Dixie
District Resources

Dixie County resources related to the transition of students with disabilities are provided in multiple categories in the box to the right. Some resources may be included in more than one category.

Student/Family Resources

Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD)
University of Florida - Gainesville
Greg Valcante, Ph.D., Director | valcante@ufl.edu
352-273-0581 | (800) 754-5891 | (352) 846-3458
2046 NE Waldo Road, Suite 3200, Gainesville, FL 32609
Provides information and consultation to individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders and related disabilities as well as instruction and coaching to families and professionals through a training and assistance model.

Center for Independent Living (CIL) of North Central Florida
William Kennedy | william@cilncf.org
(352) 378-7474
222 SW 36 Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32607
Provides information and referral services, advocacy, independent living skills training, peer counseling and support for persons with significant disabilities who seek independence and self-reliance.

Family Network on Disabilities of Florida (FNDFL)
Rich La Belle, Executive Director | richlabelle@fndfl.org
fnd@fndfl.org
(727) 523-1130 or (800) 825-5736
Includes Parents of the Panhandle Information Network (POPIN); Parent Education Network (PEN); Transition, Independent Living, Employment & Support (TILES); Florida Parent Information and Resource Center (PIRC); Parents Educating Parents in the Community (PEP); and more.

Florida Alliance for Assistive Services & Technology (FAAST)
faast@faast.org
(850) 487-3278 or (888) 788-9216
Provides advocacy and awareness activities that increase access to and acquisition of assistive services and technology including a loan program to try out assistive technology (AT), assistance with purchasing AT, an emergency AT fund and information on affordable housing.

Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS)
James Husted, FDLRS Manager/Coordinator | james.husted@marion.k12.fl.us
(352) 671-6051
Provides diagnostic and instructional support services to district exceptional student education programs and families of students with exceptionalities statewide

Multiagency Network for Students with Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities (SEDNET)
Dana Huggins | hugginsd@columbiak12.com
(386) 755-8191 
Enhances the system of care for families and students with emotional disabilities through facilitation, collaboration and direct intervention, as well as research and development, with a network of key stakeholders

Special Olympics Florida
Cherie Cain
407-402-8604
Provides year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympics-type sports for people with intellectual disabilities.

Suwannee Valley Transit Authority
(386) 362-7433 | (386) 362-5332 (to schedule a ride)
Suwannee River Economic Council is part of Transportation Disadvantaged, a coordinated statewide effort to provide a shared ride service to medical, life-sustaining, employment and educational locations for those who cannot obtain their own transportation due to a disability, age, or income.