Summer Camps For Children With Learning Disabilities

If you are a parent of a child with learning disabilities, then you probably know summer camp can be one of two things- either a total success, or an unmitigated disaster.

Children with learning disabilities are often uncoordinated, or have perceptual or behavioral problems. If camp counselors don't know how to handle these difficulties then quite simply "all hell will break loose". It won't be pleasant for you, and it certainly won't be pleasant for your child.

Since you are the consumer you have the right to ask any and all questions you wish in order to better understand the camp program. Some of those questions might be:

• the minimum age for senior counselors and junior counselors?
• the ratio of campers to senior counselor in the cabin?
• the background of the camp director, program director, and section director?
• who handles cabin on counselor's day off?
• program orientation (do campers go to activities with their counselors and cabinmates, individually or both? How much activity choice is there?)

You may also want to ask staff:

• What happens when a child does not want to participate in an activity-is poor in an activity?
• How much flexibility is there concerning the level of activity at which a child participates- if he is 15 years old and cannot swim, does he have a swim instruction with his cabinmates or with non-swimmers.
• How sophisticated are the activities?

More important considerations:

• what forms of discipline are used?
• how strict is the camp?
• how many rules are there?
• how does the staff handle teasing, scapegoating and rejection?
• are children ever moved from one group to another?
• are parents contacted if there is a concern about the child?
• on what basis would a decision be made to terminate a child's stay at camp?
• would any monies be refunded? and if so how much?
• has the camp served children with learning disabilities before? How has it worked out?
• what were the attributes of children who adjusted most and least easily to your camp?
• what are the campers like, typically?
• what are the goals of the camp for its campers?

Some final questions to ponder:

• is there any feedback provided at the end of the camp concerning how a child has done, his/her gains, friends made, coping skills, etc...? Is this report verbal or in writing?
• what are the camp rules re: visiting, telephoning, etc...?
• what can you as a parent share with the camp that will be helpful?
• what equipment would be helpful to send?

[Article reprinted with permission from the LDA of Manitoba Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 1, June 1988.]

Learning Disabilities Association of Montgomery County, MD (LDAMC, Inc.) is an affiliate of LDA of America.

We are a volunteer, parent/professional organization established to support individuals with Learning Disabilities

(including ADHD) and their families. Registered in the State of Maryland as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

All dues and contributions are tax-deductible.

www.LDAMC.org (301) 933-1076 ldamc@ldamc.org

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