Note: For the sake of concision, the list of special education services provided by different school districts are far from complete. Public schools are required to take specific measures to accommodate students with disabilities, under the federal individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Rehabilitation Act (RA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). For more extensive information about services provided, please be sure to check out your local schools' websites. If you believe your child's school is not complying with disability laws and your child is suffering, it may be worthwhile to consult a disability advocacy nonprofit (see our section on "Support Organizations") or an attorney."

 

• The Alcott Center for Cognitive Enhancement: An organization committed to identifying, evaluating, and promoting learning and education strategies for children with a range of learning difficulties.

 

• Caledonia Community Schools Special Education: Provides special education services to special needs students in accordance with state and federal regulations.

 

• Comprehensive Therapy Center: The Comprehensive Therapy Center is a fully-integrated rehabilitation center in Grand Rapids that offers a range of therapeutic services. The Tutoring for Academic Success program provides specialized academic training for children and adults with learning disabilities, especially those resulting from traumatic brain injury.

 

• EightCAP: Provides community and social services, including early childhood programs and HeadStart, for children ages 0-5.

 

• Grand Rapids Public Schools Special Education Department: The Grand Rapids Special Education Department offers a full range of special education services for students up to age 26.

 

• Head Start for Kent County: Located in Walker, Michigan, Head Start for Kent County is a non-profit agency that provides family-centered education services to the low-income families of Kent County.

 

• Horizons Developmental Resource Center: A comprehensive treatment and evaluation program for individuals with developmental disabilities in Caledonia. It provides school programming services for children in need of individualized instruction programs.

 

• Kentwood Public Schools Special Education: Provides special education services to students who have disabilities, require specialized instruction through special education programs or services, and who have other factors adversely impacting educational progress.

 

• Lake Michigan Academy, Grand Rapids: The Lake Michigan Academy is the only school in West Michigan which focuses entirely on educating children with learning disabilities. The school teaches students in grades 1-12 and devotes itself to encouraging students’ strengths and working at their individual paces.

 

• The Michigan Department of Education provides Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) services to individuals with disabilities.

 

• Wyoming Public Schools Student Special Services Department provides comprehensive educational services to students with disabilities.

• Arbor Circle: This Kent County support organization offers counseling, education, preventive programs, family development programs, substance use treatments, and mental health counseling. Arbor Circle has five different locations across West Michigan, including Grand Rapids, Allegan, Holland, Muskegon, and Newaygo.

 

• The Arc Kent County: This organization provides education and services to residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

 

• Comprehensive Therapy Center Group Classes: The Comprehensive Therapy Center offers parent and teacher classes that teach caregivers and educators how to teach children with developmental disabilities methods of completing tasks like writing, personal grooming, reading, and more.

 

• DeVos Children’s Hospital Child Life Services: Certified Child Life Specialists at DeVos Children’s Hospital provide therapeutic opportunities to parents and children during hospital stays. Services include therapeutic recreation, educational opportunities, play, counseling, pre-procedural tours, and others.

 

• DeVos Children’s Hospital NICU Resources: The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at DeVos Children’s Hospital offers a number of support programs for parents, siblings, and other loved ones of a newborn in the NICU. Programs and services include Sibling Support, NICU Parent Meetings, Transition-to-Home, Car Seat Safety, CPR classes, Infant Massage, Scrapbooking, and more.

 

• DeVos Children’s Hospital Support Groups and Programs: Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital relieves some of the stresses of a difficult diagnosis through support groups and programs for the parents, families, and children affected by a medical stay. Programs include the Pediatric Oncology Resource Team (P.O.R.T), Neonatal Parent-to-Parent Partnership, Burn Center Programs, and Grief Support Programs. Additionally, the hospital provides kids’ camps including Wheelchair Sports Camp, Asthma Camp, and Burn Camp.

 

• Disability Advocates of Kent County: DAKC is a disability advocacy group dedicated to campaigning for equal access for all people living with disabilities in Kent County. Federally and state-mandated “center of independent living” as defined by the Rehabilitation Act, DAKC provides resources for accessibility, advocacy, employment, housing, independent living, transportation, and more. The group is composed of a diverse pool of disabled members and was founded by disabled individuals that hoped to see greater community change as a result of personal advocacy and accessibility goals.

