If you only learn about one statewide organization from this directory, make it this one — the Autism Alliance of Michigan is likely the single most useful free starting point for any Michigan family navigating an autism diagnosis.
What the Autism Alliance of Michigan Is
The Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM) is a statewide nonprofit whose flagship service is MiNavigator, a free resource identification and case management program. MiNavigator is staffed by a team of "Navigators" — professionals with backgrounds spanning clinical services, education, vocational rehabilitation, and lived autism experience — who help connect families and individuals to the specific resources they need.
What MiNavigator Actually Helps With
MiNavigator can help with a genuinely wide range of needs, including: locating a local autism evaluation center to pursue a diagnosis, identifying relevant service providers (ABA, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and others), finding recreational and community-based opportunities, and supporting providers looking for additional resources for autistic clients they serve. The service is designed to support the full lifespan — not just young children — covering parents, caregivers, autistic individuals themselves, and professionals.
It's worth understanding what MiNavigator is not: Navigators provide resource identification and guidance, not formal clinical recommendations or diagnoses themselves. Think of them as an experienced, compassionate guide helping you find your way through a complicated system, not a replacement for clinical care.
Beyond MiNavigator
AAoM also offers a Resource Directory and Community Calendar, safety-related services including a GPS scholarship program relevant to elopement risk, and community-based trainings focused on understanding autism.
How to Get Started
To access MiNavigator, you can call 1-877-463-AAOM or reach out through their website. When you first contact them, intake staff will gather some initial information before connecting you to the next available Navigator — be aware that wait times to be connected can vary depending on current demand.
Why This Matters for Kentwood-Area Families
Whether you're just starting to explore an autism diagnosis for your child or you're further along and looking for services beyond ABA therapy, MiNavigator is a genuinely useful, no-cost resource to have on your radar. It's not a substitute for a provider like Maple ABA Therapy, but it's an excellent complement — especially for identifying resources we might not specialize in ourselves.
Our Individual ABA Therapy service is designed around exactly this kind of goal. If you're in the Kentwood area and specifically looking for in-home ABA therapy, our ABA therapy in Kentwood page has more information, or Get Started Today to get started.
This article is part of our directory, The Complete Directory of Autism Resources in West & Central Michigan. Clinically reviewed by Kimberly Blazer, BCBA.