Gengras Center

Welcome to the Gengras Center at the University of Saint Joseph, a unique, state-approved, private special education facility.

The Gengras Center serves elementary, middle, high school, and transition-aged students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, and related behavioral challenges from more than 50 Connecticut and southern Massachusetts towns. It provides:

  • A highly structured, intensive, self-contained program
  • Skill development in core academic areas
  • Functional application of skills in community living, work readiness, job training, social development and independent living
Gengras Center

The Center also provides the University with an on-campus lab school, allowing USJ students to apply their knowledge in a real-life educational setting while fulfilling requirements for classes in areas such as Special Education, Psychology, Nursing, Social Work, Counseling, Applied Behavioral Analysis, and Nutrition.

Referrals to the Gengras Center must be made by the local school district through the Planning and Placement Team process.

The Gengras Center at the University of Saint Joseph is approved through the Connecticut State Department of Education.

Visit the Gengras Center Website


Center for Applied Research and Education (CARE) at Gengras Center

The Center for Applied Research and Education (CARE) is an expansion of the Gengras Center. The 22,000 square foot facility, which opened in May 2015, provides much-needed space for the Gengras community and enables the University to accept more students into the Applied Behavior Analysis master’s degree program.

The building includes:

  • A gymnasium and an art room
  • Expanded Applied Behavior Analysis services
  • Additional therapy space
  • Four new classrooms — two for vocational learning and two for students with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

The Gengras Center, a state-approved, private special education facility, is a leader in educating students (ages 5-21) with special needs by providing academic, vocational, transition, and life skills programs.

For enrollment information, contact Michelle Lestrud, director of the Gengras Center, at 860.231.5616 or [email protected].

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Come and tour our beautiful campus, learn more about our programs and discover firsthand what makes our University so unique!

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