Will the camp you're interested in be a good fit for your child? Learn what questions to ask camp directors to help you evaluate your options for summer programming for kids with disabilities.
For more information, see our article How to Find Your Kid’s Best Summer Camp: Funding Options, Questions to Ask, and the 411 on What Camps Must Provide.
Adriana:
Number one, do you have experience working with kids with disabilities? Just tell them this, "I would love to speak to the camp director to see if the camp would be a good fit for my child," and be prepared with specific accommodations that your child might need in order to be successful and ask how the camp can support them. And you'll know by how they answer if it feels right.
Number two, can a one-to-one aide accompany my child to provide extra support? If your child really needs that support, it's important to get that taken care of ahead of time.
Lindsay:
Absolutely, and Adriana I want to interject really fast because we did have several questions ahead of time about can parents be aides at the camp? And you and I sort of talked about that, and I think it would be the same question, right, that you would have for any camp. Can we have an aide? Can I be that aide? You know, to ask if you do want to be that support for your child. That's what you're hearing as well, right? It would be the same thing. Same questions you would have for any camp.
Adriana:
Yes, I agree. Number three, how do you encourage socialization with kids who might communicate, behave, or interact in unique ways? You're going to understand how they answer you, big difference, right. You're asking them how might that look? Be that pushy parent. Ultimately, does this camp enthusiastically support inclusive play, accessibility, camp buddies, peer modeling, and celebrating each child for who they are?
Be honest about what your child needs but also what motivates them. Are they responding to your child's strengths or focusing on what they shouldn't do? You'll get the hint right away if they're really focusing on weakness as opposed to strengths and how they're going to uplift them this summer.
Lindsay:
Absolutely. Ask for specifics about, great, what would you do in this situation, to see if it's like, I really don't know. What's the answer? Or if it's like, hey, we would love to talk to you. We'd love to come up with those solutions, like, how does it feel and ask for specifics.
Adriana:
Number four, we also encourage families to ask important logistical questions around any enrollment requirements. Like, do they require a child to be toilet trained and specific safety concerns. For instance, do they have a fenced perimeter if your child tends to elope? And again, you know, good communication before and during camp can help avoid surprises while you're educating the staff on the best motivations for your child.
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