Peer support — talking to other parents who genuinely understand — is one of the most consistently valuable resources families describe, but finding the right group can take some searching. Here's where to start looking across the Grand Rapids and Lansing regions.
Where to Start Your Search
Because support group offerings change over time as volunteer-run groups form, pause, or restructure, we'd rather point you to the organizations most likely to have current, accurate listings than list specific meeting times that could go stale.
In the Grand Rapids/Kent County area: Autism Support of Kent County is the most established local resource specifically focused on parent and caregiver support groups. Community Mental Health of Kent County and local hospital systems, including those affiliated with Corewell Health, sometimes host or list caregiver support groups as well.
In the Lansing/Ingham County area: Mid-Michigan Autism Association, based in Lansing, is a parent-founded organization focused on developmental disability resources across Ingham, Eaton, Clinton, and surrounding counties, and is a good starting point for local group connections.
Statewide: The Autism Alliance of Michigan's MiNavigator program maintains a broader resource directory and can help connect you to a support group near you, wherever in Michigan you're located, by calling 1-877-463-AAOM.
Types of Support Groups to Look For
Not all support groups serve the same purpose, and it's worth knowing what you're looking for: general parent/caregiver support groups (space to talk, connect, and process, often without a structured agenda), condition-specific or age-specific groups (some focus on a particular age range or specific needs, like nonverbal communication or newly diagnosed families), sibling support groups (for the brothers and sisters of autistic children, which we cover separately in our Sibling & Family Support content), and online/virtual groups (helpful for families in more rural parts of West or Central Michigan where in-person options are limited).
What to Expect From Your First Meeting
It's normal to feel nervous walking into a support group for the first time. Most groups are genuinely welcoming to newcomers and don't require you to share more than you're comfortable with — you're allowed to just listen the first time if that's what feels right.
Combining Peer Support With Clinical Care
Our Individual ABA Therapy service is designed around exactly this kind of goal. Peer support and clinical services like ABA therapy serve different, complementary purposes — one gives you community and emotional support, the other builds your child's skills directly. Both matter. If you're in the Grandville area and looking for in-home ABA therapy alongside community support, our ABA therapy in Grandville 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.