Birthday's and Autism

Adam gets asked by a lot of people to have him over.  Partly because they realize Adam is a genuinely cool kid they want to spend time with and other reasons because he is quite the entertaining little boy.

Here is a beautiful post about a person whose son with Autism got a Birthday invite and they didn't have to decline it.

Son with Autism got a birthday invite.

The First Time My Son With Autism Got a Birthday Invite I didn't Have to Decline

Super Cool mom receives an invite for her son to attend a birthday party and she did not have to decline the invitation.

My son Adam, who has Autism constantly asks if we can get a pet and I have always been concerned about how he would handle a pet until I came across this article about a heartwarming friendship of a 5 year old girl with Autism and Her Therapy cat.  Now I think we not only should think about getting a pet for Adam but we Must get a pet for Adam.  Read on.....

Heartwarming Friendship of a 5 Year old Girl With Autism and Her Therapy Cat

Remember when we wrote about Iris Grace, the incredibly talented 5-year-old girl with autism who paints beautiful pictures? It turns out that she has a behind-the-scenes helper who’s also worthy of praise – that’s Thula, her therapeutic cat.,,,,,Read more

Heartwarming Friendship Of A 5-Year-Old Girl With Autism And Her Therapy Cat

I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas about owning pets for a child with Autism.  Are you for it or are you against it?  Your feedback is much welcomed ~

Summer Fun and Camps for kids with Autism

Once the school year is over, many families with children on the autism spectrum are stumped. Even if your child qualifies for Extended School Year programs, those programs are limited in length and unlikely to include fun recreational activities.

Luckily, quite a few camps cater to kids with autism. Less luckily, many of the camps listed in the directories listed below are quite expensive. To find day camps and/or less expensive options, check your local camp listings and fairs, and be sure to contact your local YMCA and/or Jewish Community Center (JCC).

• Federation for Children with Special Needs (Northeastern United States)

The Federation for Children with Special Needs has collected a set of linked camp listings for various disorders. While there is a set of camps that are specifically for kids with autism, it's worthwhile reviewing those that cater to kids with learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and other issues that might overlap your child's specific areas of challenge.

• OASIS Camp Listings for Kids with Asperger Syndrome

OASIS is a comprehensive website for Asperger Syndrome, and their camp listings are fairly extensive. Be aware that they do skew toward programs that are appropriate for higher functioning kids. 

Autism Summer Camp

www.summitcamp.com

Summer Camp for children with mild emotional concerns. Ages 7-17

• Easter Seals Summer Camps

Easter Seals provides summer camps and recreational programs for children and adults of all abilities. These programs are geared solely to people with special needs, which means they are not inclusive. 

• The Center for Children with Special Needs (Northwest United States)

Search by type of camp and type of disability to find the right match for your child. These camps are largely in the state of Washington or nearby. 

• Very Special Camps

Very Special Camps is a website dedicated entirely to listings of special needs camps. They list several dozen camps around the country that are specifically dedicated to kids on the autism spectrum. 

• YMCA Camps

YMCA camps are not specifically geared to special needs, but most will work hard to find a way to include your child. If you're more interested in day camp than residential camp, contact your local YMCA. If you have both typically developing and autistic kids, both can attend a Y camp -- and, even better, both you and your kids can take part in year-round Y activities. 

• Kids' Camps Directory: Camps for Kids with Autism/Aspergers

This is another general camp directory, but it includes an impressive collection of camps and programs specifically geared to kids on the autism spectrum. Search by state. 

• Jewish Community Center (JCC) Camps

Like the YMCA, the JCC strives to include people of all abilities in its programs. Some JCC camps (like the one in Medford, N.J.) have terrific support for inclusion. Others are more than willing to admit your child with a 1:1 aide. And some will work with you to include your child without special support.  While JCC camps are nominally Jewish, all are open to youngsters from any religious background. To find a local JCC camp, call your local JCC. 

• Wilderness Inquiry Family and Youth Programs

I've never experienced this organization's special needs family wilderness programs, but gave them a call and found that they are knowledgeable about and accommodating to the needs of autistic people. Accommodations include picture boards and visual supports, special menu planning, and up-front interviews with families to ensure that all needs are met.

The following is a list of camps that might be beneficial to your child if he/she has autism.

4-H Camp Bristol Hills

Abenaki-Mascoma Day Camp

Abington Parks and Recreation Department

AccesSport America

ADA Camp Carefree

Adaptive Sports Center

Adventurelore Programs

Adventure Zone Inc.

