FOCUS on the Heart: Autism School Hosts Japanese Delegation

Students and staff of the FOCUS Center for Autism and Fresh Start School in Canton were delighted to be reunited with friends from Fukuoka, Japan, as representatives from the Heart International Corporation visited on April 4, 2018. The mission of Heart International Corporation is to connect Japan with the rest of the world happily. Founded by Chihomi Irie in 2014, Heart International travels the world teaching Japanese language and culture while also learning about the countries they visit.

Heart International has visited FOCUS Center for Autism and the Fresh Start School regularly since the summer of 2015. The group this visit included 2 adults and 3 teenage girls who joined The Fresh Start School students and staff for pizza. After lunch, the guests from Japan led an arts and craft project and made kaleidoscopes. A talent show followed with the Japanese visitors playing a beautiful rendition “Remember Me” from the Disney Pixar film Coco. The Fresh Start School students sang songs from their favorite shows and movies, danced, and played musical instruments.

Shannon, a client of FOCUS’s Autism Services Program, was overcome with joy to see the Japanese guests and was pleased to practice her Japanese language skills with those who could respond to her.

“Many of our clients and students are fascinated by the Japanese culture – especially with Manga and Anime imports. Having Heart International visit us is always a highlight of our year and is a great opportunity for our kids to know that their interests have real-world value in that they can broaden their community,” Donna Swanson, executive director of the center and school, said. “We would be thrilled to host Heart International as often as they would like to visit.”

Since 2000, the nonprofit FOCUS Center for Autism in Canton has been dedicated to helping children and young adults with autism spectrum and other related disorders achieve their full potential. FOCUS has developed a well-respected model of treatment that has now served over 800 children and families. The FOCUS Fresh Start School is a private, state approved special education program offering children with autism spectrum disorder a quality education experience that addresses both their academic and clinical needs. For more information visit http://focuscenterforautism.org or call (860) 693-8809.