ALLENDALE, Mich. -- Grand Valley State University was designated by the Michigan Department of Education as the lead university in the education of teachers and parents about Autism. The Statewide Autism Resources and Training (START) program at Grand Valley is a model of services and training for children with Autism.
Three new initiatives are being unveiled, including Regional Collaborative Networks. "These networks will allow the sharing of information, training and resouces," said Amy Matthews, director of the Autism Education Center at Grand Valley and associate professor of psychology. "This will have an impact on most of the state."
Matthews said the center has also implemented the Effective Practice Leadership Initiative (EPLI), which trains local educators to provide support and expertise at the local level. This fall, the Autism Program Evaluation and Planning Tool (APEPT) will be implemented. Matthews said this program provides a set of best practice guidelines for districts to assess strengths and weaknesses in their own programs.
The START program serves thousands of teachers in Michigan each year with high expertise training, coaching and teaming to create support for students with Autism and their families.
Details on the 4th annual START Conference, taking place April 27, 2005, at Grand Valley will soon follow. For more information, contact Dr. Amy Matthews at 616-331-3513 or the News and Information Services department at 616-331-2221, or visit www.gvsu.edu/autismcenter.
