Sue Scheff Blog

Sue Scheff: Special Needs Camps

by Sue Scheff on May 27, 2010

If your child is disabled or has an incurable illness, you may think the best place for him or her this summer is at home with you. But some experts disagree.

Fourteen-year-old Justin and 15-year-old Katherine have diabetes, but their illness doesn’t keep them from looking forward to summer camp.

“From the moment I leave, I’m looking forward to next year,” Katherine says. “It’s such a great experience, and it’s just so much fun.”

They play games, go canoeing and perform in talent shows just like other kids. And that’s the point, experts say.

“There is nothing like for a child with cancer or a child with diabetes to get out of the car or get off the bus and come into this group and realize, ‘everyone is in the same boat as me, and I don’t feel different anymore,’” says Dorothy Jordan, who founded Camp Sunshine, a camp for kids with cancer.

She says children with disabilities get as much – and maybe even more – out of camp as non-disabled kids. They don’t just have fun; they make friends who understand their problems.

“When I was first diagnosed, I couldn’t get over the shock that I was going to have to get two shots a day and have to prick my finger four times a day. I was just stunned and like, ‘who else has this?’” Justin explains.

Attending Camp Kudzu, a camp for kids with diabetes, helps Justin meet others who have the same disease.

Justin and Katherine are so excited about camp that they’re training to bike ride 70 miles – from home all the way to camp – to raise money for camp scholarships.

“He said my dream is that every child with diabetes should have the chance to go regardless of their ability to pay, and I want to do something to raise money,” says Avril Beckford Rowley, Justin’s mother.

Still, experts recommend that before you send your disabled child to camp, you should first ask some important questions: Is the camp accredited? Are the counselors prepared for medical trouble? Is the nursing staff equipped for your child’s challenge?

“You ask all the right questions, and if you can get the right answers, and you can have confidence in the program, it’s absolutely the right thing to do,” Jordan says.

What Parents Need To Know

According to the Disabilities Statistics Center, an estimated 4 million children and adolescents, or 6.1% of the U.S. population under 18 years of age, have disabilities. And of the more than 12,000 camps in the United States, a large portion of them are designed specifically to fit the needs of disabled children. Whether your child has a learning or behavioral problem, a chronic illness or a mental or physical impairment, several camps are available to meet your child’s specific needs.

Why should your special needs child attend camp? According to the American Camp Association (ACA), your child can reap numerous benefits:

• Making new friends: Camp is a special place where your child can learn how to make a friend and how to be a friend. Counselors are trained to make sure that your child starts making friends as soon as he or she arrives, because camp is a community where kids work and play together, contribute and cooperate with each other.
• Enjoying a variety of activities: At camp, your child can experience tons of new activities – athletics, arts and crafts, dance, drama, nature, boating, computers and more.
• Making personal decisions: Attending camp provides your child with an opportunity to make his or her own decisions. Limits and boundaries exist so that your child will always feel safe, yet your child will be encouraged to make good choices. Camp is a place to practice growing up, under the watchful eye of trained, caring counselors.
• Feeling good about himself or herself: Through the camp experience, your child can learn to believe in himself or herself and to develop the courage to try new tasks.
• Being part of a special community: At camp, your child will have the opportunity to interact with other children. The camp experience is based on the building blocks of self-esteem: belonging, learning and contributing. Your child will learn to cooperate within a group and to respect others’ opinions.
• Having fun: Spending time at camp will allow your child to take a much-needed break from his or her problems. Your child can relax and forget about everything else except having FUN!

Choosing the right camp for your child can seem like an overwhelming task. Experts with the National Camp Association suggest asking the following questions while searching for a camp that fits your child’s needs:

• What is the camp director’s age and background? How long has the director run this camp?
• What are the camp’s goals and philosophy?
• What kind of camper is most likely to have a good experience at this camp?
• What facilities does the camp have, and how convenient are they for campers?
• What is the schedule like? Is it a structured program or one that emphasizes a lot of free choice?
• What is the camper-counselor ratio, and what are the characteristics of most of the staff?
• What kind of staff training is provided?
• What percentage of campers return each year?
• What is the total cost of the camp, including extras?
• What are the sleeping arrangements, and what types of toilet and shower facilities exist?
• What is the swimming instruction program like?
• How does the camp insure the safety and security of its campers?
• What is the food like, and who prepares it?
• What is the policy about food packages, letters home, television, trips to town, etc.?
• What medical facilities are available, and what medical staff is on campus?
• Is there a refund policy if the camper leaves early?
• Will the director supply references?
• What happens when the weather is bad?
• How does the camp program meet individual needs and differences?
• What kind of insurance coverage exists?

Don’t feel self-conscious about asking dozens of questions. A good camp will have paid a lot of attention to these parental concerns and should be eager to respond to them.

Once you find a camp that suits the needs of your child, the ACA advises parents to consider the following points to help prepare their children for a rewarding camp experience:

• Consider camp as a learning experience. This is an opportunity for your child to explore a world bigger than his or her neighborhood. It will allow him or her to develop autonomy and a stronger sense of self, make new friends, develop new social skills, learn about teamwork, be creative and more.
• Prepare for camp together. Decisions about camp, like what to pack, should be a joint venture, keeping in mind your child’s maturity. If your child feels like he or she is a part of the decision-making process, his or her chances of having a positive experience will improve.
• Talk about concerns. As the first day of camp nears, some children experience uneasiness about going away. Encourage your child to talk about these feelings rather than acting on what you think his or her feelings may be. Communicate confidence in your child’s ability to handle being away from home.
• Have realistic expectations. Camp, like the rest of life, has high and low points. Not every moment will be filled with wonder and excitement. Encourage your child to have a reasonable and realistic view of camp. Discuss both the ups and downs your child may experience. Your child should not feel pressured to succeed at camp, either. The main purposes of camp are to relax and have fun.

Resources

• American Camping Association
• Disability Statistics
• National Camp Association How to Choose a Summer Camp

Tags: Sue Scheff, Summer Camps