Website
Recreational Activities and Therapy Facility
1808 Lincoln Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 581-8101
Info@AdriansPlaceSM.com
Format: In-person programs
Adrian’s Place is a community hub helping young adults with disabilities create social connections by providing a space for them to “meet, talk, share experience, and offer advice” with their peers. Their programs provide a variety of options that bring together peers with similar interests or objectives, including recreational, social, and academic programs. During the program, campers will explore and develop “life skills, social skills, collaborative thinking, self-expression, peer interaction, problem solving, and independent growth.”
Dates and times: June 17-August 8, 2024, 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Location: Santa Monica
Register: Please visit their summer camp page to register online. Registration begins March 1, 2024.
Cost: $140 per day or $700 per week. Camp fees are due in full in order to secure your child’s spot. For those going through the Regional Center, your spot is reserved upon receipt of a purchase order from your Regional Center.
Ages and disabilities served: Ages 13–17 and 18+. All abilities are welcome.
1:1 aide: If an aide is helpful for your child, contact the Camp team to discuss your child’s needs. Any participants who are not self-sufficient in the bathroom or require personal care will need to have a caregiver or support person present.
Website
6001 Chesebro Rd.
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
(917) 697-2227
Licensed Clinical Psychologist: Dr. Lesli Preuss
Format: In-person day camp
Child psychologist Dr. Lesli Preuss developed the Buddy-Building Camp specifically for children “who struggle in mainstream summer camps,” designed to help them strengthen their social and emotional skills. Dr. Preuss supports the camper’s skill development by providing sports, arts, and nature-based activities. These activities provide campers with opportunities throughout the program to “develop and practice” skills such as team-building, sportsmanship, conflict resolution, and cooperative play. Camp activities include visiting many of the museums in the city, exploring the outdoors, enjoying nature, playing at the playgrounds, and exercising.
Dates and times: June 27-July 12, 2024, 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Location: Agoura Hills
Register: To register and get additional information, call (917) 697-2227 or email Lpreuss33@gmail.com. Consultation with Dr. Preuss is required before new campers can be accepted into the summer program.
Cost: $1,100 per week. While private insurance is not accepted, Dr. Preuss can assist you in completing paperwork to submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement.
Ages and disabilities served: Designed for ages 8–13, but the age range is flexible. The majority of campers are kids with autism, ADHD, emotional disabilities, learning disabilities, speech/language disabilities, and emotional disabilities.
1:1 aide: Campers don’t have 1:1 aides, but Dr. Preuss purposefully keeps the number of campers small to ensure that kids receive individualized attention from her and the counselors.
Website
Los Angeles, CA
(310) 494-6889
info@bloompediatrics.com
Format: In-person half-day or full-day camp
The in-person camp at Bloom Pediatrics uses occupational therapy principles to foster campers’ sensory exploration, fine and gross motor development, social thinking abilities, communication, emotional regulation, and executive functioning skills. Each day provides a structured environment for campers to participate in planned themed activities as well as free play. Music, games, obstacle courses, arts and crafts, and guided learning all provide campers with the opportunity to explore and practice their skills as well as participate in sensory integration exercises. Each day includes circle and snack time.
Dates and times: June 3–September 6, 2024
Location: West Los Angeles
Register: You can register for Camp Bloom online.
Cost: $1,425 per week.
Ages and disabilities served: Designed for ages 2.5–6, but they’re flexible. Children do not need to be receiving occupational therapy to participate and do not need to be toilet trained to attend.
1:1 aide: Campers don’t have 1:1 aides but are placed in small groups based on their age, abilities, areas of strength, and areas of stretch. There are no more than four children per group, so all the kids get individualized attention.
Website
500 Walnut Avenue
Fremont, CA 94536
(510) 951-1889
Short-Term Programs Coordinator: Erica Hogle
Format: In-person or online course
California School for the Blind’s Summer Academy program provides students with opportunities to explore new skills and technology through their weekly academies. Each week there are multiple academies for the student to choose from, featuring a unique variety of themes like Dungeons and Dragons, podcasting, food travel, science, coding STEM, sports, guide dogs, 3D printing, and more! Students can attend one academy per week.
Dates and times:
Location: Fremont or online
Register: To express interest in a course, fill out this CSB Summer Academy Interest Form.
Cost: Free
Ages and disabilities served: Each week is designed for a specific age range, with the youngest age being 9 years old. Students attending CSB courses have varying types and degrees of visual impairments; they do not need to be legally blind to participate.
1:1 aide: Students don’t have access to 1:1 aides.
Website
Momentum: Pediatric Therapy Network
1815 213th Street, Suite 100
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 328-0276
Format: In-person day camp
Camp Escapades’s traditional summer camp experience allows children of all abilities to have fun at camp rather than “meeting treatment goals.” Because they aim to be “inclusive of everyone’s needs,” the camp is staffed with a multidisciplinary team trained to adapt or modify activities for each camper. Though activities are done in groups, campers are able to have a family member present or be assigned a 1:1 assistant if they do not meet the criteria listed under the “Who is eligible” section. This criteria is designed to help families determine if their child is able to participate and have a “fun and safe experience,” as well as if they need a little extra support. Camp Escapades’s commitment and structure to make sure everyone’s needs are supported make it a welcoming environment for children with disabilities to participate in sensory experiences, dance, sports, fine motor skill development, music, games, yoga, cooking, and special events.
