Miami-Dade
District Resources

Miami-Dade 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

Access Miami
accessmiami1@gmail.com
Access Miami is an information and resource hub for the disability community in Miami-Dade County. Resources are divided by categories, including: education, employment, health, independent living, advocacy, finance, parent support, social, and transportation.

The Able Trust   
info@abletrust.org 
(850) 224-4493 (Voice/TDD) 
Supports non-profit vocational rehabilitation programs throughout Florida with fund-raising, grant making and public awareness of disability issues with the goal of assisting Floridians with disabilities in achieving employment. 

Aktion Club   
National Office Customer Service | aktionclub@kiwanis.org 
(317) 875-8755 (Indianapolis, IN) | (800) KIWANIS (US & Canada) x390 
LaBelle Office | info@labellekiwanis.com 
(863) 675-4043 
A community-service group for adult citizens who live with a disability that provides opportunities for developing initiative and leadership skills, serving the community, integrating into society and demonstrating the dignity and value of citizens living with disabilities. 

Best Buddies  
florida@bestbuddies.org
(305) 374-2233 | (800) 89-BUDDY
The mission of Best Buddies is to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD)  
University of Miami - Nova Southeastern University
305-284-6563
card@psy.miami.edu
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 of South Florida
(305) 751-8025
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 Care Council Florida
Sandra Ames, Chairperson
(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) and the South Florida Parent Education Network
Rich La Belle, Executive Director | richlabelle@fndfl.org
(727) 523-1130 | (800) 825-5736
A network of individuals who may be at-risk, have disabilities, or have special needs and their families, professionals and concerned citizens; Some programs include the South Florida Parent Education Network (PEN); Florida Parent Information and Resource Center (PIRC); and Parents Educating Parents in the Community (PEP).

Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST)
Phone: (305) 243-5706
Fax: (305) 243-5706
SouthFLRDC@Faastinc.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)
Carmen Molinaris, Lead Curriculum Support Specialist/Human Resources Development | cmolinaris@dadeschools.net  
(305) 274-3501  
Provides diagnostic and instructional support services to district exceptional student education programs and families of students with exceptionalities statewide

Florida Inclusion Network (FIN)
Alena McNew, FIN Facilitator | acarter@contactfin.com
(850) 645-7593 (Office)
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

Florida Youth Leadership Forum (FYLF)
info@abletrust.org
(850) 224-4493
Innovative, intensive four-day leadership training program for rising high school juniors and seniors with disabilities that explores personal leadership, academic and career planning, etiquette, technology innovations, disability law, networking and more

Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
info@miamilighthouse.org
(305) 856-2288
Offers a variety of services for children and adults with visual impairments to live more independently

Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation, Leisure Access Services
pds@miamidade.gov
(305) 755-7848
Offers accessible programs for children and adults, inclusion initiatives and a commitment to ensuring that all system components are accessible to everyone.

Miami-Dade County Special Transportation Services
(786) 469-5000
701 NW 1st Court #131, Miami, FL 33136
Special Transportation Services transports young adults with disabilities to work, appointments, or social gatherings.

Multiagency Network for Students with Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities (SEDNET)
Dolores Vega, Project Manager | dvega@dadeschools.net
(305) 598-2436 
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

Parent to Parent of Miami
info@ptopmiami.org
305-271-9797
Parent to Parent of Miami is a Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC) serving parents of children with disabilities in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. The CPRC strives to provide children and families with the skills and resources needed to make every child with a disability succeed in both the home and school environment. Education and Support Specialists are available to help children and families

The Parent Academy
(305) 271-8257
A service of Miami-Dade County Public Schools that offers free classes to parents on topics as diverse as adult basic education, health and wellness, parenting, bullying prevention, Internet safety and financial management.

Special Olympics
Sports Contact
Jasmine Smith | JasmineSmith@sofl.org
Terence Wimbley | TerenceWimbley@sofl.org
Non-Competitive Programs:
Mark Thompson | MarkThompson@sofl.org
(305) 406-9467
Provides year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people with intellectual disabilities.

Special Transportation Services (STS)
paratransit@miamidade.gov
786-469-5000
STS is available for people with an intellectual, mental, or physical disability who cannot ride Metrobus, Metrorail, or Metromover. For $3 per one-way trip, STS offers shared-ride, door-to-door travel in accessible vehicles throughout most of Miami-Dade County, in some parts of South Broward County and in the Monroe County Upper to Middle Keys.

Volunteer Florida   
(850) 414-7400 
Provides opportunities to meet community needs through one or two-year service commitments to community and national nonprofits. Participants learn collaboration, communication, leadership and other life skills while earning a modest living allowance with health and education benefits.