Fresh Start School

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Canton, CT
Fresh Start School

A new beginning for your child starts here! Over time, the program evolved and grew. It is a gem of a program and we have open enrollment!

FOCUS Center for Autism was established in 2000 as a non-profit organization serving children and adolescents on the autism spectrum and other related disorders. As an evolution of our former day program, the Fresh Start School became a private, state approved special education program in October of 2016. Located in Canton, CT, Fresh Start School is approved for male and female students between 11

through 21 years of age. With certified special education teachers and licensed social workers on staff, the Fresh Start School fosters a supportive learning environment for its students. Students' emotional, physical, social, and educational needs are met using evidence based practices. Other services offered include speech, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and an extended school year program as needed for each student. Fresh Start School is a quality education experience that addresses both academic and clinical needs of all our students. For more information visit our website at focuscenterforautism.org or give us at a call at 860-693-8809.

08/24/2026

We are excited to welcome our Fresh Start students back to school on Wednesday and begin another year together! A new school year brings new opportunities for learning, growth, friendships, and experiences, and we look forward to all that this academic year has to offer.

For parents and caregivers interested in learning more about Fresh Start School, we offer open enrollment throughout the year. Our program provides individualized support in a caring and therapeutic environment designed to help students succeed both academically and socially.

Call 860-693-8809 to learn more!

08/21/2026

Residents of Washington House, part of the Therapeutic Supportive Housing Program, enjoyed a special FOCUS Family Day that brought residents, staff, and staff’s kids together for a day outside of the home. It was a great opportunity to step away from the usual routine and spend time together as one FOCUS family.

The group visited the zoo, where everyone had the chance to explore, see a variety of animals, and enjoy the day at their own pace. Having staff’s kids join the outing added an extra sense of togetherness and created a relaxed environment where everyone could interact, joke around, and enjoy each other’s company.

Following the zoo, the group headed out for lunch and continued sharing stories and conversation. Sitting down together provided another opportunity to connect and enjoy the experience as a group.

FOCUS Family Day was a meaningful way to bring everyone together, build stronger connections, and create memories that extended beyond the walls of Washington House. Most importantly, it highlighted the sense of community and family that FOCUS strives to create for everyone involved.

08/19/2026

Looking back on the last week of our FOCUS Summer Program, one activity that has become an annual favorite is our Watermelon Challenge! Students and staff work together to see how many rubber bands it takes to finally make the watermelon explode. It's always a fun morning filled with plenty of anticipation, laughter, and excitement, and the best part is getting to enjoy the delicious watermelon at the end!

Activities like this are a big part of what makes our summer program so special. It's not always about the biggest or most elaborate activity, but about creating opportunities for students and staff to have fun together, try something new, and make memories. The watermelon challenge is definitely one of those traditions that we look forward to every summer and we're already looking forward to doing it again next year!

08/17/2026

Residents of Washington House, part of the Therapeutic Supportive Housing Program, continued to enjoy fun community outings that encouraged socializing, getting out into the community, and spending quality time together.

One outing brought the group together for dinner and an evening of video games. Residents enjoyed good food, conversation, and some friendly competition while playing games together. It was a relaxed and enjoyable way for everyone to spend time together, laugh, and build positive connections with one another.

Another outing gave residents the chance to take a scenic train ride and enjoy the views along the way. The group was able to relax, talk, and take in the scenery before enjoying ice cream together. The outing provided a fun change of pace and gave everyone the opportunity to make the most of a beautiful day.

Both outings gave residents opportunities to socialize, enjoy new experiences, and strengthen relationships while having fun together outside of the home.

08/14/2026

The annual end of summer FOCUS Talent Show was such a great way to wrap up an amazing summer! In addition to all of the performances, it also included the FOCUS Art Show featuring artwork our students created throughout the summer. It was a real high point of the summer, and it was great to see our audience of students, staff, parents, volunteers, and other guests enjoying and celebrating everything our students had worked on. And it was not just the students performing, staff and volunteers got in on the fun too!

All in all, it was such a positive day filled with joy, laughter, and togetherness. Events like this are a great reminder of what makes the FOCUS community so special and how much can happen when everyone comes together to celebrate one another.

08/12/2026

Last week, a few of our parents were able to attend our end of summer talent show, and it was great to see them there cheering on their children. Moments like this remind us of the love and devotion our families have for their children, regardless of the challenges they may face or the level of support they may need. Our families put so much time, patience, and care into helping their children grow, and we are grateful to be part of that journey.

We also know that supporting a child with additional needs can be demanding, which makes support and self care so important for parents and caregivers. Taking care of yourself allows you to continue being the best support you can be for your child. We are fortunate to work with families who recognize the importance of working together as a team, communicating openly, and supporting one another. When families and professionals work together, our students have an even stronger foundation for growth and success.

08/10/2026

The final week of the FOCUS Summer Program is in the books, and it was a great way to wrap up an amazing summer! The theme for the week was perseverance, and our students showed that spirit throughout the week. We took on a STEM challenge involving a watermelon and a whole lot of rubber bands, continued our job placements, played plenty of Risk and other collaborative games, and even had some bonding over shared favorite shows.

The highlight of the week was an amazing end of summer talent show! It was great to see everyone come together, support one another, and share their talents with the group. From the first week all the way through the last, our students continued to learn, grow, try new things, and build friendships. They truly made the most of the summer, and we couldn't have asked for a better way to finish it!

08/07/2026

Donna Swanson has always said that there are three pillars to help autistic students succeed: relationships, shared interests, and flexible rewards.

This school year, one of our high school teachers, Ms. Sue, used these pillars to help a student thrive by transforming the classic game Sorry into a customized version called Sorry, NOT Sorry. The student had begun adding creative twists, like movable "Blockers" to the game. However, these unwritten rules were difficult for others to follow and use. Ms. Sue observed the rules the student was adding and formalized them into the actual gameplay by adding cards such as Blocker Modifiers, Blocker Rescue, and Blocker Recruitment.

Over time, this one-on-one game time became a powerful motivator that helped the student improve his academics, manage his behavior, and build trust. Building the physical game board together also opened new doors for socialization. While he previously insisted on total control and would only play with one adult, he has now learned to share the game with others. Staff even used this breakthrough to smoothly transition him to a new teacher for the coming school year, with the ultimate goal of helping him play alongside his peers.

08/05/2026

This quote reflects the mission and values of the Fresh Start School. We recognize that education is not a one-size-fits-all experience, and every student has unique learning needs. While some students thrive in traditional classrooms, others may struggle with long periods of sitting, group learning, or standard teaching methods.

At the Fresh Start School, we use a variety of instructional approaches to meet students where they are and support their individual learning styles. By creating classrooms that work with students rather than against them, we help them become more engaged, confident, and successful. When students feel supported in an environment that meets their needs, they are more likely to achieve academic success and develop a positive attitude toward learning.

08/03/2026

Our students and staff had a blast making ice cream in a bag during last week’s STEM activity! Using science in action, everyone explored how temperature, salt, and motion work together to transform simple ingredients into a delicious frozen treat.

Learning became hands-on (and a little chilly!) as we shook, mixed, experimented, and, of course, enjoyed the tasty results. It's always exciting to see science come to life through fun, engaging activities!

Way to go to all of our students and staff for making learning so sweet!

Address

126 Dowd Avenue
Canton, CT
06019

Telephone

+18606938809

Website

http://focuscenterforautism.org/

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