6A-7.0335. Regional Centers for Implementing Services to Individuals with Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Autistic-like Disabilities, Dual Sensory Impairments, or Sensory Impairment with Other Disabling Conditions

(1) Eligibility. Individuals of all ages are eligible for regional center services if they have been diagnosed as having autism as defined in section 393.063(1), F.S., pervasive developmental disorder that is not otherwise specified; autistic-like disability; dual sensory impairment; or sensory impairment with other disabling conditions. The centers shall verify the disabling condition(s) of the individual. Such verification may consist of the most recent information from state and local agencies and individuals, and may include, but not be limited to, medical and psychological records. However, the center shall not defer services to the individual and family while awaiting receipt of such information.

(2) Direct services. The primary focus of the regional centers is to provide individualized, direct assistance to individuals and their families who are eligible under this rule. These services shall include nonresidential assistance; outreach programs to school districts, families, and agencies; dissemination of referral and resource information; and professional training materials and programs.

(3) Regional center plan. Each center shall prepare and submit, for approval by the Department, a project plan for services. The following criteria is required for project approval:

(a) Project description. A description of the project shall include the following components:

1. A staffing plan with, as a minimum, individuals with expertise in autism or autistic-like behaviors and individuals with expertise in sensory impairments:

2. A direct service plan that shall address individual and family assistance in the home, community, and school. A regional center shall not supplant responsibilities of other state and local agencies. Each school district shall be responsible for providing appropriate educational services for clients of a center who are school age;

3. A technical assistance and consultation services plan for providing specific intervention and assistance, utilizing all available community resources, to clients of the regional center, the clients’ family, school districts, and other service agencies and individuals as appropriate;

4. A professional training program plan that includes developing, providing, and evaluating preservice and inservice training in state-of-the-art practices for personnel who work with the populations served by the regional centers and their families; and,

5. A public education plan to increase awareness of the public about autism, autistic-like disabilities of communication and behavior, pervasive developmental disorders, dual sensory impairments, and sensory impairments with other handicapping conditions.

(b) Coordination of services. The regional center plan shall include a description of coordination of services with other regional centers, other state agencies, school districts, private providers, and other entities, as appropriate. The plan shall also include a description of how the center will interface with the medical community to ensure the appropriate use of medical consultation in the provision of services.

(c) Coordination with constituency boards. Each regional center plan shall include a description of its working relationship with and support of the constituency board, as defined in section 1004.55, F.S. It shall be the responsibility of the center director to communicate regularly with the chair of the constituency board on issues affecting the operation and delivery of services by the center.

(d) Review of plan. Each center director shall submit the regional center plan to the appropriate constituency board for review and comment.

(4) Referral. Referrals are requests for assistance (e.g., training, consultation) for a particular individual. Referrals may be made by any person (e.g., family member, teacher, administrator, any state agency or any other entity) responsible for or involved with the individual. In order for the centers to provide direct assistance, including program planning and direct consultation, the individual or the individual’s family or legal guardian must provide a request or consent for such assistance. A preliminary screening will be conducted to determine eligibility. If the individual referred meets the eligibility criteria, assistance will be provided by the regional center within available resources. If the individual referred does not meet the eligibility criteria, the referred individual will be matched with alternative services. The centers will respond to three (3) basic referrals and requests within available resources:

(a) Crisis. Referrals for immediate assistance for individuals with severe problematic behaviors and potentially dangerous or abusive situations.

(b) Seeking resources and information. Referrals made by families, educators, and staff or providers to state departments and other agencies who are involved in identifying all avenues of support and assistance available to them. This may include specific identified areas of concern that are other than a crisis situation.

(c) Specific requests for training, assistance, or materials. Requests for specific assistance from a family or family member, state agency, school district, or a private provider requesting inservice training for a particular topic area.

(5) Constituency boards. Each regional center shall have a constituency board of no fewer than six (6) members, each of whom is either an individual who has a disability that is described in subsection (1) of this rule as defined in section 1004.55, F.S., or is a member of a family that includes a person who has such a disability, who are selected by each university president from a list that has been developed by the Autism Society of Florida and other relevant constituency groups that represent persons who have sensory impairments as described in subsection (1) of this rule, as defined in section 1044.55, F.S. This board shall meet quarterly with the center staff to provide advice on policies, priorities, and activities. Each board shall elect a chairperson and secretary. It shall be the responsibility of the chairperson to communicate regularly with the regional center director on pertinent issues affecting the operation and delivery of services by the center. Each board member shall be appointed for a three (3) year term, with two (2) members being appointed each year. The initial term rotation will be determined by lot, with one-third of the members serving for one (1) year, one-third of the members serving for two (2) years, and one-third of the members serving for three (3) years. A board member may serve for only two (2) consecutive full terms, but shall continue to serve until his/her successor is named. Whenever possible, the appointment of a new member shall be from the same constituency group as the member retiring from the board. The procedure for appointing an individual to fill an unexpired term is the same as that used to make regular appointments. Members of the constituency boards shall serve without compensation, but are entitled to receive reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses as provided in section 112.061, F.S. Payment may be authorized for pre-approved expenses such as mailing, telephone, or photocopying. Chairs of the constituency boards shall meet twice a year to coordinate board activities. One of these meetings shall be with regional center staff to plan the annual conference and the other meeting shall be at the conference. Each constituency board, after review and comment from regional center staff, shall submit by September 1 to the respective university president and the Department an annual report that evaluates the activities and accomplishments of its center during the preceding year.

(6) Annual conference. To promote statewide planning and coordination, an annual conference shall be held for staff from each regional center and representatives from each center’s constituency board. This conference shall include networking opportunities, cross-training, and feedback among staff and constituency board representatives. The conference shall be open to the public.

(7) Census. Each regional center will be responsible for gathering information for the statewide census of individuals who are eligible for services of these centers. Census information will include: county, date of birth, sex, disabling conditions which make the individual eligible for center services, and other information determined by the centers as necessary to maintain an accurate census.

(8) Reporting. Each regional center, after review and comment by the appropriate constituency board, shall submit to the Department by September 1 an annual report which shall include the following:

(a) The number of individuals served, the type of disability served, and the type and extent of services offered to the individuals;

(b) The type of training offered to regional center staff, constituency board members, and individuals and the total number by category of individuals trained.

(9) Budget. Each regional center staff shall submit to its university and the Department an annual budget which has been reviewed by its constituency board. The budget shall reflect the service component of the centers. Line items for travel shall represent necessary travel to provide or coordinate services and training. Equipment and research budget items shall be limited to those amounts necessary to support the service component of the center.

Rulemaking Authority 1004.55 FS. Law Implemented 1004.55 FS. History–New 10-18-94, Amended 4-30-18.