Change How You Understand Autism (NWL)

Learn from the experts in an unforgettable interactive forum.

• Find out what works and what doesn't with this population
• Learn about the importance of relationships
• Learn about anxiety management
• Understand sensory needs and the Circle of Anxiety

Dan is a Licensed Clinical Social Work and a graduate from UCONN. He is the FOCUS Center for Autism's Director of Autism Services. He has completed his course in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction from Copper Beech Institute. Dan started at FOCUS as a social worker intern in 2010 and was hired in 2011. He is our transition program coordinator and has implemented the mindfulness-based stress reduction into our program.

Donna Swanson MSN, CS, APRN is the founder and executive director for FOCUS Center for Autism as well as the Chief Administrator of the Fresh Start School. Donna has over 45 years of experience in nursing and human services and has an RN from Hartford School of Nursing, a BS in Psychology from Southern Connecticut State University and an MSN in Psychiatric Nursing from the University of Saint Joseph. She received her APRN certification from Hartford Hospital and is a member of the American Nurses Association and certified by that organization as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing.

As founder and executive director of FOCUS Center for Autism, Donna manages all residential, clinical, and educational programs. She is also the creator and moderator for the FOCUS Autism Spectrum Unplugged Panel, which through its presentations provides hope and inspiration to individuals, families, and service providers of the autism community.