A class has children with and without disabilities. How should the second group be described?ADA National Network, Guidelines for Writing About People with Disabilities, guideline 9
A flyer calls a child "an inspiration" for coming to class with a disability. What is the guidelines' objection?ADA National Network, Guidelines for Writing About People with Disabilities, guideline 12
A mother says her son prefers to be called an autistic person. What do the guidelines advise?ADA National Network, Guidelines for Writing About People with Disabilities, guideline 4
How do the guidelines describe terms such as "differently-abled" and "handi-capable"?ADA National Network, Guidelines for Writing About People with Disabilities, guideline 7
In deciding whether a child with a disability belongs in a program, what must a caregiver not react to?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 4
What does Person-First Language do?ADA National Network, Guidelines for Writing About People with Disabilities, guideline 3
When do the guidelines say to call a person with a disability a patient?ADA National Network, Guidelines for Writing About People with Disabilities, guideline 10
Show all 95 questions (88 more)
People First language and stereotypes, continued
When should a newsletter story mention a child's disability?ADA National Network, Guidelines for Writing About People with Disabilities, guideline 13
Which phrase is Person-First Language?ADA National Network, Guidelines for Writing About People with Disabilities, guideline 5
Which word do the guidelines say not to use for a person because it suggests passivity or lack?ADA National Network, Guidelines for Writing About People with Disabilities, guideline 5
Which wording do the guidelines recommend for a reserved parking space?ADA National Network, Guidelines for Writing About People with Disabilities, guideline 6
Which wording emphasizes ability, as the guidelines ask?ADA National Network, Guidelines for Writing About People with Disabilities, guideline 2
The ADA, IDEA and Florida law 22
A center is full and keeps a waiting list. Must a child with a disability be admitted ahead of the others?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 6
An insurer says it will raise a center's rates if the center accepts children with disabilities. What does the guidance say?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 5
The federal special education rule makes a free appropriate public education available between which ages?34 CFR 300.101(a) (IDEA Part B rule)
Florida law requires a child care operator to take basic training in serving children with disabilities within how long after employment?Florida Statutes, section 402.305(2)(d)7.
Florida's training law names two developmental disabilities in its introductory course topics. Which two?Florida Statutes, section 402.305(2)(d)1.g.
How must a center decide whether it can serve a child with a disability?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 4
In early intervention, what is a "natural environment"?34 CFR 303.26 (IDEA Part C rule)
May a center charge parents extra for a service that the ADA requires it to provide?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 13
Parents who are deaf need a sign language interpreter for a long conference. Who bears the cost?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 10
Under the ADA rule, a disability is a physical or mental impairment that does what?28 CFR 36.105(a)(1) (ADA title III rule)
What does "undue burden" mean in the ADA guidance?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 10
What does the Child Care Facility Handbook require of a program's planned activities for children with special needs?Florida Child Care Facility Handbook (December 2025), section 2.6 J
What does the least restrictive environment rule require?34 CFR 300.114(a)(2) (IDEA Part B rule)
What help with the cost of ADA changes does the guidance describe for a small center?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 24
What is a "direct threat" in the ADA child care guidance?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 8
What must an existing private center do about architectural barriers?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 22
When may a center exclude a child with a disability from its program?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 3
Which child care center is not covered by title III?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 2
Which is an example the guidance gives of readily achievable barrier removal?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 22
Which standards must a newly built private child care center follow?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 23
Which title of the ADA covers child care run by a government agency, such as a summer program?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 1
Which title of the Americans with Disabilities Act covers privately run child care centers?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 1
Disabilities, delays and who is eligible 12
A bachelor's degree or higher in which field exempts child care personnel from the Special Needs Appropriate Practices course?Florida Child Care Facility Handbook (December 2025), section 4.4.2 D
Florida law defines intellectual disability as significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning existing together with deficits in what?Florida Statutes, section 393.063(24)
Florida law describes autism as having its age of onset when?Florida Statutes, section 393.063(5)
For which ages may a state use the term "developmental delay" to qualify a child for special education?34 CFR 300.8(b) (IDEA Part B rule)
How does Florida law define Down syndrome?Florida Statutes, section 393.063(15)
In Florida law, cerebral palsy results in the loss or impairment of control over what?Florida Statutes, section 393.063(6)