 

• Disability Network West Michigan: A Muskegon County program that educates, empowers, provides resources for, and advocates for individuals with disabilities in West Michigan. They are especially known for their independent living resources, which include assistance with job acquisition, accessibility consultations, independent living skills training, and other resources.

 

• Easter Seals Michigan: Easter Seals is a nonprofit charitable organization that provides a range of services for children and adults affected by disability. Grand Rapids is home to one of ten Easter Seals Michigan offices and offers programs and services including autism services, family behavioral health services, children’s development therapies, and more.

 

• Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan: Epilepsy and seizures are two of the most common complications associated with cerebral palsy. The Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan is a group dedicated to bettering the lives of those affected by epilepsy. Programs and services include education consultation, camps, conference calls, community education, scholarships, advocacy, and other initiatives, programs, and resources.

 

• Family Hope Foundation, Jenison: Family Hope Foundation is a program based in Ottawa County which aims to provide support, funding for therapies, activities, and resources to families of children with special needs. They especially focus on providing scholarships for therapy because they feel therapy is an imperative part of helping children with disabilities thrive and funding for therapy is often not covered by insurance.

 

• Family Network of Wyoming: A Kent County nonprofit that provides food, health services, job skills classes,  a medical equipment loan closet, and other programs to those in need in the community.

 

• Flat River Outreach Ministries, Lowell: A Kent County nonprofit that serves individuals with a broad range of needs in the community by offering food, clothing, employment services, empowerment coaching, a medical equipment loan program, and other services.

 

• The Grand Rapids Oral Deaf Program Sibshop: A Grand Rapids peer support group for children ages 4 to 10 with deaf or hard of hearing siblings. The support group discusses concerns about growing, learning, and family interaction with a deaf family member. To learn more about the program, call (616) 819-3070.

 

• Helen DeVos Children’s Advocacy Network: The Children’s Advocacy Network at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital aims to positively change public policy in the favor of the Michigan children and families requiring medical attention. The Children’s Advocacy Network encourages those with a variety of medical needs to become members in order to ensure that proper legislation passes to prevent injury and provide all children with access to health care.

 

• Hope Network: Hope Network, a Kent County non-profit organization headquartered in Grand Rapids, provides services in 240 locations, employs 2,500 staff members, and operates in over 75 countries. Hope Network provides rehabilitation services, developmental services, behavioral health, and support services to people with disabilities or disadvantages.

 

• Horizons Developmental Resource Center: Provides the following two resources for the families and parents of individuals with developmental disabilities:

 

• • Family and Individual Counseling services aim to alleviate any anxiety, depression, stress, grief, trauma, parenting conflicts, and relationship strains associated with developmental disability relationships.

 

• • The Horizons Developmental Resource Center Sibshop is a support group committed to improving the lives and well-being of children who have siblings with developmental disabilities. The Horizons Sibshop is registered through the Sibling Support project and is held on six Saturdays every year.

 

• Mary Free Bed Teasing Resources: Mary Free Bed understands that children with rehabilitation needs commonly experience teasing from peers, so the hospital has compiled a help guide for parents. The resource discusses how to prevent, adapt to, and cope with bullying and teasing.

 

• Ms. Wheelchair Michigan: Revolving around advocacy, achievement, communication, and presentation, Ms. Wheelchair Michigan is a competition based out of Grand Rapids that identifies accomplished leaders and spokeswomen within the disability culture. Winners of the annual Ms. Wheelchair Michigan move on to the Ms. Wheelchair America contest.

 

• Network180 is an organization that provides support, information, and services to people with developmental disabilities in order to improve well-being among Kent County’s disabled community.

 

• The Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan: A charity designed to support the general health and wellbeing of hospitalized children and their families. They accept referrals from all hospitals and treatment programs in Grand Rapids. The Ronald McDonald House provides the family members of a sick child with a comfortable, relaxing place to stay near the hospital. Examples of referred guests include parents of premature infants in DeVos Children’s Hospital, mothers with high-risk pregnancies, children being treated for injuries at Mary Free Bed, and more.