Deva Simmons

No Party Affiliation · U.S. House, District 18

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Insurance coverage

• Says she supports Florida's autism insurance mandate and would support reviewing coverage limits and removing barriers to medically necessary, evidence-based services.

  "I support Florida’s autism insurance mandate and believe we should strengthen access to medically necessary, evidence-based services. This issue is personal to me professionally. I am the only candidate in this race with a Master’s degree in Special Education, and I have spent my career advocating for children and families beginning at birth. My business provided early intervention services through developmental therapists, speech-language pathologists, and other professionals who worked directly with children and families. I have seen what happens when families can get the right services at the right time—and what happens when cost or insurance barriers stand in the way. I would support reviewing coverage limits and removing unnecessary barriers that prevent children from receiving medically necessary services. Families should not have to fight an insurance company while they are already trying to navigate a child’s diagnosis and care. Every child deserves the opportunity to reach their potential, and families deserve an insurance system that helps them—not one that makes an already difficult journey harder."

  Source: Candidate questionnaire · View source
  Last checked 2026-10-03

Medicaid waiver

• Says she supports increasing funding for the iBudget Medicaid waiver and reducing the waitlist, along with greater waitlist transparency, improved provider reimbursement, and workforce development.

  "I support increasing funding for Florida’s iBudget Medicaid waiver and taking meaningful steps to reduce the waitlist. I have worked with children and families with developmental disabilities, and I know that having a service “available” on paper means very little if a family has to wait years to actually receive it. The iBudget waiver provides important services that help people with disabilities live, work, and participate in their communities. Those services can also provide families with the support they need to continue caring for their loved ones at home. I would support sustainable funding, greater transparency about the waitlist, improved reimbursement for qualified providers, and workforce development so there are enough professionals available to deliver these services. We need to remember the person behind every number on that waiting list. These are children, adults, parents, grandparents, and caregivers whose lives are affected every day. My approach is simple: if we say we value people with disabilities, our funding and policies should demonstrate it."

  Source: Candidate questionnaire · View source
  Last checked 2026-10-03

Early intervention

• Says she supports adequately funding Early Steps and improving timely access to evaluations and services, citing her professional background in special education and early intervention.

  "Early intervention is one of the issues where I bring not only a policy perspective, but professional experience. I have a Master’s degree in Special Education, and my business provided early intervention services with developmental therapists, speech-language pathologists, and other professionals. I have advocated for children and families beginning at birth. I have seen firsthand that the earlier we identify a developmental need and connect a child and family with appropriate services, the more opportunity that child has to build skills and reach their potential. That isn't just my professional experience; research from the CDC and NIH supports the importance of early intervention. I support adequately funding Early Steps and improving timely access to evaluations and services. Families should not have to wait months for an evaluation or struggle to find a qualified provider after their child is determined eligible. Early intervention is an investment—not just in a child, but in the entire family and in our communities. When we give children the support they need early, we give them a better opportunity to learn, grow, and become as independent as possible. That is something worth investing in."

  Source: Candidate questionnaire · View source
  Last checked 2026-10-03

School services

• Says IEP and 504 plan commitments should be honored, and says she supports adequately funding special education staffing, stronger accountability, and treating parents as partners.

  "I believe an IEP or 504 plan should mean something. If a child has been evaluated and a team has determined that specific services, accommodations, or supports are needed, those commitments should be honored. As someone with a Master’s degree in Special Education who has spent years advocating for children and families, I know that parents can sometimes feel overwhelmed trying to understand the system and make sure their child receives what they need. We need to adequately fund special education and make sure schools have the teachers, paraprofessionals, therapists, behavioral specialists, and other professionals necessary to serve students effectively. I also believe parents must be treated as partners—not obstacles. They know their children better than anyone, and their voices belong at the table. Every child learns differently. A disability should never mean a child receives less opportunity. My goal would be to strengthen accountability while also giving educators the resources and support they need to do their jobs well. We should be asking one simple question: Are we doing what this child needs to succeed?"

