When Julie Thompson moved from Ohio to Michigan eight years ago, she struggled to adjust. With two children living with microcephaly, a condition that causes developmental delays, she found herself withdrawing.
“I kind of reclused a little bit after moving here, being in a new place,” says Thompson, who lives in Fremont. “I had kicked myself in the tail for not going as soon as Danielle told me about it, because it’s been amazing for my kids and for myself.”
The “it” is Ignite, a monthly gathering organized by Disability Network West Michigan and led by Danielle Bennett, a youth transition specialist who has worked with youth and families for nearly a decade.
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Danielle BennettThe Ignite program combines recreation, life skills, and peer support for youth with disabilities and their parents.
The program blends recreational and life skills activities with opportunities for peer support, giving both youth with disabilities and their parents a chance to connect and grow.
Bennett has been with Disability Network for nine years, and she speaks about her work with unmistakable passion.
“I get very passionate every time I talk about my job and the people in it,” she says. “The biggest thing for me is seeing their level of growth. Kids who were once too shy to speak now sing karaoke, join in activities, and build friendships. We make mistakes, get messy, and have fun together – and that’s what makes the group special.
Program – and participants – grow
Bennett says the Ignite program was born in April 2023, starting small but quickly growing. “It has tripled in size since our first couple of groups, and it continues to grow,” she says. Today, sessions typically attract between 10 and 14 people, including both youth participants and parents.
The program’s structure is intentionally flexible. Some youth come regularly, while others attend depending on custody arrangements or schedules.
“We have some regulars, and then we have some that kind of come in and out,” Bennett says. “It depends on the week, but we always make sure it feels welcoming no matter who is there.”
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Danielle BennettIgnite’s flexible structure supports both regular and occasional participation.
For families like Thompson’s, Ignite has been a turning point. Her children, Donald, 26, and Trinity, 18, were once reluctant to socialize.
“They have made friends, not only during Ignite, but we have made friends that we now do things outside of Ignite with,” Thompson says. “They’re doing projects and singing in front of people, which is something I never thought I would see.”
Perhaps just as important, Thompson has found her own sense of community.
“I’ve actually been able to leave her and him both in the room to do activities with everyone else and actually go out and, like, take phone calls, or talk to other parents, or go to the parent meeting,” she says. “That would have never been able to happen before.”
Learning to engage
Mary Jo, another caregiver who asked that her last name not be used, sees similar benefits for her great-niece, Ariel, 19. Ariel lives with autism and fetal alcohol syndrome and has long struggled to build friendships.
“It’s really extremely difficult for these kids to have friends,” Mary Jo says. “She just desperately wants some friends who can hang out with her, or even come to our house.”
Ignite has opened that door. Ariel has joined peers for activities that stretch beyond the monthly meetings, from going to concerts to swimming with friends.
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Danielle BennettIgnite is led by Danielle Bennett, a youth transition specialist with nearly a decade of experience supporting youth and families.
Bennett has witnessed Ariel’s transformation firsthand.
“The first time Mary Jo brought her in, she hid behind her and growled at me,” she recalls. “It took her four or five meetings before she would even speak to me. But now, a year later, she comes to everything I host, and she’ll hold a conversation with me in the street. That’s the kind of growth I live for.”
Similar stories play out across the group. Trinity, once hesitant to engage, now joins conversations. Donald has performed karaoke with Bennett. Other youth have taken turns leading activities or suggesting new ideas.
“I let them know we can all make mistakes and be goofy together,” Bennett says. “I have no problem being the first one to sing on the microphone, or the first to make slime, or whatever it is we’re doing. It shows them it’s OK to sound horrible, get messy, or fail, as long as you’re having fun.”
Youths guide activities
One of Ignite’s most distinctive features is that participants decide what the group will do.
“Every three to four months, we sit down and talk about what they want for the upcoming sessions, what they think they could find value in,” Bennett explains.
That approach has led to a variety of creative gatherings. In September, the group planned “Hot Dogs and Dogs,” a cookout where participants could bring their support animals.
For October, they asked for a session called “Finding My Happy,” focused on understanding and identifying emotions.
“Especially for kids on the spectrum, it can be hard to explain how they feel,” Bennett says. “If we can help them put words to emotions, that’s a big step.”
Other sessions include lighthearted fun like bingo and karaoke, alongside hands-on projects such as junk journaling.
“We’ve done water fun days, chalk art, and bubbles,” Mary Jo says with a laugh. “I know it sounds silly to have 19- and 25-year-olds playing with chalk, but they loved it.”
Bennett says the key is honoring the youth’s voices. “It’s their space, and they get to shape it,” she emphasizes.
New connections for families
Ignite also provides respite for parents and caregivers, who often face isolation. While the youth are engaged, parents gather for conversations of their own, sharing struggles, advice, and encouragement.
“We’re so rural up here,” Bennett says. “Even without disabilities, it’s hard to create new relationships as an adult. People get busy with life, and you don’t always know how much of yourself to give to others. Ignite has allowed moms to bond and build their own support system.”
These connections often extend beyond Ignite sessions. Families have organized their own outings, shared rides, and kept in touch between meetings.
“It allows that piece for the parents too,” Bennett says. “Sometimes the moms end up forming their own little groups, which is beautiful to see.”
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Danielle BennettOne of Ignite’s most distinctive features is that participants decide what the group will do.
Despite the enthusiasm, Ignite currently meets just once a month at the
Newaygo County RESA Center in Fremont. That schedule leaves long gaps between gatherings, something families frequently mention.
“The only thing I could say bad about Ignite is that it doesn’t happen often enough,” Mary Jo says.
Thompson agrees.
“If they could be more than one time a month, that would be amazing,” she says.
Bennett understands the need but says expansion depends on resources.
“The way our support groups are set up, they’re monthly meetings,” she explains. “I’ve gotten grants in the past to do extra activities like bowling, swimming, or going to the arcade, and those have been really successful. But it takes funding to make it happen consistently.”
She remains committed to finding ways to broaden opportunities. “Whenever I do youth activities outside of Ignite, I make sure to invite my Ignite families too,” she says. “I want them to always feel included.”
‘A place where we belong’
For participants, what makes Ignite special isn’t just the activities, it’s the sense of belonging that Bennett cultivates. Families repeatedly describe her as the driving force behind the program.
“She sees these kids beyond their disabilities,” Mary Jo says. “That is one meeting that, no matter what happens, we’re not missing.”
Thompson echoes the sentiment.
“She listens. There’s no judgment. I think the absolute world of her,” she says.
Bennett insists the credit belongs to the families.
“Honestly, the program wouldn’t be what it is without them,” she says. “They’re hands-on, they spread the word, and they help each other. I’m just grateful to be part of it.”
As Ignite continues to grow, families say it has given them more than activities; it has given them a community. In rural Michigan, where opportunities for connection can be scarce, that community feels like a lifeline.
“Ignite has been one of the best programs we’ve ever encountered,” Mary Jo says. “It gives my great-niece friendships, it gives me hope, and it gives all of us a place where we belong.”
Photos provided by Danielle Bennett.
The multi-regional Disability Inclusion series is made possible through a partnership with Centers for Independent Living organizations across West Michigan.