This website is dedicated to providing information on the implementation of the ASD Workgroup recommendations on appropriate screening, assessment and intervention for young children, ages birth to six, with ASD and their families.
The ASD Workgroup consisted of ten parents of children with ASD, an adult with ASD, representatives of advocacy organizations, five Universities, the Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Community Mental Health, Intermediate School Districts, and the Michigan Departments of Community Health (both public health and mental health staff), Education and Human services. To fulfill their charge, the Workgroup met quarterly from August 2005 to February 2007. On June 28, 2007, the State of Michigan Human Services’ Directors approved the recommendations of the Autism Spectrum Disorder Workgroup. To view the Executive Summary of Recommendations.
The State Human Services Directors established an Interdepartmental Team (IDT) comprised of representatives from the Michigan Departments of Education, Community Health and Human Services, with the addition of parents that participated on the Workgroup, to implement and monitor the recommendations of the Workgroup.
The Interdepartmental Team began implementing the Workgroup recommendations in June 2007. As a result of their work, parameters were developed to establish and support up to two pilot sites to implement the recommendations on screening, assessment and evidence based practice interventions and evaluate the results. On March 26, 2008, the state issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to the Intermediate School Districts, Local Special Education Directors, Early On Coordinators, Community Mental Health Services Programs, Community Collaborative Chairpersons and the American Academy of Pediatrics, Michigan Chapter Executive Director. The pilot will begin October 1, 2008 and will end September 30, 2010.
On May 22, 2008, the IDT reviewed the RFPs and notified the selected the pilot sites. Ottawa Area Intermediate School District and the Washtenaw Intermediate School District were selected as the pilot sites for implementing the ASD Workgroup recommendations.
If you would like more information about the ASD Workgroup process and implementation of the workgroup recommendations, please contact Audrey Craft at crafta@michigan.gov or (517) 241-5763.