Michigan Plan
A release from the Michigan Department of Community Health:
Today, Mar. 18, the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) and the Michigan Autism Council released the Michigan Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) State Plan. This plan represents another major step to addressing the many needs of the 16,000 students with ASD in our public school system and the 50,000 individuals and their families living with ASD in our state.
"Today marks another significant day for Michigan and our efforts to help families and individuals with autism," said Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley. "It was an honor to sign the autism insurance legislation last year and I'm glad to see that our efforts have not stopped there. We have a great opportunity in front of us with this plan. I'm eager to see the progress Michigan will continue to make."
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The key focus areas identified in the Michigan ASD State Plan are:
- Infrastructure: System, Service, and Resource Coordination
- Family Engagement and Involvement
- Early Identification and Intervention Services
- Educational Supports and Services
- Adult Supports and Services
- Physical, Mental, and Behavioral Health Care
- Training and Professional Development
The development of the plan included identifying current best practices in supporting individuals with ASD of all ages, reviewing current practice in Michigan across key priority areas, identifying gaps between best practice and current practice in Michigan, and making recommendations for improving services and outcomes. The ultimate goal of this plan is to guide future planning, decision making, and resource allocation to meet the needs of individuals and families living with ASD.
For more information about Michigan's efforts to address autism and to view the Michigan ASD State Plan, visit www.michigan.gov/autism.
