Camps for Children and Adults with Disabilities (Updated March 2024)

Description:

American Camp Association’s Camp Finder - Lists camps accredited by ACA. The advanced search function allows you to search by disability, distance from home, inclusive camps, and other variables.
VerySpecialCamps - Summer Camps & Programs for Individuals with Special Needs
MySummerCamps (general finder) - Find the Perfect Summer Camp for Your Child!
Virginia Special Needs Camps - Virginia Special Needs day and overnight camps and programs (Camp/Resource.com)

KidsHealth Camp Information: The benefits of camp, different types, how to search, questions to ask staff, etc.
Learning Disabilities Online Camp article: Article by Ann Cathcart, the director and founder of The Learning Camp and the parent of a child with a learning disability, tells you how to evaluate summer camps and select one that is right for your child.

Excerpted from April 2024 E-news from Formed Families Forward:

Once a program is chosen, preparing ahead of time. Here are suggestions to ease the transition:

Empower your children by encouraging them to help make the choices about which camps or programs they attend.
To ease anxiety, visit the facilities in advance (if possible) and rehearse transitions to and from camp.
Prior to camp, show enthusiasm! Get your child excited about camp and all of the fun opportunities they will have.
Avoid focusing on abstract concepts like homesickness or potential relationships and instead focus on concrete details.
In addition, check out the Happy Camper: Making Summer Camps Accessible guide from the Disability Law Center of Virginia.

The original camp information was provided by Camping for All, 2020. (Updated March 2024)

Parent/Family Professional Resources Recreation