A developmental disabilities camp caters to children with special needs who often require more guidance than the more neurotypical camper. Most but not all kids who attend camp are diagnosed with attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity (ADD/ADHD), Asperger syndrome, autismSee More »

A developmental disabilities camp caters to children with special needs who often require more guidance than the more neurotypical camper. Most but not all kids who attend camp are diagnosed with attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity (ADD/ADHD), Asperger syndrome, autism, pervasive developmental disabilities (PDD) and other learning disabilities. A percentage of the camp population, however, is often comprised of developmentally mainstream kids in order to promote social skills while having the children experience independence in an environment of security and trust. Many of these kids struggle with organizational, time-management and problem-solving skills, and such, tools and programs have been developed to help them with planning and learning to find solutions to common problems.

Supervision: Many counselors of a developmental disability camp are trained individuals from the fields of education and psychology, who have undergone or continuously undergo camp-specialized training programs involving topics such as behavior techniques and different learning styles.

What to Ask the Camp Director: Prior to enrollment, the camp usually holds an interview in order to determine if the camp would be the right fit for the child. Ask about calling or visiting arrangements (as camps generally do not allow random visitation), or what the camp's procedure is in case of emergency.

Medical Considerations: If medication is required for the child, it will be dispensed by trained medical professionals on staff, and doctors are on call as well, usually from the nearest hospital from camp.