Last verified: October 2026
Can an Orange County family pay for occupational & physical therapy with scholarship funds?
When a Florida-licensed therapist or a Florida hospital provides it, occupational and physical therapy are covered specialized services under FES-UA.
Occupational & physical therapy: which program pays?
The three programs handle this purchase in different ways.
| Status | How the rule reads | |
|---|---|---|
| Unique Abilities (FES-UA) | Eligible | Licensed OT and PT providers are authorized. |
| PEP (home-directed ESA) | Not eligible | PEP does not cover these therapies. |
| Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) | Not eligible | Not an authorized category. |
What rules apply to occupational & physical therapy purchases?
- The therapist must hold a Florida Department of Health license, or APD or SIS approval.
- Balance balls, swings and fidgets are bought as instructional materials and are eligible.
- Adaptive exercise equipment requires pre-authorization first.
What is not allowed for occupational & physical therapy?
- Medical devices and services beyond the listed therapies
How does this work in Orange County?
25 Orange County private schools name occupational therapy among their services. Depending on the setup, the account pays an on-campus therapist through a school fee or an outside clinic directly.
How do I buy it?
Begin in MyScholarShop, where every listed item already has approval. Next, search the EMA provider directory for tutors, therapists and instructors who can be paid directly. If neither works, buy the item, save an itemized receipt and file for reimbursement. Anything the guide does not name as eligible needs a pre-authorization request before purchase, and the 2026-27 window for those runs until May 28, 2027.
Related questions
- What else can the scholarship buy under therapies (fes-ua)?
- How much is the Orange County award?
- Which programs can my child use?
- Can funds pay for speech-language therapy?
- Can funds pay for aba therapy (autism)?
Build my child's spending plan →
Sources: the 2026-27 Step Up For Students purchasing guides for FES-UA, PEP and the Private School Scholarship. These are summaries and not legal advice; your scholarship funding organization's handbook governs.