Autism and FES-UA
How Florida families use the scholarship for autism support
Your child qualifies. Here's how to document, apply, and use FES-UA funds for tutoring, therapy, and more.
💡 Quick Answer: Does Autism Qualify for FES-UA?
Yes. Autism Spectrum Disorder is one of Florida's 23 qualifying diagnoses for FES-UA. You'll need documentation: an autism diagnosis from a licensed physician, psychologist, or developmental pediatrician — or an IEP with autism as the eligibility category. Once approved, families typically use FES-UA funds for 1-on-1 academic tutoring designed for ASD learners, ABA therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and specialized curriculum. Your child's matrix code (which determines funding amount) depends on their support needs, not the autism diagnosis itself.
If your child has an autism diagnosis, they likely qualify for Florida's FES-UA scholarship — one of the most comprehensive education funding programs in the country for students with disabilities.
But qualifying is just the beginning. This guide covers what documentation you need, how funding works, and how families across Florida are using FES-UA to build comprehensive support systems for their children with autism.
Autism Is One of the 23 Qualifying Diagnoses
Florida Statute 1002.394 lists 23 disability categories that qualify for FES-UA. Autism Spectrum Disorder is explicitly included.
This means any child with a documented autism diagnosis — whether Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 under DSM-5 criteria — can apply for FES-UA. The scholarship doesn't distinguish between "high-functioning" and "high-support" autism for eligibility purposes. If your child has an autism diagnosis, they qualify.
Source: Florida Statutes 1002.394
What Documentation Qualifies
To apply for FES-UA with autism, you need ONE of the following:
Option 1: Autism diagnosis from a licensed professional
A diagnosis letter from:
- A licensed physician (MD, DO)
- A licensed psychologist (PhD, PsyD)
- A developmental pediatrician
The letter must state the autism diagnosis on official letterhead. Generic phrases like "developmental delay" or "social communication challenges" won't work — it needs to explicitly say "Autism Spectrum Disorder" or the equivalent diagnostic terminology.
Option 2: IEP with autism eligibility category
If your child has an Individualized Education Program from a Florida public school with autism listed as the eligibility category, that qualifies. The IEP must be current (within 3 years typically).
Option 3: Out-of-state documentation
If you're moving to Florida, an autism diagnosis or IEP from another state is generally accepted. Florida may request additional verification, but you don't need to get a new evaluation just because you crossed state lines.
What about a 504 plan?
A 504 plan alone doesn't qualify. 504 plans document accommodations, not diagnoses. If your child has a 504 but no formal diagnosis letter, you'll need to get a diagnosis letter from the evaluating clinician or request a new evaluation.
Matrix Codes and Autism: The Honest Framing
Here's something important that many guides get wrong: your child's matrix code — which determines their FES-UA funding amount — is not determined by their autism diagnosis.
Matrix codes (251, 252, 253, 254, 255) are based on an evaluation of your child's support intensity across four domains:
- • Self-care
- • Ambulation
- • Communication
- • Behavioral/social-emotional
A child with autism could be Matrix 251 ($9,494–$10,296/year depending on county) or Matrix 255 ($34,737–$39,289/year). It depends entirely on the level of support they need, not the diagnosis label.
A child with Level 1 autism who is academically on-grade and largely independent in self-care might be Matrix 251-253
A child with Level 3 autism who needs intensive support across all domains might be Matrix 254-255
Many autistic children fall somewhere in between
If you believe your child's support needs are higher than their current matrix code reflects, you can request a new matrix evaluation. For more details, see our FES-UA Matrix Codes guide.
How Families Use FES-UA Funds for Autism Support
FES-UA covers a wide range of services and materials. Families with autistic children typically use funds for:
1-on-1 Academic Tutoring
Specialized tutoring designed for ASD learners — not generic tutoring with accommodations, but instruction that accounts for:
- • Literal thinking and need for explicit instruction
- • Sensory sensitivities that affect learning environment
- • Need for predictable structure and visual supports
- • Special interests as learning leverage
Tutoring can be in-person or online. Many families find online tutoring works well because it removes transportation stress and allows the child to learn in a familiar environment.
ABA Therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis is one of the most common FES-UA uses for autism. ABA providers must be:
- BACB-certified (BCBA, BCaBA, or RBT under supervision)
- APD-approved (Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities) OR listed on Step Up's Find Providers
ABA through FES-UA covers skill-building, behavior support, and social skills instruction. Many families combine ABA hours with academic tutoring for comprehensive support.
Speech-Language Therapy
For communication support — including AAC, social pragmatic language, and receptive/expressive language development. The SLP must be Florida DOH-licensed.
Occupational Therapy
For sensory processing, fine motor skills, self-care skills, and environmental adaptations. The OT must be Florida DOH-licensed.
Curriculum and Materials
Curriculum adapted for ASD learners, visual schedules, social stories materials, and educational technology.
Assistive Technology
AAC devices, specialized software, and communication apps. Technology purchases have a 24-month restriction.
For a complete breakdown of what FES-UA covers, see our spending guide.
The Combination Approach
One of FES-UA's biggest advantages: you can fund multiple services from the same scholarship.
