Gray Center Young Adult Networks (in Grand Rapids and Zeeland) are open to individuals ages 16 and up. You do not need to have a "formal diagnosis" in order to attend these meetings. You can still receive valuable information and support from the other members and leaders whether or not you have been identified as being on the autism spectrum. The cost is only $5.00 to attend each meeting.

Parents are welcome to stay during the meetings. The Grand Rapids parent group has a facilitator, Nelson Grit. The Lakeshore group provides an opportunity for the parents to visit with each other and/or peruse our library and bookstore.

Stay in touch:

• To receive important updates about upcoming meetings and social events (including movie nights, morning coffees, etc.), please join our mailing list
• You can also join our Facebook Young Adult Network fan club

GRAND RAPIDS YAN (Young Adult Network):

We have a wonderful group of approximately 15 young adults that meets monthly. We typically discuss a topic selected in advance, finding opportunities to share information about ourselves and to learn about others. We also learn important details about social interaction and communication, helping us to interact more effectively with each other, with our families, and with other people in our community. We occasionally plan social events such as parties and outings so that we can interact with each other outside of our regular group time. Facilitator: Steve Falvo

Parents of the young adults have an opportunity to meet with each other (and a facilitator, Nelson Grit) in another room at the same time.

NEW LOCATION: Our Grand Rapids meetings are held at the Princeton Christian Reformed Church, 5330 Kalamazoo Ave SE, in Kentwood. The meetings are generally scheduled for 7:30-8:30 on the third Tuesday of every month. The church is located on Kalamazoo Ave, just south of 52nd St. To get to the church:

• From the south, including M-6, get off the freeway at Kalamazoo Ave, go north about a mile. The church is on the right or east side of the street.
• From the north, go south on Kalamazoo ave, through some construction between 44th St, (which is not normally a problem), and the church is the second cutout in the median for turning left.
• From the west - if you take 52nd St, turn right (south) on Kalamazoo Ave, then look for the second turnout in the median.
• From the east - if you come 52nd St, due to construction, you are not allowed to turn left onto Kalamazoo Ave. Turn right instead, then take a legal u-turn about 1 block north, then head south to second cutout in the median south of 52nd St.

LAKESHORE YAN (Young Adult Network):

This group meets at our Zeeland office (100 Pine St. Suite 121) on the FIRST Tuesday of every month, from 7:00-8:00 p.m (note that this is a half-hour earlier than the Grand Rapids group). Cafe 58, on-site at City on a Hill (where The Gray Center is located) serves a delicious dinner from 5-7 p.m. most Tuesdays for a suggested donation of only $4-6 each. Feel free to eat dinner first before coming to our group! Facilitators: Laurel Falvo and Amy Monteith

Staying in Touch:

Receive updates about our YAN by subscribing at http://eepurl.com/ekqF, and join our Young Adult FACEBOOK fan page! We frequently schedule movie nights, morning coffees, and other social events!

Gray Center Parents in Yahoo groups

Parents of young adults on the autism spectrum gather monthly to discuss issues and share resources with each other. They help plan social events for the young adults, too. This group will serve to increase communication among group members and offer tools such as file uploading (information sharing) and a calendar (to list events, including social events for young adults). We'll help each other as we all help our young adults to soar! Click here to join.

NOTE: Some of the young adults and their parents have been instrumental in setting up a yahoo group concerning housing options in the West Michigan area. You can access that by clicking here.