Seven Michigan school districts received state funds to enhance or develop programs that will better serve students with autism.
The grants were announced September 6 at Grand Valley State University, where the new Statewide Autism Resources and Training (START) Program is based.
The school districts are:
- Clarkston Community Schools, Clarkston
- Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District, Pickford
- Grosse Pointe Public School System, Grosse Pointe Woods
- Huron ISD, Bad Axe;
- Lincoln Park Public Schools, Lincoln Park;
- Ottawa Area ISD, Zeeland
- Traverse Bay Area ISD, Traverse City
Representatives from each of the school districts were at a kickoff event announcing the START Program, held at GVSU's Allendale Campus.
Amy Matthews, assistant psychology professor, said the districts were selected because their programs serve a wide population of students with autism.
We have sites that emphasize preschool programming, transition to adulthood, peer support in inclusion settings, among others, said Matthews, who is also START's principal investigator. We are encouraging our seven sites to share information with others through our Web site and site visits so that others way benefit from their expertise and resources.
The START Program will also provide intensive training to five additional school districts; maintain a Web site (www.gvsu.edu/autismcenter) and resource center for educators and parents; and host conferences and workshops.
The five districts named as intensive training sites are Barry ISD, Hastings; Flint Community Schools, Flint; Grand Rapids Public/Kent ISD, Grand Rapids; Roscommon ISD, Roscommon; Upper Peninsula ISDs, Marquette.
The START Program at GVSU was funded by a $1.25 million grant from the Michigan Department of Education.