In Florida school law, the term "exceptional student" covers students with disabilities and which other group?Florida Statutes, section 1003.01
Under Florida's developmental disabilities law, a developmental disability manifests before what age?Florida Statutes, section 393.063(11)
Where does Florida's Early Steps Program give families training and support?Florida Statutes, section 391.301(1)
Which condition is named in Florida's legal definition of a developmental disability?Florida Statutes, section 393.063(11)
Which is one of the areas of impairment in Florida's legal description of autism?Florida Statutes, section 393.063(5)
Which is one of the disability categories in the federal special education rule?34 CFR 300.8(a)(1) (IDEA Part B rule)
Accommodations in the program 14
A center diapers infants but takes no child over three in diapers. A five-year-old needs diapering because of a disability. What applies?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 15
A center has a "no pets" rule. A child with a disability uses a service animal. What does the ADA require?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 11
A child needs help taking leg braces off and putting them on during the day. What does the guidance say?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 21
A child needs one-to-one care, and a personal assistant will come at no cost to the center. May the center refuse the child for needing one-to-one care?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 7
A four-year-old has delayed speech. May the center place her in the toddler room?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 12
A program never gives toileting help to any child. Must it diaper an older child who has a disability?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 16
Does the ADA generally require a center to hire extra staff to supervise one child one-to-one at all times?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 7
The federal definition of an assistive technology device leaves out which item?34 CFR 300.5 (IDEA Part B rule)
The group is going out to the playground. What about a child with an intellectual disability?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 18
In a vehicle that carries wheelchairs, how many tie-downs hold each wheelchair under the handbook?Florida Child Care Facility Handbook (December 2025), section 2.5.5 E
Some children need help moving to and from the toilet because of mobility problems. How does the guidance class that help?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 15
Under the ADA rule, which animal is a service animal?28 CFR 36.104 (ADA title III rule)
When may a center ask that a service animal be removed?28 CFR 36.302(c)(2) (ADA title III rule)
Which Department course must foster grandparents attend, along with three Part I courses?Florida Child Care Facility Handbook (December 2025), section 1.2
Health, safety and emergencies 12
A center's policy is to give no medication to any child. A child with a disability needs medication during the day. What does the ADA guidance say?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 14
A child has a life-threatening allergy to bee stings. May the center turn the child away for that alone?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 19
May a center exclude a child solely because the child has HIV?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 17
May a center turn away a child because the child has diabetes?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 20
On a field trip with a child who has a chronic medical condition, where are the child's emergency care plan and medication kept?Florida Child Care Facility Handbook (December 2025), section 2.5.3 B
What does the handbook say a written emergency care plan for a child with an allergy includes?Florida Child Care Facility Handbook (December 2025), section 2.5.3 C
What must a facility's written emergency preparedness plan say about children with special needs?Florida Child Care Facility Handbook (December 2025), section 3.8.5 A
What must staff who care for a child with an Emergency Care Plan be trained to do?Florida Child Care Facility Handbook (December 2025), section 7.2 G
Who prepares the Emergency Care Plan for a child with a chronic condition who needs additional services?Florida Child Care Facility Handbook (December 2025), section 7.2 G
Who supplies the testing equipment, training and special food for a child with diabetes?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 20
Whose written instructions does a center follow when it gives medication to a child with a disability?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 14
With which children should caregivers use universal precautions when they touch blood or body fluids?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 17
Behavior, guidance and protection 10
A child whose behavior is tied to a disability hits and bites other children. What should the provider do first?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 9
How does the risk of maltreatment for children with disabilities compare with that of their peers?Child Welfare Information Gateway, Supporting the Well-Being of Children With Disabilities (bulletin, September 2025)
May active play be withheld altogether from a child who misbehaves?Florida Child Care Facility Handbook (December 2025), section 2.8 D
May staff predict how a child will behave from their experience with other children who have the same disability?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 9
Reasonable efforts have been made and the child still bites and hits. What may the center do?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 9
What must a provider's discipline policy tell staff about challenging behaviors?Florida Child Care Facility Handbook (December 2025), section 2.8 E
Which approach to behavior does Florida's training law name for children with developmental disabilities?Florida Statutes, section 402.305(2)(d)1.g.
