The American Camping Association's searchable database lists many camps for kids with a variety of special needs. The YMCA is another great option.
It's not too early to plan for summer camp. Don't worry, it's not too late either.
For USA summer camps, the American Camping Association (also called American Camp Association) has a detailed website and a searchable database to help you find a camp for a wide variety of conditions and needs.
For example, a search was conducted of the "Special Needs" area for a camp. The searcher looked for brain injury (under the "Special Needs" tab), for an overnight camp which would take a 7-year old for one week and would cost under $75 per week. Even with such restrictive conditions, there were seven camps available.
The YMCA is a large organization with many local branches. A number of these offer summer camps. You don't usually have to live in the same area as the branch to attend the camp. This page of the YMCA's website links to lists of their summer camps, and can be viewed one state at a time.
The American YMCA site doesn't say which camps accept campers with special needs. By examining the individual camp's details and the registration form, you can learn a little more but it would take forever to find camps this way.
If you know the camp or camps you are interested in, take a look at their websites and read the registration documents. Then talk to the camp director personally. Often summer camps will have an open house or information session in the winter so you can learn more.
Let's have a discussion on your experiences with summer camps.
All on-line references were current at the time this article was originally published on Suite101.com.
