Statewide Autism Resources & Training (START)

We are thrilled to be joining our partners at the Unified Champion Schools Conference: Making Waves for Inclusion! What a great conference to learn from one another and celebrate the impact of Unified Champion Schools!

🎉 Registrations are now open for START’s 2026-2027 Trainings and Training Series! 🎉

We invite you to explore the wide range of learning opportunities available this year. START's training framework gives learners the opportunity to direct their professional learning experience through flexible options and formats.

We hope you’ll join us for another year of meaningful learning and collaboration!

📅 View the full schedule and learn more on our website:
https://www.gvsu.edu/autismcenter/start/start-trainings-list-167

[ID: A staff member sits on the floor of a school hallway talking with a young student. The background fades to a blue overlay with the white START logo in the upper right. Large blue text at the bottom reads, "2026–2027 Trainings & Training Series," next to a blue and white calendar icon.]

➡️Families Featured Resource: Disability Disclosure - Talking to Your Autistic Child About Autism

Our featured resource is a pair of articles by Sara Woods, Ph.D., from the University of Washington Autism Center. Both articles support parents of autistic children to feel equipped and confident in talking to their child about autism.

Dr. Woods encourages families to:
- Start early and don’t stop
- Validate the difficulties that they have
- Talk about strengths
- Encourage your child to ask questions.

Explore this resource and learn more here: https://www.gvsu.edu/autismcenter/start/families-featured-resource-150

[Image description: A family of four smiling and hugging in front of a house with text that reads “resource” and the START logo in the bottom left corner.]

“When we elevate student voices and create spaces and opportunities to learn from students with disabilities, we move from doing things for students to doing things with them. It shifts school communities from “a place I go” to “a place where I belong” and that is when mattering begins.”

In this month’s START Connecting article, we highlight simple, intentional actions that we can take to make schools places of belonging. These actions include asking students for their ideas, listening carefully, and showing them that their voices matter with how we respond and the opportunities we provide!

Learn more about elevating student voices here: https://www.gvsu.edu/autismcenter/elevating-student-voices-turning-belonging-into-practice-652.htm

[ID: Students engaged in conversation around a table in a library setting. A purple overlay on the left side includes the START 25 Years Together logo and a white envelope icon with a cursor. Curved blue, white, and purple lines flow vertically across the center and upper right of the image.]

Transition planning helps students with disabilities prepare for life after high school. It is a collaborative process where students, families, school teams, and community partners work together to support each student’s goals, strengths, and vision for the future.

The goal is to help create a smooth transition from school to adult life, including education, employment, and community participation. Transition planning is part of the secondary IEP process and must begin by age 16, though teams may start earlier when appropriate.

Visit our website to learn more about the components of Secondary Transition: https://gvsu.edu/s/3ws

[ID: Four smiling high school students stand outside a school building wearing casual clothes and backpacks. One student holds notebooks, another holds a yellow basketball, and two wear headphones around their necks. A blue graphic overlay appears behind the group, with the START logo and the text “25 Years Together” in the top left corner.]

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has a grant opportunity for schools to develop and implement Peer to Peer programs to address bullying of students with special health care needs at elementary and secondary schools.

The initiatives should be based on START’s Peer to Peer model and incorporate targeted antibullying strategies that address the unique needs of students with physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions.

If you have questions, please contact [email protected]. The application is available here: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/inside-mdhhs/newsroom/2026/04/23/antibullying-gfo

[ID: The image shows five smiling elementary-age students standing together in a classroom. A blue overlay on the left side features a white megaphone icon and large bold text reading “GRANT OPPORTUNITY.” The START logo appears at the bottom with the text “25 Years Together.”]

Thank you for joining us at the 25th Annual START Conference! We were thrilled to welcome such passionate and engaged educators, families, community members, and advocates!

Your participation through conversations, collaboration, and shared learning made the day truly meaningful. We are grateful to work alongside this incredible community as we continue building an inclusive future where all students belong, are valued, and can shape their own journey.

We are already looking forward to next year’s conference! 🎉

Tell us your top takeaways from Dr. Shelley Moore at the START Conference 👇🏼🤩🦄🦇

5 Moore Minutes with Dr. Shelley Moore is kicking off the 25th Annual START Conference! We have a full room of educators, families, and community partners (plus virtual attendees from all over the state) ready to learn about designing an inclusive future! 🎉

[ID: Image 1: Large conference room filled with attendees seated at round tables, facing a stage with a speaker and two large projection screens displaying a presentation about inclusion. The room has high ceilings, chandeliers, and neutral-toned decor, with participants taking notes, using laptops, and listening attentively.
Image 2: Presenter standing at a podium on a conference stage, gesturing while speaking to an audience seated at tables in the foreground. A large screen beside the stage displays a slide reading “What does inclusion mean?” with colorful circular graphics, and event signage is visible behind the speaker.]

Peer to Peer Lunch & Learn

📆 May 13, 2026 | ⏰11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | 💻Virtual

Bring your lunch and join us for a session on how Peer to Peer programs support inclusion, student success, and positive school culture. Designed as a foundation or refresher, this Lunch and Learn introduces key tools like the Peer to Peer Playbooks, the Friendship Formula, and “Participation vs. Helping” models.

Participants will leave with ready-to-use resources and time for Q&A to plan next steps for launching or strengthening Peer to Peer in their own setting.

More details and registration: https://www.gvsu.edu/autismcenter/cms-form-edit.htm?formId=74924D74-F1DA-6DA8-28B44D07CF70643A

[ID: Image for “Peer to Peer START Project” training opportunity. On the left, a blue gradient background features the START logo with “25 Years Together” and a megaphone icon next to the words “Peer to Peer.” A banner reads “Training Opportunity!” On the right, a person wearing a gray turtleneck works on a laptop at a desk, with a plant and a framed board in the background.]