The Michigan Autism Partnership's vision is to create a state-wide network of parents and professionals that supports and promotes intensive, developmental, play-based programming for young children with autistic spectrum disorders.

Our goal is for parents and professionals to work collaboratively to:

• Provide scholarships for developmental, play-based programming for young children with autism
• Promote best professional practices
• Connect families to services
• Educate communities about innovative, intensive interventions for young children with autistic spectrum disorders; early identification; and National Academy of Sciences recommendations

Intervention for the child should:

• Be child centered, emphasizing child’s initiative & following child’s lead
• Emphasize play and relationship-building
• Be geared to the developmental level of the child
• Often be one-to-one, with inclusion as the goal by school age
• Usually be time intensive, designed to help child optimize his/her potential
• Be easily incorporated into daily activities
• Integrate with other interventions (School, Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Medical Services, Social Services, etc.)
• Focus on National Academy of Sciences recommendations:
• Begin interventions early (18 months to 5 years)
• Use intensive intervention 25 hours per week
• Have a teacher/play partner to child ratio of 1:1 or 1:2
• Use interventions that are engaging
• Have a strategic direction (e.g. social skills, language, etc.)