Dates and times: There are three week-long camps for 2024, all Monday to Friday, 9:15 a.m.–2:15 p.m.
Week 3: July 29–August 2
Location: Palos Verdes Peninsula
Register: Registration begins May 15, 2024. Check their camp FAQ section, which is toward the bottom of the camp page, for more information.
Cost: The cost is approximately $475 per week, plus $25 for a camp shirt. They are also vendored with Harbor Regional Center.
Ages and disabilities served: Ages 5–14. Activities and facilities are wheelchair-accessible.
1:1 aides: Camp Escapades has experience helping campers with significant support needs. Campers who need additional support or who do not meet the eligibility requirements might have a behavioral therapist, family member, or nurse attend with them. Additionally, each camper is paired with a 1:1 buddy, typically a high school student or college student who is exploring occupations working with children with disabilities. The buddies aren’t formal aides, but they encourage their campers to participate in camp activities.
Website
Brighton Hall
755 N Whitnall Hwy
Burbank, CA 91505
(818) 253-9082
newgrowthincla@gmail.com
Format: In-person day camp
Camp Kelly began in 2022 in Burbank and is run by New Growth, Inc. under Nicole Webb, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). As an adjunct professor at CSUN in the Child and Adolescent Development department, Nicole has worked with children and teens with autism, behavioral challenges, trauma, and other various disabilities or mental health conditions. Camp is staffed with trained behavioral professionals. There will be a 4:1 camper-to-staff ratio, and 1:1 support aides are permitted.
Activities include theme-based weeks, talent show day, music and camp songs, local field trips, arts and crafts, swimming and water play, cooking, sports (with a concentration on team and relationship-building skills), cooking, science experiments, social skills training, and sensory breaks and activities.
Dates: Camp runs in one-week sessions:
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Register: To register, complete the forms on the registration page.
Cost:
Age range: Camp Kelly is open to kids of all abilities from the ages of 5 to 18. Some common diagnoses they work with include autism, ADHD, emotional or behavioral challenges, Down syndrome, and other genetic disorders.
Website
1952 S. Robertson Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 280-0955
Program Director: Miriam Rav-Noy
Format: In-person day camp
Friendship Circle of Los Angeles is a community center with a mission to lend “a helping hand to families through their social and Judaic programs.” Through these programs, they hope to “form a seamless circle of friendship” among Jewish youth with disabilities, families who have children with disabilities, and teenage volunteers. At their summer camp, teenage volunteers are “empowered and enriched” to support the youth they work with. While at camp, volunteers and campers socialize and participate in games, sports, activities, and field trips.
Dates and times: July 22-August 9, 2024
Location: 1952 S. Robertson Blvd. 90034 (Division A) & 356 N La Brea Ave, LA, CA 90036 (Division B)
Register: Prospective campers and their parents can register for FCLA on their website’s registration page. After this general registration, campers will have an intake meeting with the Program Director Miriam Rav-Noy, and an additional application process specifically for the summer camp can begin after that. Parents can email Miriam Rav-Noy for more information about beginning the process.
Cost: $600 per week or $1,800 for all three weeks. FCLA has a vendor number (Hw0425) and service code (850) with Westside Regional Center and accepts Self-Determination funding. You can also reach out to billing to discuss scholarships.
Ages and disabilities served: Ages 5–18. FCLA welcomes kids with a range of disabilities. While FCLA does not currently have any campers who are wheelchair users, they will do their best to secure transportation and facilities that are wheelchair-accessible with advance notice.
1:1 aide: Campers aren’t given 1:1 aides, but they are each partnered with a teen volunteer or buddy. They’re also welcome to attend camp with their own aide present.
Website
2108 Vail Avenue
Redondo Beach, CA 90278
(310) 214-6677
info@friendshipfoundation.com
Format: In-person day camp and field trips
The Friendship Foundation provides disabled children and young adults a safe and socially inclusive environment so that they can enjoy all the fun that comes with a full day camp experience. This six-week camp provides “nonstop fun” through a variety of activities such as art, music, science, dance, cooking, adaptive sports, themed days (water day, reptile day, superhero day, etc.), and field trips! Families also have two other camp options: Ocean Therapy with J.M.M.F., which focuses on the “therapeutic benefits of ocean and surf therapy,” as well as Beach Camp with Beach Sports, featuring dodgeball, swim, and other fun beach games.
Dates and times:
Location: Meadows Elementary School
Register: Register online here. Registration begins May 7, 2024. Campers ages 8–35+ must register for each week separately.
Cost: $350 per week. Financial assistance is available. Applications are available online.
Ages and disabilities served: Age varies based on program. The Friendship Foundation serves campers with a range of disabilities. Facilities at Pacific Elementary School are wheelchair-accessible.
