FES-UA Qualifying Diagnosis: Which Disabilities Qualify for Florida's Scholarship

Your child has a diagnosis. You've heard Florida has a scholarship that funds therapy, specialized curriculum, and even laptops for students with disabilities. But the FES-UA eligibility list is buried in statute language, and you're not sure whether your child's specific condition qualifies or whether you need a district IEP first.

Here's what actually qualifies under Florida's Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities — and the documentation paths that get you in.

The Complete FES-UA Qualifying Diagnosis List

Section 1002.394(2) of the Florida Statutes specifies these qualifying conditions:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Intellectual Disability (severe cognitive impairment)
• Specific Learning Disabilities — including Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Developmental Aphasia
• Down Syndrome
• Cerebral Palsy
• Spina Bifida
• Prader-Willi Syndrome
• Phelan-McDermid Syndrome
• Emotional or Behavioral Disabilities
• Speech or Language Impairments
• Physical or Orthopedic Impairment
• Visual Impairment (including blindness)
• Hearing Impairment (including deafness)
• Anaphylaxis
• High-Risk (developmental delays for children ages 3–5)

That last category has a catch: children who qualify under the high-risk developmental delay designation must establish eligibility under a specific named diagnosis by the time they turn six (on or before September 1 of the school year).

Does Your Child Need an IEP?

No — an IEP is not the only path to FES-UA eligibility. Florida accepts two documentation routes:

Route 1: District IEP. If your child was evaluated through the public school system and has a current Individualized Education Plan, that document establishes eligibility. The IEP also determines your child's matrix support level, which directly affects funding amounts — Level 4 (Cost Factor 254) awards run $21,400–$23,800, and Level 5 (Cost Factor 255) reaches $34,400–$39,000 depending on the county.

Route 2: Medical Diagnosis Form. If your child has never been in public school (or you chose not to pursue a district evaluation), a qualifying diagnosis from an authorized professional works. The FES-UA Medical Diagnosis Form must be signed by one of these:

• A Florida-licensed physician (M.D. or D.O.)
• A physician licensed in another U.S. state or territory
• An autonomous Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
• A licensed Physician Assistant (PA)
• A licensed psychologist

Students entering through the medical diagnosis route without a district matrix evaluation receive baseline Level 251–253 funding, which ranges from $9,600 to $10,500 per year depending on grade band and county.

ADHD, Dyslexia, and Autism: Specific Guidance

Autism Spectrum Disorder is the most common FES-UA qualifying diagnosis. A diagnosis from any of the authorized professionals listed above satisfies eligibility. If your child also has a district IEP with a matrix score, you may qualify for higher-tier funding — Level 4 or 5 awards can exceed $20,000 annually.

ADHD on its own does not appear in the statutory list. However, ADHD frequently co-occurs with conditions that do qualify: Emotional or Behavioral Disabilities, Specific Learning Disabilities, or Speech/Language Impairments. If your child's evaluating professional documents one of these co-occurring conditions, that diagnosis establishes FES-UA eligibility. A standalone ADHD diagnosis without a qualifying co-occurring condition does not meet the statutory criteria.

Dyslexia qualifies directly as a Specific Learning Disability under the statute. A psychoeducational evaluation documenting dyslexia from a licensed psychologist or a district IEP identifying a Specific Learning Disability meets the standard.

Who Can Apply

FES-UA is open to Florida residents aged 3 through 21 (or through age 22 if the student hasn't yet graduated high school). Pre-K children aged 3 or 4 — on or before September 1 of the application year — are eligible without any prior public school attendance. This makes FES-UA one of the earliest-access ESA programs for families pursuing early intervention.

FES-UA vs. PEP for Special Needs Families

If your child qualifies for both FES-UA and PEP, FES-UA is almost always the stronger choice:

• Higher funding: FES-UA base awards start around $9,600–$10,500 versus PEP's $7,600–$8,200 average, and matrix Level 4–5 awards are dramatically higher
• Therapy coverage: FES-UA covers ABA, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy — all prohibited under PEP
• Technology: FES-UA allows a digital-device purchase once every two calendar years; PEP does not allow scholarship-funded digital devices
• Legal status: FES-UA home education students can keep their §1002.41 district registration; PEP requires terminating it
• 529/ABLE contributions: FES-UA allows deposits into Florida Prepaid or ABLE accounts; PEP does not

The one scenario where PEP might still matter: if you have multiple children and only some qualify for FES-UA. The qualifying children go on FES-UA while neurotypical siblings can use PEP.

How to Apply

Select a Scholarship Funding Organization — Step Up For Students or AAA Scholarship Foundation — and create a household account on their portal. Upload your child's qualifying documentation (district IEP or completed Medical Diagnosis Form), proof of Florida residency, and the student's birth certificate. Applications for 2026–27 follow the February 1 to April 30 priority window, with a final fall deadline of May 31.

FES-UA maintains an annual growth cap (baseline 5% plus 1% automatic demand increase), but several categories are exempt from that cap: dependents of active-duty military, children of law enforcement officers, foster care children, adopted children from child welfare systems, and students receiving VPK Special Instructional Services with a current IEP.

Our Florida FES-UA & PEP Scholarship Parent Guide walks through the full application sequence, explains how matrix levels determine your award, and includes the documentation checklists for both the IEP and medical diagnosis pathways.

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