Local Autism Resources in Ann Arbor, MI
Clinics, programs, parks and people in Washtenaw County that help families of autistic kids, each one checked against the organization's own website. No sponsored listings.
Getting a diagnosis
Where to get an evaluation, and who to call first for a child under 3.
Ages 3-5
Build Up Michigan (Washtenaw ISD)
Preschool evaluation
County program
For children ages 3 to 5 who may need special education. Build Up helps parents request a preschool evaluation through their home school district.
BCBA note
Ages 0-3
Early On Washtenaw (Washtenaw ISD)
Free evaluation
County program
Washtenaw County's early intervention program for babies and toddlers under 3. A parent can make the referral, and the evaluation is free.
BCBA note
Ages 0-5
Help Me Grow Washtenaw
Free questionnaire
County program
A free developmental questionnaire and a local team to call or text with questions about a child from birth to age 5.
BCBA note
Michigan Medicine Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Clinic
Evaluation
Hospital clinic
The developmental pediatrics clinic at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor, which evaluates children for autism, developmental delays and ADHD.
BCBA note
All ages
CNLD Neuropsychology, autism testing
Autism testing
Psychological testing
An Ann Arbor psychological testing practice that tests for autism at every age, from young children to teens and adults who were never assessed.
BCBA note
Ages 2.5 to 5
Saline Area Schools Early Childhood Special Education
Preschool evaluation
School district
Saline's preschool special education program, plus speech, occupational and physical therapy evaluations for young children who live in the district.
BCBA note
Alpaca Health
This is us.
ABA therapy by telehealth anywhere in Michigan, and at home where an independent BCBA serves your address. Michigan Medicaid and private insurance are verified before therapy starts.
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Paying for care
Medicaid, the Innovations Waiver, SSI, grants and local charities.
Through age 18
MDHHS Autism Program, Michigan autism insurance law
Statewide
Private insurance
Michigan law requires state-regulated health insurance plans to cover autism diagnosis and treatment, including applied behavior analysis, through age 18.
BCBA note
Michigan Medicaid application (MI Bridges)
Statewide
Medicaid
Application
Where Washtenaw County families apply for Medicaid, the Healthy Michigan Plan and MIChild for their children, online through MI Bridges or on a paper form.
BCBA note
Washtenaw County Community Mental Health
Medicaid
County program
The county's public mental health agency and the first call for Medicaid behavioral health services for people with developmental disabilities, children included.
BCBA note
Washtenaw Health Project
Medicaid enrollment
MIChild
Local help applying for Medicaid for children and MIChild, by phone, email or in person on Towner Street in Ypsilanti.
BCBA note
Under 26
Children's Special Health Care Services, Washtenaw County
Statewide
Specialty care
County office
A state program that helps pay for specialist care for young people with qualifying physical conditions, though it does not cover autism or other developmental conditions.
BCBA note
MiABLE (Michigan ABLE savings account)
Statewide
Savings account
Michigan's ABLE savings account for people with disabilities, which lets your child save money for disability costs without losing Medicaid.
BCBA note
Under 18
Michigan Family Support Subsidy
Statewide
Monthly payment
A monthly state payment for families raising a child under 18 with autism or another severe disability at home, applied for through the county mental health agency.
BCBA note
Parent groups and advocates
People who have done this before and will pick up the phone.
Disability Rights Michigan
Statewide
Legal advocacy
Michigan's protection and advocacy agency for people with disabilities, with help and guides for special education rights.
BCBA note
Michigan Alliance for Families
Statewide
Parent mentors
Michigan's parent training and information center for special education. A regional parent mentor can help you work with your child's school.
BCBA note
Autism Alliance of Michigan, MiNavigator
Statewide
Navigation
Free
A free statewide service where autism navigators help parents, autistic people and providers find services that fit a specific need.
BCBA note
Sibshops Washtenaw
Siblings
Peer support
Fun group events where kids who have a brother or sister with a disability or chronic health condition meet other sibs.
BCBA note
Washtenaw ISD Parent Advisory Committee
Parent group
Special education
A county committee of parents of children with disabilities who help other parents find their way through special education.
BCBA note
School help
The district offices, scholarships and programs that shape your child's school day.
Birth to 26
Ann Arbor Public Schools Office of Special Education
School district
Special education
Ann Arbor Public Schools' special education office, which serves students with disabilities from birth to age 26.
BCBA note
Pre-K to grade 12
Ypsilanti Community Schools Student Support Services
School district
Special education
Ypsilanti Community Schools' special education department for students from preschool through grade 12.
BCBA note
Chelsea School District Special Education
School district
Special education
Chelsea School District's special education office, which stays in touch with outside programs and aims to bring students back to local schools when it can.
BCBA note
Saline Area Schools Special Education
School district
Special education
Saline Area Schools' special education department, with programs from early childhood through high school and a young adult program.
BCBA note
Special Education Mediation Services
Statewide
Mediation
A statewide service that helps parents and schools work through special education disagreements with a neutral mediator or a facilitated meeting.
BCBA note
Places to play and explore
Parks, libraries, museums and sports with quieter hours or adapted programs.
All ages
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, My Turn sensory-friendly hours
Sensory-friendly
Museum
Monthly sensory-friendly hours at the Hands-On Museum, with fewer visitors, break spaces and sensory bags to borrow.
BCBA note
Ann Arbor District Library, Kids Move sensory-friendly games
Sensory-friendly
Library
Library events with sensory-friendly games that keep kids moving, open to everyone, plus assistive technology help by appointment.
