FAU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities

What FAU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities does

FAU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (FAU CARD) is a university-based support center within Florida Atlantic University's College of Education, Department of Special Education. It operates as the regional node of the Florida Statewide CARD network and is positioned as the first point of contact after an autism diagnosis or school district eligibility determination. The center delivers expert consulting, training, and support at no charge to individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related disabilities, their families, employers, professionals, and community and governmental agencies serving them.

FAU CARD's service portfolio spans the full lifespan, including early intervention (Little Owls), behavioral support (Building Better Behavior/RUBI), mentoring (iRISE2), transition support (BRIDGE Initiative), adult social engagement (Adult Hangouts), parent support groups, and the Autism Friendly Business program for employer engagement. Supporting resources include a Directory of Service Providers, a video tutorial library, articles, and a Google Forms-based service request intake. Community-facing events include the Annual Conference, Autism Leaders Brunch, and Art & Autism Expo.

FAU CARD is a state-funded entity with no commercial revenue stream. Primary funding comes from the State of Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS), with supplementary donor support from the Mangurian Foundation, Derfner Foundation, Taft Foundation, and the Strul Family. All services are provided at no charge to clients. The center operates from Boca Raton, Florida, and is embedded in a statewide ecosystem that includes partner CARD sites, PEPSA, and a Constituency Board, Parent Advocacy Team, and Corporate Partners network.

Name

FAU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities

Legal name

Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at Florida Atlantic University

Website

https://autism.fau.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FAU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities is a state-funded center within Florida Atlantic University that provides free consulting, training, and support services to individuals with autism and related disabilities, their families, employers, and professionals in Florida.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Autism Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Transition Planning & Postsecondary Readiness (Educational) (EDAKAKAK), Autism Teacher Training & Professional Development (EDAKAKAL), Autism Spectrum (ASD) Academic & Social-Communication Support Tutoring (EDANAFAD)

Keywords

• Autism support services
• Disability consulting
• Special education consultation
• Behavioral health support
• Employment disability services

Headquarters

HQ city

Boca Raton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. State Government Funding: Funded by the State of Florida through the Department of Education, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS). Services are provided to individuals with autism and related disabilities at no charge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

FAU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities provides free expert consulting, training, and support services to individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related disabilities, along with their families and caregivers. Services span six core areas: education, employment, behavior, daily life, healthcare, and social skills, and are funded by the State of Florida.

Product overview

FAU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) is a university-based support center providing a comprehensive portfolio of free programs and services for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related disabilities. The center operates as a service organization offering direct support programs including social groups (Adult Hangouts), behavioral interventions (Building Better Behavior/RUBI), mentoring (iRISE2), early intervention (Little Owls), and transition support (BRIDGE). Complementary services include a Provider Directory, Video Library, Articles database, and service request functionality. The center also hosts community events including the Annual Conference, Art & Autism Expo, and Autism Leaders Brunch. CARD serves as the first point of contact after autism diagnosis, bridging individuals and families to resources, training, and support services at no charge.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Expert Consulting Free expert consultation services for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and related disabilities, their families, and caregivers, provided by experienced professionals.
• Training Programs Training programs for individuals with autism, families, professionals, and community members, delivered in-person and online.
• Employment Support Services Support services to help individuals with autism and related disabilities find and maintain employment, including guidance for employers on autism accommodation.
• Education Support Services Consulting and resources to support the educational needs of students with autism and related disabilities.
• Healthcare Navigation Guidance and support to help families navigate the healthcare system for individuals with autism and related disabilities.
• Online Training and Resources Online training resources and information accessible to the community about autism and related disabilities.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Florida Statewide CARD NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAU CARD is part of the Florida Statewide CARD network, collaborating with other CARD centers across Florida to provide comprehensive services.
• PEPSA (Partnership for Effective Programs for Students with Autism)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide partnership providing effective programs for students with autism. Link provided to external PEPSA resources.
• Non Profit ChamberminorOthersCommunity partner organization supporting FAU CARD through collaborative initiatives.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Autism Speaks: A large national autism advocacy and research organization. While primarily focused on research funding and advocacy, it overlaps with FAU CARD on resource navigation, family support, and community awareness.
• Easterseals: A national nonprofit providing disability and autism services including early intervention, vocational rehabilitation, and behavioral support. Comparable in service categories but broader in scope (serves all disabilities) and operates nationally.
• Autism Society of America: A national nonprofit focused on autism advocacy, education, and support across the U.S. Broader in geographic scope and mission (advocacy plus service), but overlaps with FAU CARD on family support, resource connection, and community education.

Emerging players

• Organization for Autism Research (OAR): A national nonprofit that funds applied autism research and provides educational resources for families and professionals. Comparable in the educational support and resource connection it provides, though more research-focused than FAU CARD's direct service model.

Direct peers

• University of Central Florida CARD: A regional CARD center within the Florida Statewide CARD network, funded by the Florida Department of Education to provide free autism support, consulting, and training across central Florida. Directly comparable in mission, funding model, and service portfolio.
• University of South Florida CARD: Another regional CARD center in the Florida Statewide CARD network, also known for the PEPSA parent education partnership. Operates the same free, state-funded model and competes with FAU CARD for resources and visibility within the network.
• University of Florida CARD: A regional CARD center in the Florida Statewide CARD network serving north central Florida. Operates the same free, state-funded model and provides consulting, training, and support services to individuals with autism.
• University of Miami / Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities: A regional CARD center in the Florida Statewide CARD network serving the south Florida region. Directly comparable state-funded university-based autism support center.
• Florida State University CARD: A regional CARD center in the Florida Statewide CARD network serving the panhandle and north Florida with the same free service model. Direct peer in funding structure, programs, and target population.

Regional players

• Arc of Florida: A statewide nonprofit serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism. Operates in the same Florida geography and provides overlapping services in advocacy, family support, and resource navigation, though broader in disability scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChgiC57YaNHH_SwGcXN0d5Q
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fau-card

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FAU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities