“The number one reason we wanted our daughter to attend this school was to be able to go into the community as a family without embarrassment. We had attempted to have public school IEPs include community-based instruction, but their guidelines would only allow for field trips a few times a year while our daughter needed something consistent. Every day at Focus on the Future, students go out into the community. Before FOCUS, our daughter could never go to the mall or attend special events because she would become agitated within minutes, lie down and kick and scream. She has now taken several trips to the mall with her sisters and I and shopped for four hours. We used to have to plan errands so that we only had to go one place per day. Now we can finish everything in one. This is only one of the major milestones Misty has reached.
The reason why Focus on the Future works and my daughter will continue to attend is because the teachers will not let the students fail. They are firm and kind and use an eclectic approach. They are more than willing to learn from parents as much as we learn from them. The program for each child is intensive and we have never felt more relaxed with our family.”
-Brooke, Mother of Misty, age 12
“I would like to express deep gratitude to the staff at Focus for helping our daughter Hope. Going through life being autistic is so challenging for her and our family. She is a blessing to all of us. When entering the school, we found her sensory issues interfered with her learning environment and that she had trouble focusing due to interruptions.
Now she is on a definite schedule, she is so much happier and has a good attitude about going to school. She knows what is expected and tries to work toward that expectation, not just for a reward, but for her own confidence and progress. She is able to learn, not just at school, but by going into the public and learning to purchase items and communicate with others.
We see a happier child, confident that it is ok to be autistic and yet independent with differences. She has a greater understanding to look outside herself and appreciate others.”
-Susan and Brian Clark, parents of Hope, age 14
"I've seen tremendous change in Maudie since being at Focus. She talks mores. She tells me what her needs are more frequently. She likes going to school sometimes now- more than her other school. I love this school. I can't imagine Maudie being anywhere else."
- Melinda, mother of Maudie, age 11
“Mrs. Brenda-
Thank you for a wonderful Summer Session. We appreciate your care, concern, patience, hard work, and committment to Josh and this wonderful school. Josh really enjoyed his time here and while there were a few rough issues to work through, we appreciate you and your staff's concern & commitment to helping us work through it. We look forward to Josh spending time here in the future."
-Sincerely
Brent & Stephanie-
