As school lets out for summer in the Seattle area, many families lean on day camps to provide essential childcare and opportunities for their children to play, socialize, and learn new skills in the sun.
However, for parents of children with disabilities, the search for welcoming day camps can be particularly daunting.
Adjua Dupree shares the struggles she faces in finding summer programs for her 7-year-old daughter, Gwen, who has Down syndrome and enjoys activities like playgrounds, singing, and swimming.
Dupree notices a stark contrast between the school year and summer camp options for Gwen. During the school year, Gwen finds joy in learning alongside typically developing children, but summer presents significant challenges.
Many day camps are either not equipped to accommodate her daughter’s mobility challenges or impose conditions that are impractical for families, such as requiring a caregiver to accompany the child all day.
Dupree meticulously scrutinizes camp websites for signs of inclusivity, and even then, she often has to call the camp directors to assess their willingness to welcome children with disabilities.
Unfortunately, some camps have begun listing frequently asked questions that effectively state their inability to accommodate children with disabilities, causing Dupree to feel excluded right from the start.
For parents of neurodivergent children, the uncertainty doesn’t end with initial inquiries.
Andrea, who has an 8-year-old son with ADHD and sensory challenges, recounts experiences ranging from successful camp weeks to what parents like her refer to as ‘The Call’ — when a camp informs them that their child cannot continue due to behavioral issues without providing any specifics.
In one instance, Andrea’s son was sent home mid-week from a camp where he was engaged in art projects, leaving no opportunity for reflection or discussion about behavior.
Another heart-wrenching experience occurred during a dance day camp that Andrea’s son was eager to attend. Just days into the program, the camp director said he could not finish the week.
“He cried all the way home,” Andrea recalled. “It’s heartbreaking, actually — that he can’t have the same experiences as his peers.
Despite some progress, many camps have begun offering only limited ‘inclusive weeks’ specifically for children with disabilities.
These options often clash with schedules, serving as a reminder of the limited access to summer activities for children with special needs.
Gwen’s mother, Dupree, has found a silver lining in the City of Seattle’s offerings, which include a commendable day camp for kids with disabilities.
However, this camp runs just four hours a day for only four weeks, a stark comparison to the day-long camps available for typically developing kids that span all summer long across numerous local sites.
Dupree praises the Seattle Children’s PlayGarden in Mt. Baker, a day camp dedicated to accessibility and inclusivity.
With specialized play equipment and a vibrant garden full of sunflowers and berries, Dupree feels reassured leaving Gwen at a camp where her daughter is celebrated for who she is.
Gwen can freely explore, enhance her skills, and engage in different activities, making for a happy and fulfilling summer experience.
On a recent visit, the campers participated in a morning dance party and then engaged in creative soap-making activities.
For older teens and young adults like 16-year-old Ronnie Papp, the PlayGarden’s environment has been transformative.
Papp, who has a neurological condition affecting her movement, expressed her experiences at other camps where she often felt left out.
“Whenever I walk in these gates, it’s just so happy,” Papp shared. “You’re always accepted, and even if you can’t do one thing, the counselors and staff always try to include you.”
Liz Bullard, the founder of the PlayGarden, frames the integration of kids with disabilities alongside their typically developing peers as beneficial for all, including siblings.
Despite the success of the PlayGarden, which has maintained its commitment to inclusive programs since its inception, Bullard acknowledges that the broader replication of such models remains limited in the region.
Preparing a wide range of inclusive camps requires adequate resources and components, such as staffing, to ensure all children receive the support they need.
Many camps express concerns about how to accommodate different scenarios, such as accessibility at outdoor settings, but Bullard argues that many solutions are simple and need open-mindedness and a willingness to adapt.
More comprehensive communication strategies, such as sharing camp schedules in advance and discussing behavioral management techniques beforehand, would significantly help families.
Moreover, while some parents refrain from disclosing their child’s disabilities for fear of exclusion, Bullard encourages transparency.
The PlayGarden actively promotes the idea that sharing insights from parents can enhance a child’s camp experience and benefit the staff who work with them.
Nonetheless, the cost of staffing remains the largest hurdle for camps aiming for comprehensive inclusivity.
The PlayGarden has benefitted from public funding and training opportunities; however, they have seen a dip in financial support in recent years, relying increasingly on private donations to sustain their programs.
In a recent statement, the Seattle Parks Department acknowledged the demand for specialized programming for children with disabilities, stating that they offer four weeks of day camp and overnight camp, albeit recognizing their current limitations in funding and resources.
Dupree seeks more public investment in services and programs that could foster inclusivity in mainstream day camps for children with disabilities.
The drive for inclusivity shouldn’t just come from a select few programs; it should expand across all camps so that all children can participate fully in various summer activities.
“Parents of disabled kids, too, want their kids to have these very vibrant summer activities, want them to be in theater — to build robots, to be doing math, and playing in the woods, learning about nature,” Dupree emphasized.
“That’s not just parents of typically-developing kids. We all want that for all of our kids.”
As the summer approaches, the continuing conversation around inclusivity in day camps is paramount.
The experiences of children with disabilities, along with their families, are a call to action for those who plan and organize summer programs to adapt and broaden access, ensuring that every child can enjoy the fullness of summer.
image source from：kuow
