FOCUS Center for Autism

FOCUS Center for Autism Because the “creatively wired and socially challenged” should not have to go it alone.

Our first panel of the year took place at McAlister Intermediate School in Suffield, CT and it was a great experience al...
04/13/2026

Our first panel of the year took place at McAlister Intermediate School in Suffield, CT and it was a great experience all around. The students in the audience were attentive and respectful, and the staff made us feel very welcome from the moment we arrived. Our panelists were able to share their stories and the students asked some really thoughtful questions.

At the end, when we opened it up for appreciations, we didn’t even get to hear them all because it felt like every student in the room had their hand up. Moments like that really mean a lot to our panelists.

We were also excited to have a panelist join us who hadn’t been on the panel in over 10 years. After everything wrapped up, we celebrated with lunch appreciated our wonderful experience and making a difference. We’re very thankful for the experience and for the staff who helped set everything up. Opportunities like this remind us how grateful we are to be able to share our stories and spread awareness, which hopefully leads to acceptance and the students at MacAlisister let us know exactly that!

Last week we had another visit from the team at Goodwin University and their Mobile Manufacturing Lab. Our students cont...
04/10/2026

Last week we had another visit from the team at Goodwin University and their Mobile Manufacturing Lab. Our students continued working on their wooden cars, picking up right where they left off from last month.

This time our middle school students were also able to join in, and they absolutely loved it. Everyone did a terrific job with the different activities and had a lot of fun along the way. It’s always great to see the smiles these visits bring. We are very grateful for this partnership and the opportunities it gives our students!

FOCUS Center for Autism partnered with the Canton Food Bank for a fundraiser at American Flatbread - Canton, CT on Mond...
04/08/2026

FOCUS Center for Autism partnered with the Canton Food Bank for a fundraiser at American Flatbread - Canton, CT on Monday evening, April 7. For every pizza sold that night, a portion of the proceeds went to support the food bank, which is located at Trinity Episcopal Church. It was a great night of good food and community coming together for a good cause.

The night also served as a thank you to the many dedicated volunteers who help keep the food bank running. More than 30 volunteers attended, including members of our FOCUS Adult Support Services group, who have been volunteering there regularly. The food bank serves more than 100 individuals and families and provides an average of about 4,000 meals each month, so it is really meaningful for our group to be able to give back in this way.

Our Adult Support Services Program Coordinator Sharon Cable and several members of the group also spent the evening selling raffle tickets for gift baskets to help raise additional funds for the food bank. At the end of the night, Food Bank Director Jennifer Herbek presented Sharon with flowers as a thank you for the continued support from our group.

Opportunities like this are a great example of how our adult program focuses on building meaningful community connections while supporting independence and engagement!

Alumni, residents, and staff gathered at Donna and Fred’s home for the 19th annual Easter Egg Hunt and Celebration. Earl...
04/06/2026

Alumni, residents, and staff gathered at Donna and Fred’s home for the 19th annual Easter Egg Hunt and Celebration. Earlier in the day it looked like the rain might cancel the hunt, but the weather cleared just in time and the fun got started.

Everyone spread out across the property searching for their individually colored eggs, along with the golden eggs that each had $5 inside. There was a lot of running around and excitement, but what really stood out was how people helped each other when they spotted an egg. It was really nice to see old and new friends coming together with so much kindness and acceptance.

The Critters received plenty of love throughout the day, and that definitely went both ways. There was also plenty of good food, and we wrapped things up the way we often do with appreciations and Klondike Bars.

This year also included some special treats. Alumni Mike brought delicious candy to share with everyone, and Donna and Fred gave out cookies from Lost Acres Orchard. Not only were they delicious, but they also support our Autism Sweets fundraiser!

The consensus from old and new is that FOCUS IS FAMILY and that means the world!

The most recent community activities for residents of Washington House, part of our Therapeutic Supportive Housing Progr...
04/03/2026

The most recent community activities for residents of Washington House, part of our Therapeutic Supportive Housing Program, emphasized meaningful interaction and shared experiences in a supportive setting.

One outing centered around painting ceramics, giving residents the opportunity to slow down, be creative, and enjoy a relaxed environment while socializing with one another. The activity encouraged self-expression and casual conversation outside of the residence.

The group also enjoyed a bowling outing paired with good music, which brought lots of energy, laughter, and friendly interaction. Residents cheered each other on, enjoyed the music, and shared in a fun, upbeat experience together.

Overall, these activities supported wellness, encouraged social engagement, and helped foster a stronger sense of connection and belonging among residents.

Autism Sweets is here!All April long, you can satisfy your sweet tooth and make a difference! Participating local eateri...
04/01/2026

Autism Sweets is here!

All April long, you can satisfy your sweet tooth and make a difference! Participating local eateries are donating a portion of select menu item sales to support the FOCUS Fresh Start School.

Here’s where you can join in:

• Lost Acres Orchard: donating 25% of all gingersnap cookie 6-packs

• J Timothy's Taverne : donating 10% of all dessert sales

Treat yourself and support these amazing local businesses while helping our students with autism thrive!

Interested in getting your business involved in Autism Sweets 2026? Email sweets@focusautismct.org to join the fun!

Together, we can sweeten the lives of children living with autism.

April is Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month.This month can bring up many different feelings for autistic and neurodiver...
04/01/2026

April is Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month.

This month can bring up many different feelings for autistic and neurodivergent community members. Autism is a broad spectrum that presents a unique set of needs for each person.

At FOCUS Center for Autism, we are proud to provide direct services to the autism community and advocate alongside those we serve to create a more equitable and accepting community.

Throughout this month, we will hear from different voices throughout FOCUS and look forward to continuing to work with the autism community for years to come!

This past Friday, our high school students who had been going to movement class joined the other high school cohort at H...
03/30/2026

This past Friday, our high school students who had been going to movement class joined the other high school cohort at Healthtrax Fitness & Wellness Avon. Going forward, all of our high school students will be heading there each week to earn their P.E. credit. Right from the start there was a lot of excitement. Students were eager to check out the different machines and try a variety of workouts.

Our trainer TJ did a great job helping orient everyone to the gym and making the space feel welcoming. It was really nice to see how quickly students settled in and felt comfortable, even for those who had never been to a gym before. Building that sense of comfort and positivity around movement is so important when it comes to developing lasting healthy routines. We always aim to help our students grow their self-esteem and confidence, and it was great to see that happening in real time. We all can’t wait to go back again next Friday.

This picture of the anxiety iceberg is a good reminder that what we see on the surface is only a small part of the exper...
03/27/2026

This picture of the anxiety iceberg is a good reminder that what we see on the surface is only a small part of the experience. People often think anxiety is just worrying or feeling nervous, but underneath there can be trouble sleeping, intrusive thoughts, irritability, upset stomach, and feeling overwhelmed. Lately the time change and changes to the weather have also been throwing off sleep and energy levels, which can make those feelings even bigger, especially for people who already struggle with anxiety.

At FOCUS Center for Autism we see this with many of the students we work with. Big feelings, changes in routine, and lack of sleep can all build up under the surface. It is a good reminder that when a student seems overwhelmed, there is often much more going on than what we see. In those moments we work to help redirect that anxiety through movement breaks, supportive conversations, and giving students space to reset so they can regulate and move forward. Meeting students where they are at with patience, flexibility, and understanding makes a big difference.

Last week our middle school students had a great time during their weekly PE class with some bowling. It was a great way...
03/25/2026

Last week our middle school students had a great time during their weekly PE class with some bowling. It was a great way to get everyone up, moving, and having fun together.

We try to build activities into PE that students can genuinely enjoy so that they feel more invested and willing to participate. When students have that buy-in, it makes the experience better for everyone.

Goodwin University Mobile Manufacturing Lab visited again for their monthly session with our students! This visit focuse...
03/23/2026

Goodwin University Mobile Manufacturing Lab visited again for their monthly session with our students! This visit focused on continuing work on the wooden cars that the students have been building over the past few sessions. It has been great to see the projects slowly come together as the students stay engaged with each step of the process and take pride in the progress they are making.

They also brought along a fun activity where students were able to design and make their own stickers. It added another creative element to the visit and gave students a chance to express themselves while still connecting to the hands on learning environment. The staff always do such a great job working with our students and making science and manufacturing concepts engaging and accessible for everyone involved.

This year, our staff from the Fresh Start School made a clear and intentional shift in professional development by focus...
03/20/2026

This year, our staff from the Fresh Start School made a clear and intentional shift in professional development by focusing on something that often gets pushed aside, and that is self care. In a field that asks so much of educators, it is easy to overlook the need to slow down and recharge. We spent time reflecting on how taking care of ourselves is not separate from the work, but a necessary part of being able to show up consistently and meaningfully for our students.

We started Thursday afternoon with an Indian classical music mindfulness session with Indrani at our building. This was followed by a sound healing experience with Annalise and Scott from Luna & Lotus in Canton. Today, the team was able to fully lean into a day centered on restoration with a wonderful training day put on by SERC (Special Education Resource Center) in Windsor. The day was a more experiential training and in addition to workshops they also gave access to massages, facials, nourishing foods and music therapy. It was all about building realistic self care practices into busy schedules.

"If our cups are not full, how are we supposed to fill others'".

Address

Canton, CT

Opening Hours

Monday 8:15am - 2:45pm
Tuesday 8:15am - 2:45pm
Wednesday 8:15am - 2:45pm
3pm - 6pm
Thursday 8:15am - 1pm
Friday 8:15am - 2:45pm

Telephone

+18606938809

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