Which factor does the bulletin name as raising the risk of maltreatment for children with disabilities?Child Welfare Information Gateway, Supporting the Well-Being of Children With Disabilities (bulletin, September 2025)
Which is prohibited as discipline under the handbook?Florida Child Care Facility Handbook (December 2025), section 2.8 F
Which kind of interaction with children does the handbook strictly prohibit?Florida Child Care Facility Handbook (December 2025), section 8.2 C
Families, plans and resources 13
Before a toddler in early intervention turns three and may be eligible for preschool services, the school district is notified at least how many days ahead?34 CFR 303.209(b)(1) (IDEA Part C rule)
How does Florida law say the Early Steps Program must provide its services, from referral through transition?Florida Statutes, section 391.308(1)(a)
How many service coordinators does the federal rule give each child and family in early intervention?34 CFR 303.34(a)(2) (IDEA Part C rule)
How often must an IEP Team review a child's IEP?34 CFR 300.324(b)(1) (IDEA Part B rule)
How often must an IFSP be reviewed?34 CFR 303.342(b) (IDEA Part C rule)
Under the federal rule, how are early intervention services chosen?34 CFR 303.13(a)(2) (IDEA Part C rule)
Under the federal special education rule, can a parent take back consent once it is given?34 CFR 300.9(c) (IDEA Part B rule)
What does Florida's toll-free Warm-Line offer child care facilities and family child care homes?Florida Statutes, section 1002.82(2)(u)
What may regional Warm-Line staff provide when a facility asks?Florida Statutes, section 1002.84(4)
What must an IEP contain about goals?34 CFR 300.320(a)(2) (IDEA Part B rule)
Whom does the federal rule list first among the members of a child's IEP Team?34 CFR 300.321(a) (IDEA Part B rule)
Whom should a caregiver talk to when working out how to include a child with a disability?U.S. Department of Justice, Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, question 4
With the family's agreement, what does an IFSP record about the family?34 CFR 303.344(b) (IDEA Part C rule)
How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the topics marked for the Florida Department of Children and Families course Special Needs Appropriate Practices in Table 6 of the training review prepared for the Department, dated June 28, 2023 and posted on its website (https://www.myflfamilies.com/documents/57961.pdf), and to the training topic in section 402.305(2)(d)1.g., Florida Statutes. The exam format is on the Department's page Scheduling Your Child Care Training Competency Exams (https://www.myflfamilies.com/services/child-family/child-care/competency-exams-schedule): multiple choice, 45 minutes, with no published count of questions or topic weights. Every fact was read on October 12, 2026 in the source the question names: the U.S. Department of Justice's Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act (https://www.ada.gov/resources/child-care-centers/), the federal rules 28 CFR part 36 and 34 CFR parts 300 and 303 (ecfr.gov), Florida Statutes sections 391.301, 391.308, 393.063, 402.305, 1002.82, 1002.84 and 1003.01 (leg.state.fl.us), the Child Care Facility Handbook of December 2025 (https://www.myflfamilies.com/documents/64981.pdf), the ADA National Network's Guidelines for Writing About People with Disabilities (https://adata.org/factsheet/ADANN-writing) and the Child Welfare Information Gateway bulletin Supporting the Well-Being of Children With Disabilities (https://www.childwelfare.gov/resources/supporting-well-being-children-disabilities/). Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site, written from federal and Florida law, federal guidance, the handbook a Florida rule adopts and a public factsheet.
How it works
This DCF special needs practice test is unofficial and not affiliated with the Florida Department of Children and Families. It is exam practice, not medical or legal advice.
Read the full guide
What the exam covers
A 2023 review of the Department's training, posted on its website, marks this course's topics: People First language and stereotypes, the ADA and IDEA, atypical development, accommodations, health and safety, behavior and guidance, the link between special needs and abuse, and family resources.
Where the answers come from
The U.S. Department of Justice's questions and answers on child care centers and the ADA, the federal IDEA rules, Florida statutes, the Child Care Facility Handbook of December 2025, and the ADA National Network's writing guidelines.
Laws worth keeping apart
Title III of the ADA covers private centers and title II covers government programs. IDEA Part C serves children under three with an IFSP; Part B starts at three with an IEP.
A center may exclude a child only for a direct threat to others or a fundamental alteration of its program, after an individualized assessment.
An IFSP is reviewed every six months and an IEP at least once a year.
Person-first wording names the person, then the disability: a child who has epilepsy, not an epileptic child.
Questions and answers
How many questions are on the DCF special needs exam?
The Department publishes no count. Its exam page, read October 12, 2026, gives the format: one multiple-choice exam for each course, 45 minutes, in English or Spanish. A timed round here draws 40 of our own questions for the same 45 minutes.
Is this a DCF Special Needs Appropriate Practices study guide?
It is practice, not the Department's course guide. The Department keeps its exam questions confidential, so each question here is our own.
Who takes the Special Needs Appropriate Practices Florida DCF test?
Child care personnel who choose it for Part II of the 40-hour introductory training. Handbook section 4.2 gives two routes: this 10-hour course, or Understanding Developmentally Appropriate Practices plus one 5-hour age-group course.
How much does the Special Needs Appropriate Practices exam cost?
The Department's exam page prices each exam at $1.00 per course instructional hour and gives a 10-hour course as its example: $10.00. It lists this course at 10 hours. Payment is due at registration.