The START Project

START Project Mission: To work with schools, community partners, and families to support students with ASD to become active, engaged members of their schools and local communities, and successfully move into adulthood as independent individuals with many choices and opportunities.

The START Project is housed in the Grand Valley State University (GVSU) Autism Education Center. It is funded by the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education (MDE, OSE) to provide evidence-based training, coaching support, and resources to school-based teams in Michigan that support students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). START is a statewide collaborative effort to make systems-level changes to improve the educational programming and quality of life for students with ASD. 

START Project Summary Flyer

START Project Glossary of Terms

Accessibility and START Standards

Evidence-Based Practices



Page last modified July 11, 2023