eligible for either of the two branches of the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program.
The Education Options branch of the program (FES EO) provides the option for K-12 students to attend a participating private school. Military dependents are exempt from the income qualification and cap on student participation for the program.
The Unique Abilities branch (FES UA) provides families of the students with disabilities as young as 3 years old with access to a personal education savings account (ESA) for their student. An ESA can be used to fund items such as private school tuition and fees, online learning programs, private tutoring, community college costs, higher education expenses and other approved customized learning services and materials. Eligible military dependents are not subject to the cap on student participation for the program.
To apply for either branch of the program, contact one of the approved Scholarship Funding Organizations directly.
Special Academic Programs
Dependent children of active duty military personnel are given first preference for admission to special academic programs such as magnet schools, advanced studies programs, advanced placement, dual enrollment, Advanced International Certificate of Education, and International Baccalaureate programs, even if the program is being offered through a public school other than the school to which the student would generally be assigned. (Section 1003.05, Florida Statutes)
The purpose of the Purple Star School of Distinction Designation is to recognize schools that support the unique needs of military families, help military-connected students navigate critical challenges and provide resources for military-connected students when transitioning to a new school environment. See the list of schools that have received the designation here: Purple Star School of Distinction Designation
Student Support Services for Military Families