Agassiz Village

Aspire Summer Camp

Bear Hill 4H Camp

Berkshire Hills Music Academy Summer Program

Berwick Boys Foundation

Boys Scouts of America

Breezy Hill Farm

Bridgewater Recreation Commission

Camp Agassiz

Camp Allen

Camp An-Se-Ox

Camp Aspetuck

Camp Barrington

Camp Burgess & Hayward

Camp Calumet

Camp Candlewood

Camp CaPella Inc.

Camp Carlson

Camp Cedar Hill

Camp Chickami

Camp Clark

Camp Common Ground

Camp Communicate

Camp Coniston, Inc.

Camp Connolly

Camp Discovery

Camp Echo Bridge

Camp Edith Read

Camp Emerson

Camp Encore Coda

Camp Farley

Camp Farnsworth

Camp Fatima

Camp Favorite

Camp Fire USA, Eastern Massachusetts Council

Camp Frank A Day

Camp Habonim

Camp Half Moon

Camp Harkness

Camp Harrington

Camp HASC

Camp Horizons, Inc.

Camp Howe, Inc.

Camp Huntington

Camp Jabberwocky

Camp Jewell YMCA

Camp Joy

Camp Kaleidoscope

Camp Katoya

Camp Kee-wanee

Camp Laurel

Camp Lawrence

Camp Lawroweld

Camp Lewis Perkins

Camp Lincoln

Camp Marshall

Camp Massapoag

Camp Massasoit

Camp Maude Eaton

Camp Mechuwana

Camp Merrie-Woodv

Camp Nokomis

Camp Northwood

Camp Otter

Camp Pattagansett

Camp Pennacook

General Disability Cont'd

 

Camp Pikati

Camp Pine Cone

Camp Polliwog

Camp Putnam

Camp Ramapo

Camp Rice Moody

Camp Runels

Camp S.T.A.R. (Supporting Therapeutic & Accessible Recreation)

Camp Sangamon

Camp Satucket

Camp STAR

Camp Susan Curtis

Camp Thorpe

Camp Timber Trails

Camp Timbercrest

Camp Triumph

Camp Twin Hills

Camp Virginia

Camp Wapanacki

Camp Watchaug

Camp Waziyatah

Camp Wee-Kan-Tu

Camp West Woods

Camp Wind in-the-Pines Girl Scout Camp

Camp Winnetaska

Camp Woodhaven

Camp Yomechas

Center Church Camp Asto Wamah

Clover Patch Camp

Duxbury Bay Maritime School/AccessSail

Easter Seals Camp Hemlocks

Easter Seals Summer Camps

Exploration Summer Program

Grotonwood General

Gresh Academy West Hills Day Camp

Harbor Explorers at Piers Park Sailing Center

Harbor Hills Day Camp

Hillside School Summer Term

Inly School Day Camp

Kettleford Day Camp

Lions Camp Pride

Madden Open Hearts Camp

Maplewood Country Day Camp

Mascoma Day Camp

Med O Lark

Newton Therapeutic Recreation Program

Nobles Day Camp

Oceanwood

Onyahsa

Outdoor Explorations

Outward Bound U.S.A.

Pequossett Summer Program

Performing Arts Center of Metrowest

Pinewoods Dance Camp

Playball Baseball Camp

Polliwog Creative Arts Camp

Ponkapoag Outdoor Camp

Raynham Parks and Recreation Department

Rolling Ridge

Roxbury YMCA

Search Beyond Adventures

Seawood Day Camp

Seeds of Peace

Somerville YMCA

South Shore YMCA Camps

Student Hostelling Program, Inc.

Summer Camp Hale Reservation

Summer Youth Sailing Program

Techgirlz

The Bridge Center Summer Camps

The Drama Play Connection

The Giving Camp

The Guided Tour, Inc.

The Paul Center for Learning and Recreation

The Summer Camp, Inc.

Tiny Tadpoles

UNH 4H Camps

Universal Access Program

Variety Club Camp and Developmental Center

West Suburban YMCA

Whispering Pines Day Camp

Windsor Mountain Summer Camp-Deaf Plus

YWCA

[back to category list]

HIV/AIDS

 

Camp Amerikids

Intellectual Disabilities

Camp Akeela

Camp Bar Tovi

Camp Chazak

Camp Huntington

Camp Lee Mar

Camp Little Notch

Camp Pinecrest

Camp Tova

Confidence Connection

Confidence is Cool Summer Camp

Katy Isaacson Elaine Gordon Lodge

Neil Klatskin Day Camp

Pine Tree Camp

Sprout, Inc.

