The Statewide Autism Resources and Training (START) Project is housed in the Grand Valley State University (GVSU) Autism Education Center (AEC) and is funded by the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education to work with schools, community partners, & families to support autistic and neurodivergent students to successfully move into adulthood as independent individuals with many choices & opportunities.

START provides training and resources to educators focusing on systems-level change to increase local capacity, promote collaboration within and across districts, and create a comprehensive model for serving students with autism through the implementation of evidence-based practices in school environments. START provides families with resources to promote understanding of autism, to support their children in the home, in school, and in their community, and to collaborate meaningfully with school staff as an equal member of their children’s educational teams.