  Source: Candidate questionnaire · View source
  Last checked 2026-10-03

Provider licensure

• Says she supports professional standards for autism service providers and says Florida should regularly review licensure and certification requirements so they do not create unnecessary duplication or barriers to entering the profession.

  "I support professional standards that protect children, adults, and families receiving autism services. At the same time, we have to be careful that regulation does not unintentionally make it harder for families to find qualified providers. I have worked alongside developmental therapists, speech-language pathologists, and other professionals providing services to children and families. I understand how important a strong, qualified workforce is—and how difficult it can be for families when there simply aren't enough providers. Florida should regularly review licensure and certification requirements to make sure they are necessary, effective, and not creating unnecessary duplication or barriers to entering the profession. Families deserve providers who are properly trained, qualified, ethical, and accountable. But they also deserve to actually have a provider available when their child needs one. My focus would be on protecting the people receiving services while strengthening Florida’s workforce so that qualified professionals can enter and remain in these fields. We need both accountability and access."

  Source: Candidate questionnaire · View source
  Last checked 2026-10-03

Employment

• Says Florida should strengthen supported employment, vocational training, apprenticeships, internships, and employer partnerships, and says she would support employer hiring incentives and transition planning that begins before high school graduation.

  "I believe every person deserves the opportunity to contribute, earn an income, develop independence, and feel that their work has value—including people with autism and other disabilities. Florida should strengthen supported employment, vocational training, apprenticeships, internships, and partnerships between employers and disability-service organizations. I would also support incentives that encourage employers to hire, train, and retain individuals with disabilities while creating workplaces where people can succeed. This needs to begin before someone graduates from high school. Transition planning should connect students with real opportunities to explore careers, develop job skills, and understand what independence can look like for them. We should stop looking at disability first and start looking at ability, skills, interests, and potential. I have spent much of my professional life advocating for children and families, and I believe that advocacy should continue as young people become adults. People with disabilities are not simply recipients of services. They are employees, entrepreneurs, neighbors, taxpayers, caregivers, and community members. Florida should make sure they have meaningful opportunities to participate and succeed."

  Source: Candidate questionnaire · View source
  Last checked 2026-10-03

Guardianship

• Says guardianship should not automatically be the first or only option, and says families should have clear information about supported decision-making and other less restrictive alternatives.

  "I believe the goal should always be to protect people while preserving as much independence, dignity, and personal choice as possible. Guardianship can be an important protection for individuals who truly need it, but it should not automatically be the first or only option because someone has a disability. Florida families should have clear information about supported decision-making and other less restrictive alternatives. Individuals should be supported in making their own decisions whenever they are capable of doing so, with appropriate safeguards when assistance is needed. Having advocated for children and families throughout my career, I understand that families want to protect their loved ones. They also want their loved ones to have the greatest possible opportunity for independence. We should make sure families understand their options and that decisions are based on the individual’s actual abilities and needs—not simply a diagnosis."

  Source: Candidate questionnaire · View source
  Last checked 2026-10-03

First responders

• Says she strongly supports training for law enforcement, EMS, corrections staff, and other first responders, including continued funding, consistent standards, scenario-based learning, and input from disability professionals and families.

  "I strongly support meaningful training for law enforcement, EMS, corrections personnel, and other first responders on interacting with autistic individuals and people with disabilities. As someone who has worked with children and families with developmental disabilities, I know that communication, behavior, and sensory responses can look very different from person to person. What may appear to be noncompliance, or aggression can sometimes be fear, confusion, sensory overload, or difficulty communicating. First responders need practical training to recognize those differences and respond safely. Training should include communication strategies, de-escalation, sensory considerations, and ways to recognize characteristics associated with autism and other disabilities. I would support continued funding for this training, consistent standards, scenario-based learning, and input from disability professionals and families."

  Source: Candidate questionnaire · View source
  Last checked 2026-10-03