The Charles River Center

Variety Club Camp and Developmental Center

Wediko New Hampshire Summer Program

Learning Disabilities

Camp Huntington

Camp Lee Mar

Camp Maple Leaf

Camp Sequoia

Camp Shriver at Umass

Camp Starfish

Confidence Connection

Eagle Hill Summer Program

Landmark School Summer Program

Linden Hill Summer Program

Ramapo Anchorage CampRiverview Summer Program

SOAR

Summer@Carroll

The Learning Camp

The Summit Camp

Wediko New Hampshire Summer Program

Autism and 9/11 The Challenges Faced by a Single Dad

I remember what life was like pre 9-11.  How that day robbed us of our false sense of security and how we are even more cautious with our children and our families.

I came across an interesting read about a single dads experience dealing with 9-11 and his son who has autism.  I thought it was a good read so I am including it here for you to read as well.

Even though I am not on this journey alone and I have my wife to help me with the children there are times that either one of us might find ourselves alone with the kids and as a parent, any parent, Autism or not we all face the daunting difficulties since 9-11 in raising our children and ensuring that they are safe, that our families and homes are safe and that we are there to protect them.

I hope you enjoy:

On the anniversary of 9/11 I am remembering many things about that day. As a New Yorker, I recall the day itself, those I know who perished, and the eerie still of the great city. As a dad, I recall the effort to call outside of Manhattan and get word of Alex (who lived in Virginia with his mom at the time). It took a while, but once I got through I heard that Alex had requested the following of the TV "turn that off, that's scary," one of his last full sentences at the age of 3 as he was in the middle of regressing into autism. Thinking of this, I am appending a speech I made at City Hall in Manhattan earlier this year (for Autism Awareness Day) about the challenges of being a single dad in NYC, as it has a brief tie-in to 9/11:

I am the proud single parent of a boy with autism.

My son Alex, who is 12 years old, regressed following his 3rd birthday in 2001.

Alex is non-verbal, but that was not always the case. He was once able to speak, in fact he spoke in his native English and even acquired a little Spanish at daycare. He was once able to count to ten in English, Spanish, and Japanese. For example, on 9/11 he was able to say "turn that off, that's scary" in response to television coverage of the attacks on the World Trade Center.

Six months later his speech was gone, and I did not so much as hear a "dad" for years. That too, is scary.

I would like to describe to you a couple of the challenges I have faced being a single parent of a boy with autism here in the city.

Taking a shower. Yes, taking a shower can be a challenge. First, I have to worry that Alex will actually remain in the apartment while I am in the shower. You see Alex can now open our front door, and has made it as far as the lobby before I was able to retrieve him.

Should Alex remain in the apartment, I have to worry about our food supply. Once Alex realized he no longer needed me to retrieve his food, he became proactive about feeding himself, which is great, unless you emerge from the shower to find most of your food for the next few days gone, or on the floor, or strategically crushed into the furniture and crevices of the apartment.

A bit more disconcerting is to emerge from the shower and find stool on the floor, walls, or strategically crushed into the furniture and crevices of the apartment.

Having neighbors. Yes, having neighbors can be a challenge. Most of the folks who live in our building are great, but acceptance and welcoming comments seem to dissipate with proximity to our unit. You see, to live on our floor means to hear and see Alex occasionally melt down, bang on the walls (occasionally with his head) and in general have to experience or see some of the challenging aspects of autism. Well on the plus side, we usually have the elevator to ourselves as neighbors kindly wait for the next lift.

I have answered the door on more than one occasion to find police officers there with a request to search the apartment as the same kindly neighbors called in suspected child abuse. Thankfully the officers I have met were all trained in responding to autism and our talk turned to their apology for having to ask me to sign papers that I do not in fact abuse my son. I would also like to say that on more than one occasion an officer has confided in me his concern that his child has or is regressing into autism. Quite the coincidence, no?

And finally the subway. Of course the subway can be a challenge. Compelled by a sudden storm or other inability to timely hail a cab we have been forced into the tubes for an adventure. One time in particular, Alex who was sitting calmly and taking in accolades from nearby passengers as to how cute he is, decided he had enough and wanted out of the train. Being in-between stations this is of course impossible; thus Alex melted down, with full out screaming, hitting and biting of self and dad. I was forced to pin him to the car floor while our fellow passengers kindly evacuated to the other half of the car. We beat a hasty retreat at the next station and opted to walk in the rain before the possibility of having to explain ourselves to the authorities.