Mission Statement:
CARD’s Mission is to educate and empower individuals and families throughout the lifespan by providing support, assistance, and awareness within the community, with the goal of optimizing the potential of all individuals with autism and related disabilities; and to provide training that enables professionals to deliver evidence-based treatments to achieve optimal outcomes.

Services:
The Centers’ services are limited to children and adults of all levels of intellectual functioning who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, including diagnoses under the autism umbrella in previous diagnostic classifications, including autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), Rett Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD), Asperger’s Disorder, as well as dual sensory impairment, or deaf or blind individuals who also have other disabling conditions. In recognition of the difficulties families face in obtaining early and timely diagnostic evaluations after being referred for assessment, UCF CARD will allow children under the age of eight who are awaiting an evaluation for ASD to register and receive services for up to six months while awaiting their diagnostic confirmation. Our primary focus is to provide individualized, direct assistance to individuals who qualify for our services, including consultative support to their families and those who educate or employ our constituents. In addition to individualized consultation, services include technical assistance and consultation, professional and parent training programs, and public education activities. CARD services are designed to build on the capacities of state and local resources, not to duplicate or replace them. The Center is funded by general revenue allocations from the Florida Legislature, and these funds flow through the Florida Department of Education. All services are provided free of charge.