BCBA note
Grade 9 to adult
Ann Arbor Rec & Ed Adapted Programs
Adaptive recreation
Scholarships
Recreation and classes built for people with disabilities, like the long-running Strike Force Bowling league, open to Ann Arbor and nearby families.
BCBA note
Ages 2 and up
Special Olympics Michigan
Statewide
Adaptive sports
Year-round sports for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities from age 8, and Young Athletes play for children 2 to 7.
BCBA note
All ages
We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym, Ann Arbor
Sensory gym
Open play
An indoor sensory gym in Ann Arbor built for kids with autism and other special needs, with swings, a zip line, trampoline and crash mats.
BCBA note
Dentists, haircuts and everyday care
Appointments that go better when the office already knows autism.
A2 Therapy Works
Speech therapy
Occupational therapy
Feeding therapy
An Ann Arbor speech, occupational and feeding therapy practice for children and young adults, with a sensory gym and an autism resource page for parents.
BCBA note
Ann Arbor Pediatric Dentistry
Dentist
Special needs care
A pediatric dental practice in Ann Arbor and Chelsea that adapts each visit for children with special health care needs.
BCBA note
Blossom Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics
Dentist
Autism experience
An Ann Arbor pediatric dental practice whose patients include many children with special needs, including autism, ADHD and anxiety.
BCBA note
All ages
British Swim School of Ann Arbor, Adaptive Aquatics
Adaptive swim
Water safety
Adaptive swim lessons for children and adults with special abilities, focused on water safety and survival skills, for Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Saline families.
BCBA note
All ages
Eastern Michigan University Speech and Hearing Clinic
Speech therapy
No fees
Eastern Michigan University's speech, language and hearing clinic for children and adults, where graduate students work under certified faculty and there are no fees.
BCBA note
Saline Children's Dentistry
Dentist
Special needs care
A Saline pediatric dental practice with a special needs dentistry page that plans each visit around the child's needs and takes Healthy Kids Dental.
BCBA note
Ages 3-13
We Rock Care respite at We Rock the Spectrum Ann Arbor
Respite
Break time care
Respite and break time care at an Ann Arbor sensory gym, designed to give parents of children with special needs a break.
BCBA note
Help in a crisis
Numbers to keep in your phone for the hard days.
All ages
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Free
24/7
Spanish
Call, text or chat 988 any time, day or night, for free and confidential help from a trained counselor.
BCBA note
All ages
Washtenaw County Community Mental Health crisis line
24/7
Mobile crisis
County program
Washtenaw County's 24/7 crisis line, with a mobile crisis team that can come to you. Anyone in the county can call.
BCBA note
Michigan Crisis and Access Line (MiCAL)
Statewide
24/7
Peer warmline
Michigan's statewide crisis line, which answers 988 calls from Washtenaw County and also runs the Michigan Peer Warmline.
BCBA note
NAMI Washtenaw County
Family support
Free classes
Support groups and free classes for families caring for someone with a mental health condition, including a group for parents of teens and young adults in crisis.
BCBA note
Ages 10-24
Ozone House Crisis Line
Free
24/7
Youth
A 24-hour crisis line and safe place for young people in Washtenaw County, and for adults who care about them.
BCBA note
Teens, adults and community life
Work, independence and places to belong after high school.
Teens and adults
Michigan Rehabilitation Services
Statewide
Job training
Michigan's vocational rehabilitation agency, which helps people with disabilities prepare for, find and keep work that fits their strengths.
BCBA note
Disability Network Washtenaw Monroe Livingston
Independent living
Peer support
Advocacy
Ann Arbor's center for independent living, run by people with disabilities, offering independent living skills, peer support, career help and arts programs.
BCBA note
Adults
Michigan Ability Partners
Employment help
Housing help
An Ann Arbor nonprofit that helps people with disabilities and veterans with job readiness, job placement, housing and life skills.
BCBA note
Young adults
Saline Area Schools Young Adult Program
Transition
School district
Saline's special education program for young adults after high school, built around independence and real-life skills.
BCBA note
Washtenaw Community College Learning Support Services
College
Accommodations
The community college office that arranges class and testing accommodations for students with a documented disability, including students who had an IEP or 504 plan.
BCBA note
Young adults
Washtenaw ISD Young Adult Programs
Transition
County program
Washtenaw ISD programs for young adults in special education after high school, focused on independence, community life and work.
BCBA note
Where to start
Know a place that belongs here? Email the team and we will check it and add it. Suggest a resource →
Questions Ann Arbor parents ask
How do I get my child evaluated for autism in Ann Arbor?
For a child under 3, request a free Early On evaluation through Washtenaw ISD by calling 1-800-327-5966 or using the online referral form. For ages 3 to 5, Build Up Michigan helps you request a preschool evaluation through your home school district. If you are not ready to refer, Help Me Grow Washtenaw has a free developmental questionnaire in English and Spanish.
Who do I call for special education help in Ann Arbor or Ypsilanti?
Ann Arbor Public Schools' Office of Special Education is at 734-994-2318 and serves students with disabilities from birth to 26. Ypsilanti Community Schools Student Support Services is at 734-221-1952. Michigan Alliance for Families, at 800-552-4821, can connect you with a regional parent mentor, and its events and materials are free.
How do Ann Arbor families get Medicaid help for autism services?
Washtenaw County Community Mental Health at 734-544-3050 is the first call for Medicaid behavioral health services for people with developmental disabilities. Washtenaw Health Project at 734-544-3030 helps families apply for Medicaid for children and MIChild. Alpaca Health verifies Michigan Medicaid and private insurance before the first session.
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