Legal & Advocacy Resources
Understanding disability rights, accessing benefits, and securing necessary supports can be complex. This section provides resources for special education advocacy, disability law services, guardianship alternatives, and supported decision-making. Families can find legal experts specializing in Medicaid, Social Security, and estate planning to help navigate the system and secure the best possible outcomes for their loved ones.
Disability Rights Advocacy
We the People, By the People, For ALL the People: Family Grassroots Advocacy
(239) 595-1971
https://www.facebook.com/groups/forallthepeople
Weekly Advocacy ZOOM Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85787837867
Disability Rights Florida
800-342-0823 Toll Free
https://disabilityrightsflorida.org/
Florida Family Care Council Area 8
(800) 470-8101
https://www.fccflorida.org/area-8-fcc.html
Family Care Council Florida
(800) 470-8101
South Florida Parent Center
(239) 417-3636
Legal Aid Service of Collier County
(239) 775-4555
https://www.collierlegalaid.org/
Legal Aid Service of Collier County (Immokalee Office)
(239) 657-7442
http://www.legalaid.org/collier
Autism Speaks Florida
(888) 288-4762
https://www.autismspeaks.org/florida
The Arc of Florida
(850) 921-0460
The Arc of Southwest Florida
(239) 334-6285
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council (FDDC)
(800) 580-7801
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc.
Family Network on Disabilities (FND)
(800) 825-5736
Autism Society of Florida
(407) 207-3388
TASH Advocacy
(202) 817-3264
Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST)
(844) 353-2278
The Florida Youth Council
(239) 823-8790
https://www.floridayouthcouncil.org
FL SAND – Florida Self-Advocates Network'D
(352) 224-0223
Family Initiative, Inc.
The Florida Children’s Council
850-577-3199
Education Advocacy
We the People, By the People, For ALL the People: Family Grassroots Advocacy
(239) 595-1971
https://www.facebook.com/groups/forallthepeople
Weekly Advocacy ZOOM Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85787837867
CCPS P.E.E.R. Parents
https://www.collierschools.com/Page/19163
South Florida Parenting Training & Information Center (FREE)
(239) 417-3636
Legal Aid Service of Collier County
(239) 775-4555
https://www.collierlegalaid.org/
C.A.R.D USF (Center for Autism & Related Disorders) (FREE)
(239) 590-7769
https://card-usf.fmhi.usf.edu/index.html
Education Advocates of America
(239) 340-0929
Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) – Island Coast
(239) 337-8363
https://islandcoast.fdlrs.org/
Family Network on Disabilities (FND)
(727) 523-1130
Step Up for Students (Scholarship and Advocacy for Special Needs Education)
(904) 742-4606
Special Education Law & Advocacy (SELA)
(727) 323-2555
Disability Rights Florida
800-342-0823 Toll Free
https://disabilityrightsflorida.org/
Special Needs Trusts
We the People, By the People, For ALL the People: Family Grassroots Advocacy
(239) 595-1971
https://www.facebook.com/groups/forallthepeople
Weekly Advocacy ZOOM Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85787837867
ABLE United (Florida’s Disability Savings Program)
The ABLE Trust (Employment & Financial Assistance for People with Disabilities)
(850) 224-4493
The Guardian Trust (Pooled Special Needs Trusts)
(800) 669-9933
https://www.guardiantrusts.org
The Arc of South Florida – Special Needs Trusts & Advocacy
(305) 759-8500
Jo-Anne Herina Jeffreys, Esq.
(239) 260-4384
https://joannejeffreyslaw.com/
Lisa Goddy, Esq.
(239) 435-1533
https://www.probate-florida.com/our-firm/our-attorneys/lisa-goddy/
Lance McKinney, Esq.
(239) 939-4888
https://osterhoutmckinney.com/special-needs-trusts/
Guardianship
Collier County Clerk of the Circuit Court – Guardianship Division
(239) 252-2646
https://www.collierclerk.com/court-divisions/guardianship/
Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court – Guardianship Program
https://www.ca.cjis20.org/Programs/Civil-Case-Management/guardianship.aspx
We the People, By the People, For ALL the People: Family Grassroots Advocacy
(239) 595-1971
https://www.facebook.com/groups/forallthepeople
Weekly Advocacy ZOOM Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85787837867
Lisa Goddy, Esq.
(239) 435-1533
https://www.probate-florida.com/our-firm/our-attorneys/lisa-goddy/
Jo-Anne Herina Jeffreys, Esq.
(239) 260-4384
https://joannejeffreyslaw.com/
Special Needs Lawyers, P.A.
(727) 443-7898
Florida State Guardianship Association (FSGA)
https://www.floridaguardians.com
Healthcare Advocacy
We the People, By the People, For ALL the People: Family Grassroots Advocacy
(239) 595-1971
https://www.facebook.com/groups/forallthepeople
Weekly Advocacy ZOOM Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85787837867
Interpreting & Application Services, LLC
(239) 206-5477
Angela Caldwell – Medicaid Fair Hearing Advocacy (Disability Rights Florida)
(850) 488-9071 x 9715
https://disabilityrightsflorida.org
Children’s Advocacy Center of Collier County
(239) 263-8383
Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® of Collier County
(239) 658-3000
NAMI Collier County
(239) 260-7300
The Arc of Florida
(850) 921-0460
Florida Voices for Health
(850) 888-5892
Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)
National Autism Association (NAA)
(877) 622-2884
https://nationalautismassociation.org/
Organization for Autism Research (OAR)
(866) 366-9710
Autism Research Institute (ARI)
(833) 281-7165
Autism Science Foundation (ASF)
(914) 810-9100