Day camp options for ASD & ADHD, bright 8 yr w/ significant social deficits

[Anonymous]

Hello,
We have enrolled DS for a main stream summer camp program, which he attended for 1 week. He is verbal and is very smart but has significant social deficits. We wanted him in this camp for modeling social behaviors of his neurotypical peers as well as fun activities such as swimming etc.
Today we have received a call from the director, telling us how sweet and smart he is, but needs significant prompting and handholding to participate as well as rigidity towards transitions. Their staff ratio is not allowing them to handle his needs for additional prompting and guiding.
He was in a learning center program at MCPS 1st & 2nd grade but is mainstreaming for 3rd grade next year to his home school w. supports in his IEP. He is has no physical or intellectual l disability but is very behind in social development, can hardly carry on 2 way conversation, short attention span and focused more on self interest topics.
I am scrambling for a new placement in a summer camp because of work and no family near that can watch him during the day. Any advise where to look? Anyone out there that is aware of space available in their camp of choice that can support a kid like mine, that they are happy with? Primary goal is a fun summer rather than special ed. add-ons like speech and OT but those would be a bonus.
We are in Silver Spring/Rockville area but willing to travel up o 1/2 hr.
Thank you in advance.

[Anonymous]

Camp Aristotle thru the Auburn School.

[Anonymous]

The JCC maybe. A speech or OT camp. With kids like this, OP, camp can be really hard and they often fill up pretty fair in advance, sadly.

[Anonymous]

I hope they refunded your money.

I’d probably hire a summer nanny.

[Anonymous]

Does he prefer indoor or outdoor camps?

[Anonymous]

Fairfax County has special needs camps. Does MoCo have those?

[Anonymous]

I don't know about MOCO, but in Fairfax, I had put my two kids (one who sounds a LOT like yours) on the waitlist for the SACC camp at our local elementary. We got an email yesterday saying that they now have spots. It's staffed by teachers so they might have a little more understanding of your son's needs. Does your area have anything like that? Might be worth giving them a call now that waitlists are being shaken up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does he prefer indoor or outdoor camps?

+1. More information about his interests.

[Anonymous]

Not sure if they have space but try Camp Sonshine. My autistic 6 yo went last week and loved it.

[Anonymous]

Bar-T programs have experience working with kids with specials needs. Give them a call, describe your situation and see if they think it would be a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure if they have space but try Camp Sonshine. My autistic 6 yo went last week and loved it.

He is interested in waterplay, swimming nature walks, video making, a lot of reading, drawing, singing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bar-T programs have experience working with kids with specials needs. Give them a call, describe your situation and see if they think it would be a good fit.

We did KAH aftercare this year and that was messy. The caregivers seemed very inexperienced and just really gatekeeping rather than any attention to kid’s specific needs. Wandering if Bar-t is better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know about MOCO, but in Fairfax, I had put my two kids (one who sounds a LOT like yours) on the waitlist for the SACC camp at our local elementary. We got an email yesterday saying that they now have spots. It's staffed by teachers so they might have a little more understanding of your son's needs. Does your area have anything like that? Might be worth giving them a call now that waitlists are being shaken up.

What is SACC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does he prefer indoor or outdoor camps?

+1. More information about his interests.

He is interested in waterplay, swimming nature walks, video making, a lot of reading, drawing, singing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The JCC maybe. A speech or OT camp. With kids like this, OP, camp can be really hard and they often fill up pretty fair in advance, sadly.

They are full