Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources System
Did you know there is an entire resource system designed to help families with children with exceptional needs in the educational setting?
The Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources System (FDLRS) provides diagnostic, instructional, and technology support services to district exceptional education programs and families of students with disabilities.
It is funded by the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS) and collaborates with the community to offer support services for educators, parents, school administrators, and students with exceptionalities.
FDLRS has 19 Associate Centers that serve Florida’s sixty- seven school districts. The FDLRS Associate Centers provide an array of instructional and technical support services to school district Exceptional Student Education programs.
The four central functions of each FDLRS Associate Center are Child Find, Parent Services, Human Resource Development, and Technology:
• Child Find, in coordination with the school districts, helps to locate children who are potentially eligible for services under the Individual with Disabilities Act (IDEA) within the public school and links them with available services . It helps promote general public awareness of programs and services available for young children who have or are at risk of developing disabilities.
• Parent Services provides information, training and support to school districts and families to help increase parent participation in the education of children with exceptional needs . It includes assistance in the development of family-friendly programs, training, and support for services for children with disabilities, and the support of partnerships between schools and parents to support student achievement.
• Human Resource Development helps to provide learning opportunities for educators focused on refining teacher practice and increasing student achievement. The professional learning activities are offered both face-to-face and in virtual settings.
• FDLRS lends assistance and support in the appropriate use of technology for students, teachers, support staff and parents . Support services are available in the areas of assistive technology, instructional technology, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), AIM/NIMAS Florida services, and virtual/online instruction.
Anyone with unique needs in the public school system can access these services. Parents, teachers and support staff can begin the process to connect with the resources by contacting them via their website: FDLRS. You can also locate a FDLRS center here.
Christina Marinelli, Parent Advocate and EMT-B
Community Outreach Coordinator
christina@collaborativecorner.org