Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke Monday morning at a news conference at The Els Center of Excellence in Jupiter, a facility created by professional golfer Ernie Els to support individuals with autism.
WATCH: Press play above to watch a replay of the governor’s Monday news conference
DeSantis was joined by Taylor Hatch, the director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities in Florida, to announce a record $2.2 billion in funding approved for the agency to cover direct services for people with unique abilities through the iBudget waiver.
The waiver provides social, medical, behavioral, and therapeutic services to individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.
DeSantis also announced $1 million would go to the Els Center of Excellence recreational complex, which provides a sensory-friendly environment that meets the needs of children with autism.
“I will continue to ensure every Floridian has access to high-quality services to create a pathway to live up to their God-given potential and realize the American Dream,” DeSantis said.
In addition to the money for the Els Center, the governor’s budget and associated funding through Live Healthy legislation includes:
- Nearly $200 million to support an across-the-board increase for iBudget waiver providers
- $64.8 million to enroll additional individuals in crisis onto the iBudget waiver
- An additional $55.7 million to enroll individuals currently in pre-enrollment categories
- Over $40 million in support of community projects for those with autism and other developmental disabilities
“This historic funding will provide services that empower a greater number of individuals and their families to thrive through the power of partnership, highlighting the importance of a strong provider workforce through first-ever across-the-board pay increases as well as focusing on the importance of community partners,” Hatch said.
DeSantis also announced that participation in the Florida Empowerment Scholarship has grown to record numbers, going from around 25,000 students in 2021 to over 98,000 students today. This scholarship is designed to offer families of students with unique abilities -- as young as 3 years old -- access to additional education options so parents may find the best environment to serve their child’s needs.