This summer, I have the privilege of working for the Jewish Community Center of Milwaukee at their summer camp, Camp Gesher, for 4 year-old children. One amazing aspect of this camp is that it is open to the entire community regardless of race, gender, religion, or disability. Gesher Camp focuses on integrating those with disabilities with those without to enhance their experience and make them feel included with their peers. At my job I am responsible for administering first aid when necessary, supervise during field trips, help during private swimming lessons, and provide children with daily activities. In my group specifically, I have 2 campers that are moderately autistic. This means that they don’t have a severe case of autism but exhibit many of the behaviors associated with this disability. Some of the time I am working with the two boys one-on-one to ensure they are obeying rules and have proper guidance, though they are fully integrated into group activities. Both of these campers have a short fuse and get angry very easily causing them to throw temper tantrums and hold grudges at those who upset them. It can be very difficult to try and please the two boys I work with, but I have had so many positive experiences with them thus far. The intelligence and curiosity that these two boys exhibit is astounding and really impresses me. Whenever we go on a field trip, take walks around the neighborhood, or do art projects inside, these boys always have something new to observe and share with the rest of their peers or myself.
As I looked online for articles, I came across one describing the founding of a summer camp for children with Autism. According to the article, Camp Grey Squirrel provides children with Autism a safe place to interact socially and develop behavioral skills to bring back home to their families and friends. The director of the camp mentions that children with autism who are at summer camps with all types of individuals get bullied and aren’t provided the opportunity to succeed socially. I have experienced this at my service site to some extent, but I also don’t think that children know the extent of another child’s disability. They may just consider them “different” from themselves and not understand what a disability truly is. At my service site some children will bully the two boys with autism, but as counselors, it is our responsibility to talk to those who were bullying them and explain that they might act differently, but that they are the same as themselves and should be treated with the same respect.
This article raised many questions about summer camps specifically designed for children with disabilities. There are many pros and cons to weigh, but I still can’t decide if I am a supporter of these types of camps. I believe it can be beneficial for social aspects and providing children with disabilities a safe place to be themselves, though I still believe they need to be integrated into camps with children without disabilities to give them that same experience and stop excluding them from those types of activities. If children with disabilities are never integrated with children without disabilities, they won’t have the opportunity to learn how to socialize with children their age and succeed as they may wish.
As I looked online for articles, I came across one describing the founding of a summer camp for children with Autism. According to the article, Camp Grey Squirrel provides children with Autism a safe place to interact socially and develop behavioral skills to bring back home to their families and friends. The director of the camp mentions that children with autism who are at summer camps with all types of individuals get bullied and aren’t provided the opportunity to succeed socially. I have experienced this at my service site to some extent, but I also don’t think that children know the extent of another child’s disability. They may just consider them “different” from themselves and not understand what a disability truly is. At my service site some children will bully the two boys with autism, but as counselors, it is our responsibility to talk to those who were bullying them and explain that they might act differently, but that they are the same as themselves and should be treated with the same respect.
This article raised many questions about summer camps specifically designed for children with disabilities. There are many pros and cons to weigh, but I still can’t decide if I am a supporter of these types of camps. I believe it can be beneficial for social aspects and providing children with disabilities a safe place to be themselves, though I still believe they need to be integrated into camps with children without disabilities to give them that same experience and stop excluding them from those types of activities. If children with disabilities are never integrated with children without disabilities, they won’t have the opportunity to learn how to socialize with children their age and succeed as they may wish.