Charlotte
District Resources

Charlotte 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 Disabilities (CARD) 
University of South Florida – Tampa
Christine Maughan | Christinemaughan@usf.edu
(239) 590-7769
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 Gulf Coast (CILGC) 
(239) 260-4575 | 1 (855) 260-4575
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.

Charlotte Behavioral Health Care  
1 (877) 703-5267
Provides behavioral health, recovery support, crisis and addiction services.

Children’s Home Society
Provides an array of services including family and individual counseling, child abuse prevention and intervention, home-based support, help for pregnant teens and first-time mothers, residential and group homes, adoption and foster care assistance, mentoring programs and family preservation.

Community Inclusion Team
Maureen Morris | jim.maureen@comcast.net
(941) 380-4676
Brings together a collaboration of individuals and agencies, including parents and professionals to promote inclusive practices in their local communities.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center (DHHC) 
(239) 461-0334 | TTY: (239) 247-5821
Offers community education and outreach, interpreting services, sign language classes, information and referral services, job assistance, advocacy services, equipment sales, telephone equipment loan program and services for families with children who are deaf.

Family Care Council Florida
Patricia Oglesby, Chairperson of Area 8 Family Care Council
1 (800) 470-8101
Assists in providing information and services to people with developmental disabilities and their families; also advise the (Agency for Persons with Disabilities) on the needs of self-advocates and their families.

Family Network on Disabilities (FND)
Rich La Belle, Executive Director | richlabelle@fndfl.org
(727) 523-1130 or toll-free (800) 825-5736
Family Network on Disabilities, Inc. is a national network of individuals who have special needs, their families, professionals and concerned citizens, that collaborates (1) to ensure full access to family-driven support, resources and advocacy and (2) to serve families of children with disabilities, ages birth through 26.

Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST) 
Southwest Regional Demonstration Center (Center for Independent Living Gulf Coast)
Phone: (954) 320-6860
SoutheastRDC@FAAST.org
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)    
(941) 927-9000
Provides diagnostic and instructional support services to district exceptional student education programs and families of students with exceptionalities statewide.

Florida Inclusion Network (FIN)  
(850) 645-7593
Provides learning opportunities, consultation, information and support to educators, families and community members to promote all students learning together in a welcoming environment that incorporates integrated services, supports and curricula that are effective and research-based.

Multiagency Network for Children with Emotional Disabilities (SEDNET)     
Connie Tucker Reece, SEDNET Region 8B Project Manager | connie.reece@glades-schools.org 
Phone: (863) 946-0323
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.

National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) Lee (also covers Charlotte County) 
(941) 787-2763
Provides information, services and support for people with mental health needs and their families including crisis intervention training, support groups for teens and parents, publications and videos.

Special Olympics 
Operations:Ken Roop | kenroop@sofl.org
813-508-6905
Sports: Shelley Henry | shelleyhenry@sofl.org
863-934-0261
Main Office: (352) 243-9536
Provides year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people with intellectual disabilities.