Grand Valley's Autism Center receives national award

Grand Valley State University’s Statewide Autism Resources Training (START) project has been selected to participate in a national program aimed at improving the implementation of evidence-based practices for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The MIND Institute at The University of California at Davis School of Medicine will work with START on the grant, funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

“We will be leading this statewide effort to improve outcomes for students with ASD,” said Amy Matthews, director of START. “This effort will lead to more coordinated services and better ways to measure if we are really impacting kids and changing their learning, social interactions and quality of life.”

The project, awarded by the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders, begins in January. Michigan was one of three states selected to participate in the program.

The START program also helped Saginaw Township Community Schools win the 2008 Michigan’s Best Award from the Michigan Association of School Boards. The START project worked with Saginaw schools by providing training on how to use peer-to-peer support for students with autism to improve educational outcomes.

For more information, contact Amy Matthews, director of START, at (616) 331-6480.