News and Knowledge

This article is a modified version of an article that was originally published in the May 2006 issue of The OARacle.

Summer is the time of year when we kick back, take time to relax (or at least slow down), and enjoy outdoor activities. As I reflect back on my summers as a child, one activity in particular stands out above all others — going to camp.

Camp provides an avenue for children to enjoy outdoor adventure and physical challenge and build community around their special interests while participating in activities that they enjoy. They are also exposed to social interaction and team building skills, and communication often increases as they share and learn about their interests and the experiences of others. Along the way, they often find new friends and build skills.

Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) can benefit from and thrive in camp environments. When well supported, children with ASD are able to fully participate and integrate into the camp experience. Whether attending a camp specifically for children with ASD or participating in general camp settings, your child can enjoy a fun and successful summer camp season.

Questions to Ask

Prior to the start of camp, parents of children with ASD should familiarize themselves with the environment where they intend to send their child. It is best to contact the director to make sure that they are aware of details about your child they need to know and that you know important details about the camp. Questions like these can help:

• What is the camper to counselor ratio?
• How many campers will be participating?
• What is the specific schedule of the week?
• What is the routine of each day?
• What adaptations could be made if needed?

Take time to explain the strengths and needs of your child. Provide information about stress triggers, calming activities, and how best to handle an outburst or meltdown. If your child has a limited diet, needs assistance when toileting or showering, or tends to wander off if unsupervised, mention these as well and see how the camp director responds. Detail what adaptations would be most beneficial, and ask how best to incorporate them within the camp structure. You might suggest adding:

• Visual instructions
• A portable schedule
• A one-on-one “safe person” that your child could refer to if they have questions or need help
• Transition cues
• Short breaks or down time when needed
• Sensory preferences
• Debriefing at the end of the day

The more information shared and gathered prior to camp, the more prepared the camp, the staff, and your child will be for the experience.

Preparing Your Camper at Home

Make sure your camper is prepared by providing information about what to expect. Draft a short social narrative detailing activities and anything that may be unfamiliar to your child, such as sharing a cabin bathroom with other campers or rules for participating in activities around a campfire. After the routine has been reviewed, ask questions so your child can run through what to do in particular situations. Practicing those situations will allow your child to think through an interaction and determine a variety of solutions in a calm state of mind. If and when they occur, your child is more prepared to deal with them effectively.

If you are packing for overnight camp, place sets of clothes in large plastic bags – including shorts, shirt, socks, and underwear. This makes it easy for your child to choose what to wear.

You may also want to send along an object that your camper cherishes to remind the child of home and to offer comfort when needed. This item should be carefully selected because it will be entering the camp setting. Do not choose something that will devastate the child if it is broken, soiled, or lost. Including a few photographs that could be hung beside the bunk or making a list of friends and family that will be thinking of the camper during the week could be enough. Be sure to check with the camp director to ensure that the item selected by your camper is allowed at camp. Some camps, for example, do not allow electronics such as portable video games or CD players at camp. Having a dearly loved item confiscated is not the way to start a camp experience.

Enjoy the Week

Your child is ready to enter a wonderful experience full of adaptations and supports that encourage growth, resilience, and independence, while also offering opportunities to participate in a group with other children with similar interests. Give yourself opportunities as well—do whatever you need or want to do so that you enjoy the week your child is at camp. When your child has returned home, you can compare happy notes on your time apart.

Jill Hudson, M.S., CCLS, is the author of Cabins, Canoes and Campfires: Guidelines for Establishing a Summer Camp for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (AAPC, 2005).