1:1 aide: The Friendship Foundation has experience working with campers who need additional support from an aide or caregiver. While they do not provide aide services, they permit families to bring aides as needed to any of their programs, and they do provide a 1:1 volunteer for each camper.
Website
1137 S. Point View Street
Los Angeles, CA 90035
(323) 641-3662
Leah@hillertherapy.com
Please note: As of February 2024, the summer camps page has not been updated for summer 2024. Please check back for 2024’s dates and registration information. In the meantime, you can review the information below from 2023’s camp to get an idea of the program!
Format: In-person and virtual classes
Leah Hiller’s programs and summer camps are designed to meet the needs of each child and strengthen their skills in a play-based “vibrant natural environment.” The clinic offers several clubs between February and November, including Handwriting Club, Climbing Minds, Social Club, Making Mealtime Matters, and Sensory Explorers. Each year, Hiller’s team puts together a themed summer camp to support children in developing skills, such as executive functioning, fine motor skills, and self-regulation.
Dates and times: TBA
Location: Los Angeles
Ages and disabilities served: Ages 5–8. Kids don’t have to be in OT to participate.
Cost: Camp costs $600 for each seven-session group. Superbills are provided if applicable.
Registration: Register via the form here.
1:1 aides: Participants don’t have a 1:1 aide, but groups are capped at eight participants to make sure there is a 2:1 student-to-teacher ratio.
Website
The Help Group Autism Center
13164 Burbank Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91401
(818) 779-5103
Format: In-person day camp
Camp Sunshine is a day camp organized by The Help Group, a non-profit providing resources and services for families who have children with autism, “learning disabilities, ADHD, developmental delays, and abuse and emotional challenges.” Camp Sunshine, along with their other Kids Like Me Camps, is designed to provide opportunities for campers to “engage, experience, and explore” activities and skills. For Camp Sunshine, this includes life skills, independence, fostering relationships, and building confidence and self-esteem. This creativity-focused camp is perfect for children and adolescents with autism to develop their “unique strengths and abilities through themed activities.” For a specialized enrichment camp focused on learning, language, attention, social, and sensory “challenges,” check out their Village Glen Camp.
Dates and times:
Location: Sherman Oaks
Register: Register through Brightwheel.
Cost: $675 per week. They accept Self-Determination funding and are vendored through Regional Center.
Ages and disabilities served: 6-16 years old. The program is designed for children with autism who have higher support needs.
1:1 aide: While they do not offer 1:1 aides, this camp does feature a staff-to-camper ratio of 1:3.
Website
11609 ½ Washington Place
Los Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 775-0356
office@playspacepediatrics.com
Format: In-person programming
PlaySpace Pediatrics is an occupational therapy clinic specializing in sensory integration, social/emotional regulation, fine motor and oral skills development, and feeding therapy. Thanks to their interdisciplinary team, the clinic offers a wide range of services, including group programs, occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, and educational specialist services, as well as camps for summer, winter, and spring. Their camps use play-based therapy to help children develop their fine/gross motor, sensory processing, emotional regulation, and social skills. To target these skills, PlaySpace uses techniques from Social Thinking, Handwriting without Tears, and Zones of Regulation curriculum. Campers are grouped up with three to four other children based on similar needs. These groups are led by PlaySpace’s team of occupational therapists, masters-level occupational therapy students, behaviorists, and aides.
Dates and times: Camp runs in one-week sessions from June 3 to August 2, 2024.
Location: PlaySpace Pediatrics in Los Angeles
Register: Register by emailing office@playspacepediatrics.com.
Cost: $850 for the regular day option, $1,350 for the extended day option.
Ages and disabilities served: Ages 2.5-6. PlaySpace welcomes kids with autism, cerebral palsy, developmental differences, sensory processing disorder, social-emotional needs, and other disabilities. Participants do not need to receive an initial evaluation or other occupational therapy services to participate.
1:1 aide: Participants do not have a 1:1 aide; they are matched with a small group of peers with similar needs.
Website
5761 Buckingham Parkway
Culver City, CA 90230
(310) 649-6199
reception@speakLA.com
Format: In-person day camp
This summer camp is “an intense program” led by the speech-language pathologists at L.A. Speech & Language Therapy Center. Serving children with autism, speech or language disabilities, and developmental disabilities, Say N’ Play helps campers develop their speech and language skills during this intensive six-week program. Each week is filled with individual or small group speech therapy, speech and language stimulation, and thematic activities and outings. In addition to their 1:2 staff-to-camper ratio, they have high school and college-age volunteers known as “Speech Buddies” present as “an extra pair of eyes, hands, and hugs.” Thanks to their diverse staff, the camp is able to provide services in English, Spanish, Japanese, Farsi, Malayalam, Hindi, and American Sign Language.
Dates and times:
Session 2: July 8–July 26, 2024
Location: Culver City
Register: Register online using the form at the bottom of the camp page.
Cost: $5,000 for six weeks. Funding may be provided by the Regional Center.
Age and disabilities served: 3–16 years old. The program is designed for children with disabilities, such as autism, or who use AAC.
1:1 aide: The staff-to-camper ratio is 1:2 or 1:1 depending on each child’s unique needs, as determined by the Say N’Play team.
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