Fw: APD Updates
Phil Pearson
For Immediate Release:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
              Contact:
July 1, 2016Â Â Â Â
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                    Melanie Mowry Etters
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                                      Â
 Communication Director
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                    850-414-7551
State to Serve New
Disability
APD to Assist Those with Phelan-McDermid
syndrome
TALLAHASSEE – Today, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities will begin serving individuals with Phelan-McDermid syndrome. During the Legislative Session, Phelan-McDermid syndrome was added to the list of developmental disabilities served by APD beginning July 1. The other disabilities served by the agency are cerebral palsy, spina bifida, intellectual disabilities, severe autism, Down syndrome, and Prader-Willi syndrome.
In the Florida First Budget for Fiscal Year 2016-2017, Governor Rick Scott and the Legislature included $2.5 million to offer APD waiver enrollment to approximately 55 people from throughout Florida with Phelan-McDermid syndrome. The waiver offers 26 services that help individuals with disabilities remain in their homes and participate in their communities as much as possible.
Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) Director Barbara Palmer said, “We are very excited about being able to help additional people receive the services they require. I thank Governor Scott and the Florida Legislature for their leadership and support of individuals with disabilities in our state. We look forward to welcoming those with Phelan-McDermid syndrome onto our Medicaid waiver so they receive all the services they need to remain in the community.”
Information about Phelan-McDermid syndrome: Children are born with a specific chromosomal abnormality. Although the range and severity of symptoms may vary, Phelan-McDermid syndrome is generally characterized by low muscle tone, absent to severely delayed speech, moderate to profound intellectual disability, minor malformed or misshapen features, symptoms of autism spectrum disorder, motor delays, and epilepsy.
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APD supports people with developmental disabilities
to live, learn, and work in their communities. For more information about the
Agency for Persons with Disabilities, visit APDcares.org or call toll-free
1-866-APD-CARES (1-866-273-2273).
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