The family empowerment scholarship for Florida families.
Up to $10,000 per child per year for ABA, therapy, curriculum, and educational support. Administered by Step Up For Students. Here is how it actually works.
The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities — known as FES-UA, and previously called the Gardiner Scholarship — is one of the most generous state-level autism funding programs in the country. Florida families with qualifying diagnoses receive an annual allocation, typically around ten thousand dollars or more per child, that can be spent on ABA, speech therapy, occupational therapy, tutoring, curriculum, assistive technology, and other approved services. This page explains who is eligible, what FES-UA covers at House of Hearts, how to apply, and how it stacks with Florida Medicaid and commercial insurance.
The typical annual allocation per child through the Family Empowerment Scholarship, redeemable across approved providers including House of Hearts.
Eligibility.
To qualify for FES-UA, a student must be a Florida resident, between ages 3 and 22 (or enrolled through K-12), and have a qualifying diagnosis. Qualifying diagnoses include autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, Williams syndrome, and several others named by the program.
Documentation typically means a current Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a private clinical evaluation establishing the diagnosis. Requirements are confirmed at application.
Step Up For Students publishes the current eligibility criteria each year on their official site.
What FES-UA covers at House of Hearts.
Direct ABA therapy hours
Supplemental ABA hours beyond what insurance authorizes, billed directly through the FES-UA marketplace.
BCBA assessment and treatment planning
Comprehensive assessment and the individualized treatment plan your BCBA builds from it.
Parent training sessions
Caregiver coaching so the work continues between sessions — a frequent, high-value FES-UA use.
Approved curriculum and materials
Approved educational curriculum, assistive technology, and learning materials on the FES-UA list.
"FES-UA covered most of our daughter's ABA hours this year. We did not pay a dollar out of pocket."— Anonymous family, Tampa
How to apply, step by step.
Confirm eligibility
Florida residency, a qualifying diagnosis, and ages 3 to 22 or through K-12 enrollment.
Submit application
Apply to Step Up For Students with your documentation — a current IEP or private clinical evaluation.
Award letter
Step Up For Students reviews and issues your annual award letter with your allocation.
Choose your provider
Select House of Hearts in the marketplace as your approved ABA provider.
Begin services
We verify, plan, and start care — billing FES-UA directly so you do not front the cost.
Reapply annually
FES-UA renews each year. We track your window so the funding never lapses.
How FES-UA stacks with Medicaid and insurance.
Many Florida families combine FES-UA with Florida Medicaid (Sunshine Health, Humana, Simply Healthcare, Aetna Better Health) or commercial insurance. The two are designed to work together.
FES-UA cannot pay for the same service another funding source covers. In practice, Medicaid covers your child's core ABA hours and FES-UA covers supplemental services like additional parent training and approved curriculum.
We help every Florida family figure out the right stacking model during their consultation — so each dollar is used where it counts and nothing overlaps.
Common mistakes families make.
The first mistake is treating FES-UA like a reimbursement program. It is not — approved providers like House of Hearts direct-bill the marketplace, so you should not be fronting thousands of dollars and waiting for a check. The second is not tracking the annual allocation: funds are tied to the program year and can expire if unused.
The third is missing the renewal window. FES-UA is not automatic — it must be renewed each year, and a missed window can mean a gap in funding. We track all of this for the families we serve so none of these three things happen to you.
How the stacking works in real life.
A Miami family with Florida Medicaid through Sunshine Health applied for FES-UA in February. Their award letter arrived in April. Sunshine Health covered their son's core 25 ABA hours a week; FES-UA covered an additional 10 ABA hours plus speech therapy plus approved curriculum.
They paid zero out of pocket. Their son started kindergarten on grade level. The stacking model — Medicaid for the core hours, FES-UA for everything around them — is one we now build with Florida families every week.
FES-UA questions.
How do I apply for FES-UA?
You apply through Step Up For Students, the nonprofit that administers the scholarship. You will create an account, submit proof of Florida residency and a qualifying diagnosis (a current IEP or private clinical evaluation), and wait for your award letter. Our Florida care coordinators walk families through every step of this during their consultation.
What is the annual allocation amount?
The allocation is set each year by the state and typically runs around ten thousand dollars or more per child, with the exact figure varying by the student's grade level and needs. Step Up For Students publishes the current amount each year. The funds can be spent across approved services including ABA, speech, occupational therapy, curriculum, and tutoring.
Can my child use FES-UA and Florida Medicaid at the same time?
Yes, and many families do. FES-UA cannot pay for the same service another funding source already covers, so in practice Medicaid covers core ABA hours and FES-UA covers supplemental services like additional parent training or approved curriculum. We help you build the right stacking model so nothing overlaps and nothing is wasted.
What happens if I do not use my entire allocation?
Unused funds generally do not roll over indefinitely — allocations are tied to the program year and can expire. This is one of the most common mistakes families make. We help you plan your services across the year so your allocation is used intentionally rather than lost.
Does my child need an IEP to qualify?
Not necessarily. An IEP is one accepted form of documentation, but a private clinical evaluation establishing a qualifying diagnosis can also support eligibility. Step Up For Students publishes the current documentation requirements each year.
How does House of Hearts handle FES-UA billing?
We direct-bill FES-UA through the Step Up For Students marketplace whenever possible, so you are not fronting the cost and waiting for reimbursement. Our team manages the provider-side paperwork and keeps your allocation tracked against the services your child receives.
Not in Florida?
Every state we serve has its own path to covered ABA. Here's where to look.
Want help applying for FES-UA?
Our Florida care coordinators walk every family through the application and the marketplace selection process.
Call 305-209-3144 or email intake@houseofheartsaba.com. Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM.