What are the 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

FOCUS Center for Autism

Home
United States
Canton, CT
FOCUS Center for Autism

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

02/20/2026

A few of the residents from Washington House, our Therapeutic Supportive Housing Program, came together for a series of engaging and energetic outings that encouraged connection, confidence, and fun.

The residents enjoyed a night out bowling, where they took the lead in selecting the music and even danced between turns, keeping the atmosphere upbeat and full of laughter. They also went to see an action-packed movie that they greatly enjoyed, which sparked excitement and shared conversation afterward. Another highlight was a trip to go axe throwing, where the group impressed everyone with their focus and skill. They performed exceptionally well.

Experiences like these offer meaningful opportunities to unwind, build confidence, and strengthen positive relationships. Whether through friendly competition, shared entertainment, or trying something new, these outings continue to foster connection and create lasting memories for our residents.

02/18/2026

Our partnership with The Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts continues! Last week a group of our high school students were able to take part in the first of four sessions with their talented teachers. The students were looking forward to it all week and were so happy to be back. We feel so grateful for this connection!

02/16/2026

At FOCUS, our approach is rooted in milieu therapy, meaning that the environment we create is foundational to the therapy we provide. We focus on fostering a sense of comfort and safety through how we set up the environment and through the positive relationships we build with our clients.

We understand that everyone has their own experience, and we are not here to tell clients what they are experiencing. Once we build that safe therapeutic connection, we aim to lovingly push our students toward approaches that could benefit them and help them navigate the bumps along the way. Through these positive relationships, we aim to build independence, resilience and encourage their journey for exploring and learning.

02/13/2026

Another great visit from the Goodwin University Mobile Manufacturing Lab! This week the students continued to work with their staff on their Pinewood Derby cars, finishing up their designs and starting to cut out their prototypes. They also had a lesson on how bridges work and were able to build their own. They all continued to have a lot of fun while learning and it's been great to see their ideas take shape!

02/11/2026

One of our students has been making great use of all the snow we have gotten this past month. During breaks from academics, he has been building himself a snow cave.

It’s been really nice to watch him work creatively in this way and to see the genuine enjoyment he gets from it—especially as other students have started showing interest. That interest has helped build some natural bridges between them, which has been great to see.

02/09/2026

Last week in science our middle schoolers were working on identifying properties of matter, and understanding the difference between physical and chemical properties. Students looked closely at physical properties and how they can change before and after a chemical reaction.

We used oobleck (just starch and water) to make the lesson hands-on and engaging. It was messy in the best way and kept everyone involved.

The students had a lot of fun experimenting, observing, and learning together!

02/06/2026

For everyone, but people with autism especially, play is not extra—it’s foundational. Play helps to create connection, safety, and shared joy, which are especially important for our students with autism. Through play, students practice being with others without pressure, expectations, or fear of getting it “wrong.” It’s often in these low-demand, relational moments that trust forms, nervous systems settle, and students begin to feel safe. From that sense of safety, learning becomes more accessible—communication opens up, curiosity grows, and engagement feels possible. When students feel connected, they are far more ready to take risks, try new things, and learn alongside others.

02/04/2026

"Always remember to honor those who paved the way for change"

To share this message and celebrate Black History Month, our staff member Denzel has started a tradition of making necklaces featuring medallions of Black icons. He was excited to share them with the community, and many of us have been wearing them today. It is a simple, meaningful way to mark the start of Black History Month together.

02/02/2026

Another way we help to bring connection and a sense of community at FOCUS is through our Adult Social Clubs. They meet on Fridays, and it is a really safe place for people to hang out, play some games and just socialize with each other. They all look forward to it and as you can tell by the smiles, really enjoy each others company. This program is also partially supported by a bottles and cans collection drive run by Ms. Sharon, our Adult Support Services Coordinator. So feel free to reach out if you have any bottles or cans you want to contribute!

01/30/2026

There’s nothing our students enjoy more than visits from animals. A few weeks ago, our middle schoolers were lucky enough to welcome a very special guest—Ms. Rachel’s dog, Cody! His visit brought smiles to everyone’s faces and created a calm, joyful energy throughout the room. It was a wonderful way to end the day, and a meaningful reminder of how healing time with animals can be for students who struggle with social challenges. Animals have a unique way of helping those barriers fall away!

01/28/2026

In our lives we are constantly bombarded with things to do, feeling guilty about things we've gotten started and haven't finished, and dealing with all of life's distractions.

If you let everything coming your way become a priority, everything feels overwhelming and impossible.

Here's your reminder to breathe, prioritize, take your time, stay focused, and remember that you can do anything, but not everything!

01/26/2026

We continue to be incredibly grateful to Goodwin University and especially to the staff who come out each month to work with our students in the Mobile Manufacturing Lab. They consistently meet our students with patience, care, and genuine enthusiasm while introducing them to concepts in science and manufacturing.

This past week, students had the opportunity to design cars using computer-aided design programs and a laser printer, and they also had a great time exploring the lab’s virtual reality tools.

We are truly thankful for this ongoing partnership and the opportunities it provides for our students.

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

Website

http://www.focuscenterforautism.org/

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