Ages 8 to 18: Special Needs
The Jacksonville Children's Commission offers inclusion services to all area child care centers and family child care homes, free of charge. Our inclusion specialists are here to give you support, technical assistance, and various training opportunities as you enroll your child with disabilities into a child care setting. For more information, please call the Duval County Inclusion Warm Line at 904-630-7914.
What does the phrase "a child with a disability" mean?
The term "a child with a disability" is used to describe children and youth who are in need of special education services because they have identifiable disabilities or risk conditions associated with delays or disturbances in one or more area of development.
What disabilities make a child eligible for special education services?
Disabilities that qualify children and youth for special education services are:
- developmental delays
- mental retardation
- hearing impairments (including deafness)
- speech or language impairments
- visual impairments (including blindness)
- serious emotional disturbance
- orthopedic impairments
- autism
- traumatic brain injury
- other health impairments
- specific learning disabilities
What is inclusion?
In simple terms, inclusion is a value that supports the right of children and youth with disabilities to be given learning experiences in the same settings as children and youth without disabilities. These settings can include family child care homes and child care centers, preschools, Head Start programs, kindergartens, and neighborhood schools.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) support inclusion.
Programs Sponsored by the Children's Commission
Cerebral Palsy of Northeast Florida
3311 Beach Blvd., 32207
904-396-1462
Provides developmental, speech, physical and occupational therapies for children with developmental disabilities. Services are provided:
- in the children's home
- at community child care programs
- at the agency
Respite Care provides caregivers with a much needed temporary break from the responsibilities of caring for their child.
DLC Nurse and Learn
4101-1 College Street, 32205
904-387-0370
Provides after-school programs (with therapists and nurses on staff ) for children 3 to 21 who have complex developmental and physical disabilities.
Hope Haven - BASICS
4600 Beach Blvd., 32207
904-346-5100
The BASICS program provides after-school and summer programs for children ages 5 to 18 who have complex developmental and physical disabilities.
Additional Resources:
Children's Disabilities Information, Inc.
Families and Advocates Partnership for Education
Florida State Resources
United Way 2-1-1