Autism Resources in Washtenaw County, Michigan

Jackson · multi-county

Henry Ford Health — Developmental Pediatrics Jackson

Henry Ford Health's Jackson-area services include developmental pediatrics referrals and autism evaluation coordination. The system's Allegiance Health network in Jackson connects families to autism specialists in the Detroit metro when local capacity is limited.

Brighton · multi-county

U of M Autism & Communication Disorders Center — Livingston Referrals

Livingston County families have strong access to the University of Michigan Autism & Communication Disorders Center (UMACC) in Ann Arbor, one of the nation's top autism diagnostic programs. UMACC developed the ADOS-2 and ADI-R, the gold-standard diagnostic tools used worldwide. Brighton is approximately 40 minutes from the Ann Arbor campus.

About 40 minutes from Brighton. Worth the drive — UMACC is among the best autism diagnostic programs in the country.

Ann Arbor · multi-county

University of Michigan — Autism & Communication Disorders Center (UMACC)

One of the country's premier autism evaluation and research centers. UMACC at the University of Michigan offers comprehensive assessments and is internationally recognized for developing autism diagnostic tools used worldwide, including the ADOS and ADI-R. An academic gold standard for complex and adult cases.

UMACC developed the ADOS and ADI-R — the gold standard autism diagnostic tools used worldwide. Worth the waitlist.

Ann Arbor · multi-county

University of Michigan — Autism & Communication Disorders Center (UMACC)

UMACC at the University of Michigan is one of the country's premier autism evaluation and research centers, located in Ann Arbor. Developed the ADOS and ADI-R diagnostic tools used worldwide. Offers comprehensive evaluations for all ages, including complex cases and adults seeking a late diagnosis. Worth the waitlist for families who want a gold-standard assessment.

UMACC developed the ADOS and ADI-R — the gold standard autism diagnostic tools used worldwide.

Jackson · multi-county

University of Michigan C.S. Mott — Jackson Referral

University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor accepts referrals from Jackson County for comprehensive autism evaluations. Approximately 40 miles from Jackson, Mott offers multi-disciplinary assessments including neuropsychology and developmental medicine.

Ann Arbor

Early On Washtenaw County — Washtenaw ISD

Michigan's Early On program for Washtenaw County is administered through Washtenaw ISD. Free developmental evaluations, IFSPs, and in-home therapy for infants and toddlers under age 3 in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and all Washtenaw County communities.

FREE under IDEA Part C. Self-refer — no physician referral required.

Ann Arbor · multi-county

Centria Autism — Ann Arbor / Washtenaw County

Center-based and in-home ABA therapy serving Washtenaw County including Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and surrounding communities. BCBA-supervised programs accepting most commercial insurance and Michigan Medicaid. Centria is Michigan's largest ABA provider network.

Michigan requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.

Adrian · multi-county

Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers — Lenawee County

Center-based and in-home ABA therapy serving Lenawee County. Hopebridge provides comprehensive autism therapy including ABA, speech, and OT. Accepts most commercial insurance and Michigan Medicaid.

Michigan requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.

Statewide · multi-county

Respite through your Community Mental Health agency (CMHSP)

In Michigan the door to respite is your local Community Mental Health Services Program rather than a state office. The CMHSP decides eligibility based on the nature and severity of your child's disability, and administers the Children's Waiver Program, which funds respite among other supports to keep a child living at home. Michigan also publishes a family guide to respite specifically for children, which is unusually practical for a state document.

Michigan Alliance for Families is the free, independent help for getting through the CMHSP process — worth calling before you call the CMHSP.

~3,000 providers nationwide

ARCH National Respite Locator

A free national database of respite providers searchable by state and locality — home care agencies, community-based organizations and state programs. The single best starting point for finding respite anywhere in the country, and it is the tool state agencies themselves point families toward.

A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.

Before you pay out of pocket, check what your state's Medicaid waiver funds — respite is covered by nearly every state waiver, and many families never think to ask.

Most states run one

Your state's Lifespan Respite Care Program

Lifespan Respite Care Programs are federally seeded, state-run programs that help families of any age and any disability find and pay for respite — often including vouchers or subsidies that do not depend on having a Medicaid waiver. Most states have one, they are chronically under-used, and they are rarely mentioned by anyone else in the system.

A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.

Search for "[your state] Lifespan Respite" or use the ARCH directory. Ask specifically about voucher or subsidy programs — that is the part families most often miss.

Ann Arbor · multi-county

Autism Alliance of Michigan — Ann Arbor / Washtenaw County

Autism Alliance of Michigan provides resource navigation, family programming, and peer support in Washtenaw County. AIM's helpline connects Ann Arbor-area families with provider referrals, Medicaid waiver assistance, and the U of M health system's autism resources.

Lansing · multi-county

Michigan Alliance for Families

Michigan's primary federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. Free IEP advocacy, workshops, and one-on-one support for Michigan families statewide. Knows Michigan's special education rules and procedural requirements.

FREE. Federally funded PTI. Essential before any IEP meeting or dispute.

Howell · multi-county

Michigan Alliance for Families — Southeast Michigan

Michigan Alliance for Families serves Livingston County families through its statewide PTI network. Free IEP advocacy, special education rights training, and one-on-one support navigating Michigan's school districts — particularly relevant as Livingston County's rapidly growing suburban districts expand their special education programs.

FREE. Federally funded PTI.

Monroe · multi-county

Michigan Alliance for Families — Southeast Michigan (Monroe County)

Michigan Alliance for Families provides free IEP advocacy and special education support to Monroe County families. Statewide PTI with expertise in Michigan special education law.

FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all 83 Michigan counties.

Ann Arbor · multi-county

Michigan Alliance for Families — Washtenaw County

Michigan Alliance for Families provides free IEP advocacy and special education support for Washtenaw County families. Particularly helpful for navigating Ann Arbor Public Schools, Ypsilanti Community Schools, and Washtenaw ISD special education programs. Free one-on-one coaching and workshops.

FREE. Federally funded PTI.

Ann Arbor · multi-county

University of Michigan School of Dentistry — specialty clinics

The University of Michigan dental school runs specialty clinics including care for patients with special needs. Dental school clinics trade time for expertise: appointments run longer because students do the work under supervision, and there can be a wait for a first visit. In exchange you get a team that treats disabled patients every day, usually at a lower cost, and they generally accept Medicaid.

Southfield · multi-county

Autism Alliance of Michigan - adaptive sports

Statewide autism organization with an adaptive sports program and a navigator service that can point a family to local options - useful outside the Detroit metro, where organized provision thins out.

Detroit · multi-county

Autism Society of Greater Detroit - adaptive sports

Adaptive sports programming plus a maintained listing of adaptive parks and recreation options across the Detroit area - one of the few local organizations that has actually done the work of collecting what exists nearby.

Rochester · multi-county

OUCARES - Oakland University Center for Autism

Sports programs for autistic children, teenagers and adults - indoor and outdoor soccer, swimming, bowling, yoga, judo, basketball, volleyball and golf - as part of programming explicitly designed across the whole lifespan rather than stopping at 18. The range means there is a realistic chance of matching an existing interest rather than asking a young person to adopt a new one.

200+ locations nationwide

ACEing Autism

Weekly Saturday tennis clinics built specifically for autistic children aged 5 to 18, run by volunteers at more than 200 locations across the country, serving over 7,000 players. Sessions run in six-week blocks of an hour. This is the clearest example of the interest-based model working: the sport supplies the structure, the turn-taking and the reason to be there, so the social side happens sideways rather than being the task.

A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.

Cost varies by location — around $120 for a six-week session at some sites, with scholarships available. Use the map on their site to find your nearest program, schedule and local contact.

~4,000 camps nationwide

American Camp Association — camp finder

A free searchable directory of close to 4,000 summer camps that can be filtered for camps serving autistic campers, by distance, session length, activities and cost. The best single starting point for finding a day or overnight camp anywhere in the country.

A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.

Registration for specialized camps typically opens December–February and popular overnight camps fill within days. Start the funding conversation in autumn.

Nationwide — find your local chapter

Best Buddies

One-to-one friendship matching between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, plus employment, leadership and inclusive living programs. Over 4,000 chapters across all 50 states, serving school-age through adult. If what your family wants is a friend rather than an activity, this is the most direct answer in the country.

A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.

A national organization, not a local listing — use the finder on their site, or call 1-800-89BUDDY, to locate your nearest chapter.

Local affiliates across most of the country

Easterseals — camps and recreation

Day and overnight camps run through local Easterseals affiliates, several of them autism-specific, with weekend respite and family camp sessions as well. Many affiliates operate sliding-scale fees, and several camps serve adults alongside children.

A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.

Programs vary a great deal between affiliates — check what your nearest one actually runs rather than assuming the national description applies.

Week-long camps hosted nationwide

iCan Shine (iCan Bike)

Teaches people with disabilities to ride a conventional two-wheeled bicycle, using adapted roller bikes over a week-long camp that gradually transfers balance to the rider. Learning to ride a bike is a milestone a lot of autistic children are quietly written off for, and this is the program that most reliably delivers it. Camps are hosted by local organizations across the country, so availability is by host town rather than by chapter.

A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.

Check their site for host locations and dates — camps run in different towns each year, so somewhere near you may host this year and not next.

Local chapters in a number of US cities

KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)

Volunteer-led one-to-one recreation for children and young adults with developmental and physical disabilities, at no cost to families or carers. The one-to-one model is the point: a volunteer is paired with your child for the session, which makes it workable for people who cannot manage a group setting unsupported.

A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.

Free to families. Runs through local chapters in a number of US cities rather than everywhere — check whether yours has one.

900+ divisions nationwide

Little League Challenger Division

Baseball for children and adults with a physical or intellectual disability, across more than 900 divisions. The main division serves ages 4–18, or up to 22 if still enrolled in school; the Senior League Challenger Division serves 15 and above with no upper age limit.

A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.

Use the league finder on their site to locate the nearest Challenger division, or ask about starting one.

200+ communities

Miracle League

Baseball on purpose-built accessible fields in more than 200 communities. Every player bats and every player scores, so ability differences do not decide the game.

A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.

Check their location list for the nearest field — coverage is good but not universal.

Every state — county-level programs

Special Olympics

Year-round sports training and competition at no cost to the athlete or their family, for children and adults alike. Programs run at county level in every state.

A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.

Eligibility centers on intellectual disability or a closely related developmental disability. If your child is autistic without an intellectual disability, have a direct conversation about fit before signing up rather than after.

Through local clubs and state associations

TOPSoccer (US Youth Soccer)

The Outreach Program for Soccer — recreational soccer for children and adults with intellectual, emotional or physical disabilities, usually with buddy support on the pitch. Run through ordinary local soccer clubs rather than as a separate organization.

A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.

Ask your state youth soccer association which local clubs run TOPSoccer — it is often not advertised on the club's own website.