Our members at the LMCU ballpark.

Community Resources

ASK does not endorse any specific providers, nor do we advocate for or against any therapies or practices, as we trust that families can and should make their own decisions. We can offer a list of providers if requested. We take information and feedback from families who have been well-served by agencies and pass that on.

If you are a service provider or resource in the West Michigan community, please click here to be added to the directory..

Autism Alliance Resource Directory

The AAoMI directory connect the community with specialists who can support them with everything from autism evaluations and vaccination appointments to a wide range of professional services.

Disability Advocates Parent / Caregiver

Are you the parent or caregiver of a teen or young adult with autism? Do you need help with the transition to adulthood? Disability Advocates of Kent County has put together a very informative and thorough packet to support you and give you some basics that might be helpful in securing guardianship, SSI, Medicaid, food benefits, housing, etc.!

Music Therapy

ASK commissioned Music Therapists at the Franciscan Life Process Center to create interactive videos for families to view and use at home.

Support Groups for Parents and Cargivers

We hold monthly Support Groups for parents, caregivers, professionals, and anyone wanting to learn more. Typically, the group begins with a speaker, but we always allow for time for questions and networking. Check the EVENTS page for specific details.

Additionally, we have placed recordings of some past Support Groups on the bottom of this page.

Book Recommendations

These come from a very well-read autistic young adult.

The first category is "professionals speaking to parents." This would be books with advice from well-educated therapists, doctors, etc, espousing a particular intervention or philosophy.

  • Life Will Get Better, by Nicole Beurkens

  • Uniquely Human, by Barry M. Prizant, PHD, with Tom Fields-Meyer

The second category is "stories from fellow parents," and is the type where a parent (usually the mother) describes their family's journey with autism, what they tried, what worked, and typically ends on a "now things are better" note.

  • Healing Our Autistic Children, by Julie A. Buckley

  • The Resilient Parent, by Mantu Joshi

The third and final category is "memoirs from autistic people," and is not specifically parent-centric, but is simply autistic people explaining themselves and their lives to people in general.

  • Born on a Blue Day, by Daniel Tammet,

  • The Reason I Jump, by Naoki Higashida

  • Switched On, by John Elder Robison

Video Resources