CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK) \u2014 Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed David Brown, co-founder and president of Family Initiative, to Florida’s newly formed Applied Behavior Analysis Task Force on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The task force was created under the 2026 legislative session’s implementing bill to evaluate how Florida Medicaid delivers ABA services to children with autism and to recommend a path that keeps that care high-quality, family-centered and financially sustainable.<\/p>\n
Family Initiative is a nonprofit organization founded in 2015 in Cape Coral that supports families affected by autism through clinical services, community-based programs and Thrive Academy, a private K\u2013graduation school for students with autism.<\/p>\n
Brown is one of three members appointed directly by the governor and the only task force member whose organization is dedicated specifically to autism services.<\/p>\n
Brown co-founded Family Initiative in 2015 to make sure families affected by autism never hear “no” when they come looking for help.<\/p>\n
Family Initiative said the appointment reflects the organization’s growing role in shaping autism policy at the state level, following Brown’s earlier participation in an AHCA video series on ABA ethical standards.<\/p>\n