ADRIAN — After Brandon and Megan VanEtten’s son Alden was born, it didn’t take long for the couple to know that something was going on with him.

Megan, who has a degree in early childhood education, could see that Alden wasn’t hitting the usual milestones the way he should have, and the way their older son Jude had. The couple took Alden to the University of Michigan to be assessed, and by age 2 he had been diagnosed with autism.

“It’s daunting to get that diagnosis,” Deborah Corbin, Megan’s mother, said. “You realize your child’s life is going to be very different, and your life will be too.”

And even though there are plenty of resources available, families with a child on the autism spectrum need help finding those resources.

Alden is now 15 and, while he was originally nonverbal, has gotten more verbal over time. Today, Corbin said, he’s an ardent Google Mapper and a “huge foodie” who loves finding restaurants on Google Maps.

“There’s so much he knows and understands,” she said of her grandchild. “A lot of times, these children are well aware, but they just can’t communicate.”

Because the VanEttens know the challenges of having a child on the autism spectrum and wanted to do something to help other families in that situation, they decided to found Autism GRACE of Lenawee. The faith-based nonprofit, located in Adrian, was started in January 2020.

Corbin said the organization’s name just came to Megan one night. “She called me and said, ‘Mom, Autism GRACE.’ God laid it on her heart. She wanted to do something positive and to love and support these families.”

GRACE is an acronym for Groups, Resources, Advocacy, Community Events, and Empowerment.

The nonprofit was originally run solely by the family, but over time, a diverse group of community members joined the board. The VanEttens, besides being the co-founders, are co-directors, while Corbin is the secretary and her husband, Rex, is treasurer.

All the board members are volunteers. “Literally every cent we raise goes into the program,” Corbin said.

The organization regularly offers a wide variety of free family events including bowling, horseback riding, movies at the Clinton Theater, cookie decorating, dances, and picnics.

At school-photo time, a photographer does special photo shoots for the children, and for Christmas there’s a sensory Santa event.

Another regular event, Cookies with Cops, introduces children with autism to police officers. Both sides benefit because it helps the children see that police officers aren’t people to be afraid of, and the officers gain a greater understanding of autism.

Corbin said the goal of hosting these experiences is to give families things they can do together in a safe space at no cost to them. In the process, it helps the children build social skills, creates community with other families, and lets the families enjoy an outing without fear of judgment or worrying about needing to leave if something becomes too much for their child.

Other services from Autism GRACE of Lenawee include a Gifting Program that helps families get items they need, such as an adaptable bike, noise-canceling headphones, gates for the home, or help with yearly insurance deductibles. 

The organization also connects families with resources such as support groups and services, and can provide assistance from board members at school Individualized Education Program meetings, to advocate for the child and his or her parents.

Corbin said that so far, Autism GRACE of Lenawee has served about 200 local families.

Another of the nonprofit’s initiatives is to fund Carter Kits for first responders.

Carter Kits include items to help first responders calm an autistic person, such as noise-cancelling headphones, fidget spinners, and a weighted blanket. The kits were the brainchild of Justin Severs, a detective with the Saginaw Township Police Department, whose son Carter is on the autism spectrum.

In 2019, Severs recognized the need for first responders to be equipped with tools to help special-needs children, like Carter, at the scene of an incident. He worked with a clinical neuropsychologist and several others to develop the kits and make them widely available.

Autism GRACE of Lenawee’s goal is for all county first responders to have a kit. To date, 40 kits have been given out, with more coming as funding allows. Each kit costs about $100.

Such a kit would have come in handy for the VanEttens themselves a few years ago, when the family was involved in an auto accident and Alden would not get into the ambulance.

“Bless his heart, the officer tried to hand him a stuffed animal, but that’s not Alden’s thing,” Corbin said. On the other hand, something like the headphones in a Carter Kit would have helped him more.

Related to that sort of situation, Autism GRACE of Lenawee also helps families get Help Belts, which are Velcroed sleeves that go over a seat belt to inform first responders that the person is autistic. Medical information can go in the sleeve.

Help Belts are given out at some of the group’s events, or the organization can assist a family with getting one.

The organization also provides GRACE Guest Baskets to local restaurants that want to have them available.

Corbin said waiting at a restaurant combined with the environment itself, with its noise and light, can be hard for people on the autism spectrum. The baskets include noise-canceling headphones and a variety of fidget and sensory items.

A family can request a basket, if the restaurant has one, and use the items while at their table. All the items can be easily cleaned to be ready for the next family.

Autism GRACE of Lenawee relies on its donors to make all these programs possible. One way to help is by becoming a sponsor at a Ruby, Emerald, Gold, or Diamond level.

The 2025 Diamond sponsors are Tecumseh Family Dental Care, Faith Baptist Church, TLC Credit Union, Ted Aranda Dog Training, Danmar Products, Tecumseh Masonic Lodge No. 69, Tecumseh Chapter No. 51 Order of the Eastern Star, Masquerades by Michelle, and Morning Fresh Bakery.

The organization’s largest annual fundraiser is the Autism Walk of GRACE. This year’s walk is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 7 at The Centre.

The cost is $35 per team and $20 for individuals. Participants are encouraged to solicit donations as well. Sponsors fund the event’s major costs, but the entry fee covers lunch and T-shirts for participants.

Pre-registration ended May 9, but registrations can be done up to the day of the event, although later registrations can’t be guaranteed their requested T-shirt size.

The walk is open to the entire community, not just families with an autistic member. Other activities that day will include tie-dyeing, face painting, bounce houses, and more. Vendors will also be on hand to provide information for families about their services.

To date, this event has raised about $6,000, Corbin said.

Autism GRACE of Lenawee
facebook.com/AutismGRACEofLenawee
autismgrace.org