Last verified: October 2026
Can a Broward family pay for sensory materials & assistive technology with Florida scholarship money?
It depends on the program: Unique Abilities: eligible; PEP: conditional / pre-authorization; Private School Scholarship: not eligible. This category takes in sensory swings, balance balls, fidgets, hearing aids, prescription glasses and similar assistive devices.
What are the rules for sensory materials & assistive technology in 2026-27?
These rules come from Step Up's 2026-27 purchasing guides and its September 16, 2026 summary of changes.
- Adaptive exercise equipment needs pre-authorization.
- Horse therapy at a PATH-member center and music or art therapy are separate eligible FES-UA categories.
What is not allowed for sensory materials & assistive technology?
The items below are excluded or need approval first.
- Medical devices outside the listed assistive technology
- Smart or AR prescription glasses
How do Broward families use sensory materials & assistive technology?
Before booking a sensory or equine program, ask whether it holds the credential the purchasing guide requires.
How does a Broward family pay for sensory materials & assistive technology?
Begin with MyScholarShop, where listed items need no further approval, and next try Find Providers in EMA so tutors, therapists and instructors are paid directly. If neither works, pay by card, save the itemized receipt and ask for reimbursement. Something the guides leave out must be approved before you buy it, and requests for 2026-27 approval stop on May 28, 2027.
Which programs allow sensory materials & assistive technology, and which do not?
Each program treats sensory materials & assistive technology differently, and the table gives the status for all three.
| Program | Status | What the rule says |
|---|---|---|
| Unique Abilities (FES-UA) | Eligible | Sensory materials, assistive devices (prescription eyeglasses and hearing aids included), instruction on using approved devices and warranties. Any device missing from the list needs approval first. |
| PEP (home-directed ESA) | Conditional / pre-authorization | Sensory materials qualify, and prescription glasses count as school supplies up to one pair per year; other assistive devices fall outside PEP. |
| Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) | Not eligible | Not a permitted category. |
Related questions
- Can a Broward family pay for speech-language therapy with scholarship money?
- Can a Broward family pay for occupational & physical therapy with scholarship money?
- Can a Broward family pay for aba therapy (autism) with scholarship money?
- How much is the Broward award by grade?
- What can PEP and FES-UA pay for overall?
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Based on the FES-UA Purchasing Guide (FCSUA and Step Up For Students) and the PEP Purchasing Guide for 2026-27, plus Step Up's "Program Handbooks and Purchasing Guides: Summary of Changes" dated September 16, 2026. Treat this as a plain-language summary and not legal advice, since the handbook of your funding organization governs.