Ethical Accommodation
“I don’t know the first thing about accommodations,” I said to my friend, the director of a camp that serves young burn survivors. “Yes, you do,” he insisted.
Audible Cues
Goalball and Beep Baseball are popular competitive sports for those who are blind or visually impaired. There are local, state, national and international leagues associated with both games. There is even a
Specialty Swimming Instruction
Aggghhhhhhhhh!!!!” Sara screams as her parents struggle to get her into her bathing suit for her first swim lesson. She’s terrified of the water, the unfamiliar surroundings, and the change in routine.
Find A Way To “YES!”
Twenty years ago, as a new challenge-course facilitator, I was asked to take a group with special needs through some initiatives and low-course elements. I remember being stumped on choosing the activity line-up since there was limited information about the participants and an understanding of what they could do.
Welcome To Morgan’s Wonderland
“Where everyone can play.” These four words aptly describe Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio, the world’s first theme park designed with special-needs individuals in mind and built for everyone’s enjoyment.
Climbing Toward Success
At Camp Courage, a place where abilities and disabilities become possibilities, campers are given the opportunity to test themselves and go beyond expectations.
Level The Playing Field
Working at a not-for-profit camp that serves children and adults with special needs and challenging illnesses, I often take for granted the powerful impact of having a barrier-free
All-Access Athletics
There's a difference between a camp with facilities that are ADA-compliant, and those that are truly welcoming to individuals with physical challenges. Make no mistake--ADA was groundbreaking. But
Therapy Through Horses
Horseback riding is considered to be one of the most unique and beneficial forms of therapy for individuals with disabilities. It has been proven that a horse’s gait, which is similar to a human’s wal
Partnering With Parents
Autism Ontario Kids (AOK) Camp & Adult Summer Program (AOA) is a day camp for children, youth, and adults with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The camp was established 26
Give Pause For Patience
Some people think that accessibility for the disabled simply means that a person in a wheelchair has a ramp available.
Secrets For Success
All kids need a little camp in their lives! The fellowship and joy of the camp experiencemust be made available to as many children as possible. Currently, too many children spend too
Children On The Autistic Spectrum
“How’s Max holding up?” I ask a camp director who recently agreed to host this camper with autism.
Training Staff To Work With Special-Needs Campers
Every spring, camps around the country turn their attention to recruiting, hiring, and training the staff that they hope will provide the best summer experience for campers.
Open The Door
Most camps with a focus on social and emotional development embrace the idea of inclusivity and diversity. However, if our camps mean to serve with integrity, that inclusivity of special needs populations requires a lot of thoughtful preparation.
Accepting Differences
Heading home from camp, I realized something was different when my oldest son said, “Mom, if you want to stop at the ice cream place, I’ve got money left from my camp account,”
Camp Hooray
If Toni Boyd could have described her emotions on the day she dropped off her daughter Samantha at summer camp for the first time, she would have used one word—terrified.
Partnering In Sight
Can you recall your favorite summer camp memory as a child? Maybe it was the time you went kayaking or tubing across the lake. Perhaps it was when you went swimming with your friends
Is This Camp For Special Kids?
The first question campers often ask their parents is, “Are you sending me to a camp for special kids?” Or when they first meet their counselors, “Is this a camp for special kids?” This is really a critical question for
Develop A Bag Of Tricks
Camp is a magical place. From the crackling of the fire while roasting the perfect s’mores, the dew glistening off the grass in the early morning, the crickets chirping outside a cabin or tent, the flying dodge