Autism & Neurodiversity Services

08/27/2026

08/17/2026

We're accepting new clients! 🌱

08/13/2026

A QUICK REMINDER ABOUT INSURANCE & SCHEDULING 💙

We want to help make the process of getting connected to therapy as smooth as possible! One of the most important steps is making sure we have your correct insurance information before scheduling your intake.

We currently accept:

✅ Blue Cross Blue Shield
✅ Blue Care Network (BCN)
✅ HAP
✅ Aetna
✅ McLaren Health Advantage
✅ McLaren Medicaid

🚫 We do NOT accept Blue Cross Complete or other Medicaid plans.

Please double-check your insurance card before completing our screening questionnaire. There can be several plans that sound very similar but have completely different provider networks.

We also ask that insurance cards and intake paperwork be uploaded as soon as possible after you are contacted about scheduling. This allows our team to verify benefits and make sure we can provide services under your specific plan.

Why does this matter?
We know that being on a therapy waitlist can take time, and we don't want anyone to wait months for an appointment only to discover that we are unable to accept their insurance.

If you're unsure whether your plan is accepted, please reach out to us before completing the screening or while you are waiting to be scheduled. We're happy to help you determine whether your specific plan is one we participate with.

💙 Correct insurance information = less waiting, fewer surprises, and a smoother start to therapy.

Thank you for helping us make the intake process easier for everyone!

Autism & Neurodiversity Services
Therapy that Honors Every Mind.

08/07/2026

🐰 Meet Rupert, ANS’s new therapy bunny!

Rupert joins therapist Monet Twiss, LLMSW, during many of her sessions and offers clients a calm, quiet presence. He is especially comfortable with people who enjoy gentle support without a lot of noise or stimulation.

Rupert may approach you if he thinks you have a treat! His favorite snacks include cherries, bananas, romaine lettuce, and his rabbit biscuits. He often comes running as soon as he hears the treat bag! 🥬

Because rabbits are prey animals they are naturally cautious. Building a relationship with Rupert takes patience. The best way to become his friend is to sit quietly on the floor, allow him to approach at his own pace, and offer gentle pets or an approved treat.

Rupert also has strong opinions! He does not like being picked up and may thump his back foot afterward as though he is saying, “I didn’t like that!” Clients should never attempt to pick him up. 🚫

Monet began bringing Rupert to work so he could safely socialize instead of spending the day alone. She soon noticed that his gentle demeanor helped clients feel more comfortable, break the ice, and look forward to returning to therapy.

Rupert is available during most sessions, although he sometimes needs a day off or a quiet nap behind the couch or inside his rabbit hut. Just like people, Rupert occasionally needs space to rest, self-regulate, and feel safe.

Monet hopes Rupert can help clients experience the value of slowing down, respecting boundaries, and building relationships based on patience and trust. 💛

Please note: 🐰🤧 Rabbits can produce dander and allergens similar to cats and dogs. Clients with animal allergies should let their therapist know before spending time with Rupert.

08/04/2026

As a special education advocate, I spend every day watching families run into the same wall, over and over, in different districts across Michigan. For too many kids in Michigan, school feels like this — frustrated, misunderstood, and let down by a system that was never built to support them the way they deserve. That's not on the kids. That's not even on their teachers, most of the time. Teachers and administrators often feel let down that they don't have the resources they need to support some of the children they serve. It's a systems problem, and it's been going on for far too long.

Since last fall, Carrie Dickerson (a Michigan parent advocate) and I have been working together on something to help change that, alongside a group of colleagues who've supported this effort along the way. This wasn't written behind closed doors. It's been shaped by direct feedback from teachers, parents, administrators, and other advocates who've lived this system from every angle. That collaboration is exactly why we believe in it.

That work is now Senate Bill 952, officially introduced in the Michigan Senate!

Here's what it does: SB 952 takes federal civil rights and administrative protections that already exist — IDEA, Section 504, the ADA — and finally builds them into clear, enforceable Michigan law. Stronger training for teachers and administrators. Real safeguards before a student with a disability can be suspended or expelled. Public transparency so families and the state can actually see what's happening district by district. Michigan hasn't "met requirements" under OSEP, the federal office that oversees special education, since before 2016 — this bill is meant to be the start of finally changing that.

And I want to be clear: this is not a parents-versus-schools bill. It's built to support families, teachers, and administrators alike — everyone who's been caught in the same broken system. The bill's educator and administrator training provisions are supported by COPAA (Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates), a national leader in special education law and training.

This is just the beginning. The bill may change shape as it moves forward — that's okay. What matters is that Michigan finally has this conversation about special education, out loud, and doesn't let it drop.

If you want to support this — and I hope you do — check the first comment for exactly how you can help. It takes two minutes.
And please, SHARE THIS!!! Share it with other parents of kids with IEPs or 504 plans. Share it with teachers, administrators, school psychologists, therapists — anyone whose work touches a child with a disability in Michigan. The more people talking about this, the further it goes.

Follow this page — I'll be sharing updates as this moves forward through the process.

Link to SB 952: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2026-SB-0952

07/31/2026

Introducing our newest therapist, Monet! ✨🐰

Hello! I’m Monet Twiss (she/her), LLMSW.

I have experience working with adults, children, and teens. I graduated from Saginaw Valley State University with my bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice in 2022 and with my Master of Social Work in 2024.

I have always known I wanted to work in a helping profession, and working as a therapist allows me to use my strengths in collaboration and critical thinking. I believe that therapy should be a collaborative and nonjudgmental space where clients can freely express themselves and where we work together to develop practical and sustainable strategies to address your needs. I value authenticity, bring my genuine self to every meeting, and aim to create a space where you feel comfortable doing the same. I also enjoy working with my sweet bunny Rupert, who loves to attend therapy sessions with interested clients and offers a quiet and supportive presence for everyone he meets. I believe that animals are our greatest examples of unconditional love, emotional support, and friendship.

In my free time, I enjoy spending time outside and exploring nature. In addition to my bunny Rupert, I also have two cats, a tortoise, one duck, and many chickens. I am passionate about helping animals whenever I can and have adopted and fostered dozens of cats.

I am excited to strengthen my skills as a therapist and learn to develop and use new techniques and interventions to more effectively support the clients I serve. I have always had an interest in learning more about how to effectively support clients with autism and OCD, and I believe ANS will provide me with the opportunity to do this. I am grateful to have connected with an agency that supports clinicians in developing new skills and techniques.

07/31/2026

“All behavior makes sense. It still needs to be boundaried, or even changed. But if we start with the premise that it makes sense, we tend to approach the behavior with curiosity instead of control.” - Dr. Robyn Gobbel | Raising Kids with Big Baffling Behaviors

07/29/2026

✨ We’re Hiring! ✨ Clinical Social Workers - LMSW | LLMSW

Why this role is great:
🌱 Feel supported as you grow your therapy career.
🎓 LMSW supervision available for LLMSWs.
♾️ Neurodiversity-affirming, strengths-based clinical practice.
📚 Build versatile clinical skills working with children, adolescents, and adults.
🗓️ Flexible schedule—no nights, weekends, or on-call.

📍 Bay City, MI
💼 Full-time, part-time, or contract positions available.

👉 Apply Here: https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=450b0ff680ee0533&from=shareddesktop_copy
-or-
📧 Email your resume, cover letter, and two professional references to [email protected]

07/24/2026

🎉 This week we celebrate 2 years as Autism & Neurodiversity Services! 🎉

Thank you.

To our clients, families, referral partners, and community - thank you for your trust and support. We are honored to be part of your journey.

Thank you to our team for your compassion, dedication, and commitment to the individuals and families we serve. You are kind, honest, and truly care.

What started as a vision has grown into something diverse and beautiful, and we're incredibly grateful for everyone who has been part of the journey.

Here's to two amazing years and many more to come! 💙

07/23/2026

...learning to understand and navigate our fluctuating capacity is one of the most important things an AuDHDer can do.