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| At FOCUS Alternative
Learning Center, our specialty is working with kids on the autism
spectrum, who suffer from high anxiety, experience processing
difficulties and who are otherwise, as we like to say, "creatively wired and socially challenged."
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The FOCUS
Summer Recreation Program is a clinical "social skills immersion
program" designed to teach kids coping and "relationship"
skills utilizing structured activities as well as ordinary daily living
situations as tools for learning. FOCUS
is designed to provide a natural environment where the needs for
increased self-awareness and individual growth of children age 6 - 18
can be realized. Children
are encouraged to establish and maintain healthy peer relationships and
are taught to take responsibility for their actions both as individuals
and as a group. We feel that these goals can best be met through a
therapeutic program of recreation in which a safe and realistic approach
is taken in an effort to build confidence, respect for self and others
and where individual strengths, weaknesses, successes, and failures can
be appropriately processed. |
Activities |
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Program activities include hiking, arts
& crafts, animal care, gardening, special guests and weekly themes,
non-competitive sports, field trips and loads of backyard games. Daily
"focus groups" take place at check-in and wrap-up. Children
are an integral part of helping to plan activities and have the
opportunity to discuss personal issues of behavior and relationships
within the group and are given feedback on their own behavior by staff
and peers. Each child has individual goals and objectives to work on and
is encouraged to be an active and participating member of the program. |
Counselor-in-Training
(CIT) Program |
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FOCUS also offers a Counselor-in-Training
(CIT) program for 14 - 18 year olds.
Children must apply and be accepted in advance for the limited
number of CIT positions. CIT's
must demonstrate leadership skills and a commitment to working with the other
campers as a role model. |
Daily Program Schedule |
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8:00
- 9:00 extended
care (if needed)
9:00
- 9:30 morning
check-in meeting
9:30
- 11:30 morning
activities
11:30
- 1:00 lunch,
clean up
1:00
- 3:00 afternoon
activities
3:00
- 3:30 afternoon
wrap-up
3:30
- 4:00 free
time, pick up
4:00 -
5:00 extended
care (if needed) |
2008
Sessions Available |
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Session
I July 7 - July 11
Session II July 14 - July 18
Session III July 21 - July 25
Session IV July 28 - August 1
Session V August 4 - August
8
Session VI August 11 - August 15
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Click here for MORE
INFORMATION
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We
found exactly what he needs at FOCUS (a place where he can be himself - a
very bright and lovable child with Asperger's Syndrome and learn how to
develop his own social being without being judged by others - both
children and adults alike). It
has been a blessing for our son to take part in their six week summer
program and their monthly social club meetings.
The social growth that has resulted from his involvement at FOCUS
has been phenomenal. Donna
Swanson, executive
director, and her staff have developed a program for children that has
long been a huge missing piece in the autism spectrum puzzle.
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Parent of a 6 year old
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My life changed
when I started going to Focus. I
found that the people there were very welcoming, supportive, and
compassionate. I never felt
like I was being judged or criticized.
Focus helped me develop enough confidence in myself to succeed in
school... Once I was able to
feel good about myself, I was experiencing success in my life.
The experience of success allowed me to overcome my problems of the
past.
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A.N. Avon, CT
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