The Brief
- Thousands of Florida children with severe behavioral and physical disabilities are either stuck on state waitlists or fail to meet qualification criteria for in-home care.
- Caregivers managing these complex needs report immense physical, medical and financial strain to keep their children out of state institutions.
- As of early 2026, more than 16,000 eligible Floridians are currently awaiting services, prompting scrutiny into unspent state funds designated for waitlist reduction.
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida’s Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) offers home-based services designed to keep individuals with disabilities out of state facilities, an approach intended to save taxpayer money associated with high institutionalization costs.
The backstory:
However, systemic challenges have created a two-tiered crisis. …