Our story began in 1959 when five families from the Vermilion area acted on a desire to provide welfare and education to children with developmental disabilities.  October of 1959 saw the opening of Vermilion's first school for children with developmental disabilities.  Mrs. Senz was there for the first eight students and remained at the school for another 19 years.  The construction of the Lenora Clark school in 1963 significantly increased the opportunities of Individuals in our community.

1979 was an exciting milestone as it saw the construction and opening of the Airport residence.   That year we welcomed two children into the house.  In 1990 the Lenora Clark school became the Lenora Clark House.  Freshly renovated, LCH (Lenora Clark House) opens its doors to adult residency.  With a desire to increase Individuals' opportunities, FOCUS expanded its service to assist both children and adults.  This desire to remain relevant in providing opportunities for the Individual kept and keeps FOCUS fresh and highly attuned to the needs of the people we serve. 

1991 was a busy year!  We officially became Vermilion Association for Persons with Disabilities – Finding Opportunities through Community Understanding and Support (FOCUS).  We opened the Mannville Bottle Depot in Mannville, AB.  FOCUS addressed the needs of families of persons with disabilities and implemented aid through the Family Support Program.  Our main office has moved a few times throughout the years, but in 1997 it landed at its present home in the center of downtown Vermilion.  97' also saw the start of some fantastic programs, the Independent Living Program and the Vocational Day program. 

The year is 2000, the Y2K scare starts to fade, and FOCUS has some exciting news, we opened an Outreach Center!  The Outreach Center was meeting needs by offering employment services, youth connections and an outreach school.  2003 is another milestone as FOCUS now provides services to persons with Acquired Brain Injuries.

2003 saw even more growth, as FOCUS took huge steps to fulfil its vision of branching out in response to community needs. FOCUS branched into Lloydminster with the Family and Child Support Services (FCSS) program. Starting out as a pilot project with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services, FCSS was contracted to work with 6 families. Since then, we have grown, and are currently servicing close to 100 families in Saskatchewan. FOCUS FCSS strives to build stronger families and stronger communities.

As the years go by, we have seen cherished people come and go, we have conquered many challenges, had a few name changes, and watched as the world grew around us.  One thing has remained constant; that is, from our inception in 1959 right up until today, our passion, commitment, and efforts are and always will be to empower the Individuals to meet their needs.