Currently in the United States, around 1 out of 88 children have a form of autism.

The disorder, normally diagnosed around the age of 2 or 3, causes difficulties in social interaction and verbal and non-verbal communication. Autism makes it difficult for young children to participate in traditional classroom settings.

There’s now a new service that allows children with disabilities to be eligible for the state’s Voluntary Prekindergarten Education program.

“There’s a lot of children who, age-wise, are ready for the VPK program,” said Jamie Granatino, clinical director of Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay. “However, because of their skill deficits, or perhaps their interfering behaviors, they’re not able to access that program in more typical settings.”

Granatino said for the first time, children with autism can enroll in the state’s VPK.

The Florida VPK Specialized Instructional Services is a new option for parents of 4-year-old children with disabilities and is available outside of the traditional VPK classroom setting.

“This particular program allows practitioners to work with the kids on their skill deficits so they can be getting school-readiness skills that they would through a VPK program, but in a format that’s much more accessible to them,” Granatino said.

It’s a program therapists hope will open doors for children with autism and help them ease into the public school system.

Just like the traditional VPK program, the VPK SIS program is state-funded, giving children with disabilities more opportunities.

“It opens the doors. Not every family can afford to bring their child to individual therapy like this one,” said Summer Morse, who has a 3-year-old daughter with autism. “It’s just amazing to have different opportunities we’ve been allowed to have.”

To help improve her daughter’s speech and socialization skills, every week, Morse comes to Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay for therapy.

She is now considering the VPK SIS program.

She said the extra help makes a big difference.

“She comes here to learn to sit at table and concentrate,” Morse said.

To be eligible for the VPK SIS program, a child must live in Florida, be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1 of the current year and have an individual education plan from the child's school district.