Summer camps for autistic children offer a safe and supportive environment for kids to interact with peers, make new friends, improve social skills, and feel a genuine sense of belonging. In the United States, there are literally hundreds of summer camps forautistic kidsranging in price, duration, services, and the specific groups they cater to.
Autistic kids tend to thrive with structure and often struggle during extended holiday breaks.Enrolling them in camp may not only help them socially and emotionally but also allow them time to improveself-regulationandfine and gross motor skills. There are even programs tailored for families.
Types of Summer Camps for Autistic Kids
There are several categories of summer camps a parent can choose from based on their child’s individual needs:
Some of these camps are day camps to which children come and go every day, while others are sleepover camps of varying durations.
Set Your Goals
Some parents have a specific aim when choosing a summer camp, based on the child’s specific challenges and/orlevel of functioning. Other parents may want to “feel around” to see if a camp offers unique solutions or viewpoints that align with theirs. Neither approach is incorrect.
Before embarking on a search, it often helps to ask yourself a few questions to clarify what sort of camp you should be targeting for your child and why.
These include questions like:
Start the Search
Once you have a better idea of what you are looking for, you can start doing research online or through camp directories (some of which are listed below).
Once you have narrowed your list, you can call the camp directly and speak either with the camp director or enrollment specialist. Provide them with as much information about your child’s strengths and challenges and what you hope to achieve. The more the camp staff knows, the more they can explain how they can help.
You can then organize to visit the camp to view the facilities and meet some of the key staff. You can also bring your child along to help familiarize them with the environment and alleviate any anxiety they may have about the unknown.
American Camp Association
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The American Camp Association (ACA) is a leading non-profit organization that lists over 3,900 camps in the United States for children with and without disabilities.
Using the “Find a Camp” feature, you can answer a short questionnaire and narrow your search to “Disabilities and Other Special Needs.” Currently, the ACA lists over 145 camps with over 250 programs suitable for children with autism.
Camp Resources
Camp Resources offers a nice collection of summer camps in 16 U.S. states tailored for (or inclusive of) autistic children. These include both day camps and sleepover camps for stays of up to nine weeks.
My Summer CampsMy Summer Camps is a commercial camp directory that also includes a short list of summer camps specifically geared to autistic kids.Many of the over 25 camps listed in the directory are inclusive programs centered around things likemusic therapyandart therapy, while others are tailored to support the socialization and communication skills of children with ASD.
My Summer Camps
My Summer Camps is a commercial camp directory that also includes a short list of summer camps specifically geared to autistic kids.
Many of the over 25 camps listed in the directory are inclusive programs centered around things likemusic therapyandart therapy, while others are tailored to support the socialization and communication skills of children with ASD.
Easter Seals Summer CampsEaster Seals, the highly regarded non-profit organization for people with disabilities, offers summer camps and recreational programs for both children and adults. The programs are geared primarily toward people with disabilities, although many are inclusive and involve children or adults without disabilities.There are currently 25 Easter Seal camping and recreational programs in 25 U.S. states. Programs range from group sports and fitness to after-school play and social activities.
Easter Seals Summer Camps
Easter Seals, the highly regarded non-profit organization for people with disabilities, offers summer camps and recreational programs for both children and adults. The programs are geared primarily toward people with disabilities, although many are inclusive and involve children or adults without disabilities.
There are currently 25 Easter Seal camping and recreational programs in 25 U.S. states. Programs range from group sports and fitness to after-school play and social activities.
Very Special CampsVery Special Camps is a commercial website dedicated solely to disability camps. Of the roughly 355 current listings, several dozen are specifically tailored to autistic kids. Many others cater to children with different types of behavioral, communication, or intellectual disabilities.There are even family programs that allow parents and siblings to interact with their special-needs family members with the support and guidance of trained professionals.
Very Special Camps
Very Special Camps is a commercial website dedicated solely to disability camps. Of the roughly 355 current listings, several dozen are specifically tailored to autistic kids. Many others cater to children with different types of behavioral, communication, or intellectual disabilities.
There are even family programs that allow parents and siblings to interact with their special-needs family members with the support and guidance of trained professionals.
YMCA CampsYMCA camps and recreation programs for children with disabilities are not extensive. However, most YMCA summer programs are geared to be inclusive of both children with disabilities and those without.If looking more for a day camp than a residential camp, contact your local YMCA. If looking for an inclusive summer camp with trained medical and mental health professionals, the YMCA is a good place to start.There are even year-round YMCA programs appropriate for parents and their special-needs kids.
YMCA Camps
YMCA camps and recreation programs for children with disabilities are not extensive. However, most YMCA summer programs are geared to be inclusive of both children with disabilities and those without.
If looking more for a day camp than a residential camp, contact your local YMCA. If looking for an inclusive summer camp with trained medical and mental health professionals, the YMCA is a good place to start.
There are even year-round YMCA programs appropriate for parents and their special-needs kids.
Jewish Community Center (JCC) CampsLike the YMCA, the Jewish Community Center (JCC) Camps of North America strive to include people of all abilities in its programs. Some JCC camps are designed to be inclusive, while others involve a 1:1 support aide to better address the child’s unique needs.There are just over 25 JCC overnight camps in 12 U.S. states and numerous day camps throughout the United States and Canada.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.
Jewish Community Center (JCC) Camps
Like the YMCA, the Jewish Community Center (JCC) Camps of North America strive to include people of all abilities in its programs. Some JCC camps are designed to be inclusive, while others involve a 1:1 support aide to better address the child’s unique needs.
There are just over 25 JCC overnight camps in 12 U.S. states and numerous day camps throughout the United States and Canada.
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 InquiryWilderness Inquiry is a non-profit organization whose mission it is to introduce disabled people and their families to wilderness programs and international travel. Accommodations include picture boards, visual supports, and sensory equipment.Upfront interviews are conducted with families to ensure that their needs are met, including special menu planning. Financial aid may be available for qualified families for domestic (not international) travel.
Wilderness Inquiry
Wilderness Inquiry is a non-profit organization whose mission it is to introduce disabled people and their families to wilderness programs and international travel. Accommodations include picture boards, visual supports, and sensory equipment.
Upfront interviews are conducted with families to ensure that their needs are met, including special menu planning. Financial aid may be available for qualified families for domestic (not international) travel.
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Olde dubbelink, LM, Geurts, HM.Planning skills in autism spectrum disorder across the lifespan: a meta-analysis and meta-regression.J Autism Dev Disord. 2017;47(4):1148-1165. doi:10.1007/s10803-016-3013-0American Autism Association.Tips for finding a summer camp.
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Olde dubbelink, LM, Geurts, HM.Planning skills in autism spectrum disorder across the lifespan: a meta-analysis and meta-regression.J Autism Dev Disord. 2017;47(4):1148-1165. doi:10.1007/s10803-016-3013-0American Autism Association.Tips for finding a summer camp.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Olde dubbelink, LM, Geurts, HM.Planning skills in autism spectrum disorder across the lifespan: a meta-analysis and meta-regression.J Autism Dev Disord. 2017;47(4):1148-1165. doi:10.1007/s10803-016-3013-0American Autism Association.Tips for finding a summer camp.
Olde dubbelink, LM, Geurts, HM.Planning skills in autism spectrum disorder across the lifespan: a meta-analysis and meta-regression.J Autism Dev Disord. 2017;47(4):1148-1165. doi:10.1007/s10803-016-3013-0
American Autism Association.Tips for finding a summer camp.
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