A typical combination might look like:
- ✓ 2-3 hours/week of 1-on-1 academic tutoring
- ✓ ABA therapy hours (often funded partially by insurance, partially by FES-UA)
- ✓ Speech therapy once or twice weekly
- ✓ Curriculum and materials for homeschool or supplemental learning
All from the same FES-UA account. You're not choosing between tutoring OR therapy — you can do both, as long as you stay within your annual award amount.
Families in Miami and Tampa use this combination approach regularly. The key is prioritizing: figure out what services will have the highest impact for your child and allocate funds accordingly.
What to Look for in an FES-UA Autism Tutor
Not every tutor who accepts FES-UA is equipped to work with autistic learners. When evaluating providers, ask:
About autism experience:
- • How many autistic students have you worked with?
- • What approaches do you use to adapt instruction for ASD learners?
- • How do you handle sensory sensitivities during sessions?
- • Can you provide structure and predictability while still being flexible?
About instructional approach:
- • Do you use visual supports?
- • How do you break down complex instructions?
- • How do you incorporate the student's interests into learning?
- • What does session structure look like?
About logistics:
- • Are you registered with Step Up's EMA system for direct pay?
- • Do you provide session documentation that meets FES-UA requirements?
- • Can you coordinate with other providers (ABA team, school, therapists)?
A qualified autism tutor should be able to answer these questions confidently. If they can't, they may not be the right fit.
Provider Verification
Before committing to any provider, verify their status:
For ABA therapy:
- Check BACB certification: bacb.com certificant registry
- Verify Florida APD approval if billing through APD pathway
- Or confirm they're listed in Step Up's Find Providers
For tutoring:
- Confirm they're registered in Step Up's EMA system (search "Find Providers" in your parent portal)
- Or verify they're approved with AAA if that's your SFO
For speech/OT:
- Verify Florida DOH licensure
- Confirm they're EMA-registered for direct pay
Direct pay through EMA is the easiest path — the provider bills your account, you approve, done. No out-of-pocket cost, no reimbursement hassle.
Autism Services Through Special Education Resource
We provide specialized 1-on-1 tutoring for students with autism. Our tutors are trained in ASD-specific instructional approaches and understand how to adapt academic content for different learning profiles.
What we offer:
- ✓ Online tutoring (removes transportation stress, familiar environment)
- ✓ Predictable session structure with visual supports as needed
- ✓ Instruction that works with your child's thinking style, not against it
- ✓ Direct pay through Step Up EMA — no out-of-pocket cost for FES-UA families
We focus on academic skills — reading, writing, math — with approaches designed for autistic learners. We're not ABA providers, but we work alongside ABA teams when coordination helps.
For more about our autism tutoring approach, visit our autism tutoring page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does autism qualify for FES-UA?
Yes. Autism Spectrum Disorder is one of Florida's 23 qualifying diagnoses for FES-UA. Any level of autism (Level 1, 2, or 3 under DSM-5) qualifies.
What documentation do I need to apply with an autism diagnosis?
You need a diagnosis letter from a licensed physician, psychologist, or developmental pediatrician — OR an IEP with autism as the eligibility category. The diagnosis must explicitly state Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Does my child's autism level affect FES-UA funding?
Not directly. Funding is based on your child's matrix code, which evaluates support intensity across self-care, ambulation, communication, and behavior — not the autism level designation. A child with Level 1 autism could be Matrix 251 or Matrix 255 depending on their actual support needs.
Can I use FES-UA for ABA therapy?
Yes. ABA is one of the most common FES-UA uses for autism. The provider must be BACB-certified and either APD-approved or EMA-registered with Step Up.
Can I use FES-UA for both tutoring AND therapy?
Yes. You can fund multiple services from the same FES-UA account. Many families combine tutoring, ABA, speech, and OT — all from their annual award.
What should I look for in an autism tutor?
Experience working with ASD learners, understanding of visual supports and explicit instruction, ability to incorporate interests into learning, and EMA registration for direct pay. Ask specific questions about their autism experience before committing.
Is online tutoring effective for autistic students?
For many autistic students, yes. Online tutoring removes transportation stress, allows learning in a familiar environment, and can reduce sensory overload. It's not right for every learner, but many families find it works well.
Can FES-UA cover AAC devices?
Yes, where appropriate. Assistive technology including AAC devices is an approved expense category. Technology purchases have a 24-month restriction per device category.
What if my child only has a 504 plan for autism?
A 504 plan alone doesn't qualify for FES-UA. You'll need a diagnosis letter from a licensed professional. If your child was diagnosed but you only received a 504, contact the evaluating clinician to request a diagnosis letter.
How do I know if a provider is FES-UA approved?
For Step Up families: search Find Providers in your EMA portal. For AAA families: check their approved provider list. Always verify before starting services.
Ready to Get Started?
If your child has autism and you're approved for FES-UA — or working on your application — we can help with specialized tutoring.
Schedule a free consultation to discuss your child's needs and how FES-UA can fund their academic support.
Book a Free Consultation →Sources: Florida Statutes 1002.394, Step Up For Students, BACB Certificant Registry, CDC Autism Prevalence Data
Last updated: May 2026