Knowing where to actually go for an autism evaluation is often the hardest part of getting started — here's a real, practical list of options across West and Central Michigan.
Approved Autism Evaluation Centers (AAECs)
Some Michigan insurers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, designate certain hospital-based and clinic-based programs as Approved Autism Evaluation Centers — meaning they meet specific quality standards for autism diagnosis. In the Grand Rapids area, this includes Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, which operates an Autism Spectrum Disorders/Developmental Disabilities Clinic conducting evaluations for children roughly ages 18 months through 18 years, and Mary Free Bed Kids, which also holds AAEC designation and offers evaluation alongside multidisciplinary therapy services.
Starting With Your Pediatrician
Your child's pediatrician is often the fastest first step — they can conduct an initial developmental screening and provide a referral to an appropriate evaluator, which is frequently required by insurance before a specialist evaluation will be covered.
Using Free Navigation Services
If you're not sure where to start, or you're facing long waitlists at the options above, the Autism Alliance of Michigan's MiNavigator program (1-877-463-AAOM) can help identify evaluation resources specific to your area and insurance situation, at no cost.
For Families Outside the Immediate Grand Rapids Area
Families in more rural parts of West and Central Michigan — areas like Greenville, Cedar Springs, Big Rapids, or further out — often need to travel to Grand Rapids for the nearest AAEC-designated evaluation center, since evaluation resources tend to be concentrated in larger metro areas. Families in the Lansing area have access to evaluation resources through the regional hospital systems there, and families in the Midland/Mount Pleasant/Alma area can access MyMichigan Health system pediatric services as a starting point for referral.
What to Expect for Wait Times
Demand for autism evaluations has grown significantly in Michigan and nationally in recent years, and waitlists at AAEC centers can run from several weeks to several months depending on the specific center and time of year. It's generally worth getting on a waitlist as soon as a concern is identified, since you can always cancel if concerns resolve, but you can't get back the time lost waiting to start the process.
Private Evaluators and Psychologists
Beyond hospital-based AAEC programs, some licensed psychologists in private practice also conduct comprehensive autism evaluations. If you go this route, it's worth confirming directly that the evaluator has specific training and experience in autism assessment (not just general developmental or psychological evaluation), and checking whether your insurance requires an AAEC designation specifically for the evaluation to be covered toward later ABA authorization.
After the Evaluation
Once you have a diagnosis in hand, What to Do in the First 30 Days After an Autism Diagnosis is a good next step, and our guide to choosing the right ABA provider can help with what comes after that.
Getting Started With Us While You Wait
Our BCBA Assessments & Treatment Planning service is designed around exactly this kind of goal. You don't need to wait for a diagnosis to be finalized to start researching ABA providers — insurance verification and initial conversations can often happen in parallel. If you're anywhere in the Grand Rapids area or across West and Central Michigan, our in-home ABA therapy services page has more information, or Get Started Today to get the process started.
This article is part of our complete guide, What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder? Clinically reviewed by Kimberly Blazer, BCBA.