Not telling camps that my kid has SN

[Anonymous]

I don't understand how your child can have a disability -- which autism is -- but have so little impact that they can go to sleep away camp with no needed accommodations or support. Autism is a disability impacting social cognition and sleep away camp is all about social cognition.

Either you're in denial or this is an example of overdiagnosis that hurts those of us whose autistic kids need support.

[Anonymous]

Don’t worry. As a camp worker we know, even without you saying something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be honest.
My kid has adhd and I put it on the form. There is space where you can write so I always say no medication or accommodations need to be given but child might be prone to being impulsive or not focused. Just so they’re aware.

+1 i see no reason not to share even though it doesn't require action from the camp.

[Anonymous]

If camp can't tell that your kids have special needs, then what makes you think they have special needs? Camp is super stressful because the routines are different, and there are competitive games, and you have to deal with other campers and counselors 24/7. If they can handle that without any problems, then I would question their diagnoses. I suspect, though, that they aren't handling it without problems.

[Anonymous]

I have a kid with adhd who displays some autistic traits but “not enough to warrant a diagnosis” and let me tell you, I can’t imagine a kid with adhd and ASD who shows no signs of either in general and particularly in an overstimulating, extremely social and fluid environment like camp.

Yes ethically you need to disclose it to the camp. And also for your kids sake. What if there was an emergency at camp and your kid ended up in a hospital? Would you not want them to know his full medical background?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how your child can have a disability -- which autism is -- but have so little impact that they can go to sleep away camp with no needed accommodations or support. Autism is a disability impacting social cognition and sleep away camp is all about social cognition.

Either you're in denial or this is an example of overdiagnosis that hurts those of us whose autistic kids need support.

M.y kids go to day camp, not sleep away camp. Also we have figured out that the more expensive, specialty camps that are highly structured, and have better staff, work, unlike the less structured camps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would be honest.
My kid has adhd and I put it on the form. There is space where you can write so I always say no medication or accommodations need to be given but child might be prone to being impulsive or not focused. Just so they’re aware.

NP. I am willing to disclose ADHD. It is so common nowadays. But not ASD, which may or may not be common but is misunderstood and stigmatized.

Oh, OK. Don’t disclose ASD, and avoid that stigma. Instead, subject your kid to the stigma of being thought of, called and treated “weird,” “a jerk,” “clueless,” “a loner,” “hyper,” “crazy,” “a brat,” “bossy,” “rigid,” “a loser,” or any of the other bad names that other kids or even staff members will label him as, even just in their own heads, because they don’t have the context and the staff isn’t able to provide extra support or accommodation or flexibility.

But wait. I thought ASD is so obvious that even college students can diagnose it. In which case, why would an autistic kid be labeled any of these things?

I never said that, that was another poster, but you tried. Anyway, how about trying to address the point I actually DID make? You can’t really do that, can you?

[Anonymous]

Op here. I only sign up more expensive, good review and structured summer camps. They have daily/weekly schedule that they know what to expect. I spent a lot of time doing research every year to narrow down what camps they would enjoy and I let them to make decisions which ones to sign up. I share with them in advance if there are swim tests, forecast of rain/heat warnings, program details etc.. I think all these help. One child does not have IEP. The other child's IEP are social friendship, anxiety, and more flexibility. ASD is a spectrum. However, I have seen other NT kids exhibit similar personality characters. I was also surprised that they could do sleepaway camp without accomondation, but they love it that they have yummy food, many new things to try, meet other kids etc.. They have one stuffy animal, and that is their only comfort thing at sleepaway camp. I also deposit many money at their account, so they can buy something at store. I also send them care package box and letters which they are excited for to open and share with peers. All these add up making sleepaway camp so much fun to them. They are both extroverts, love to make friends, and their excitement for summer camps overcome their anxiety and overstimulation possibilities.

I never deny that they are special need kids, and they both have ASD and ADHD. They just do not need any special accomodations with summer camps. I like one PP suggestions to list they do not need any accomondation and check off the boxes of their diagnosis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're fine, OP. My son has autism level 1 and ADHD, and I did not report any of it to short-term camp situations or weekend activities because there was no need - even though he had an IEP and was medicated so he could focus sufficiently during long hours at school. Everyone could see he was a daydreaming, quiet, inattentive sort of person right off the bat. No tantrums or emotional disturbances.

I did always report his anaphylactic allergy to nuts, and brought his Epipen.

So basically does not meet the clinical criteria of autism. Ok.

PP you replied to. He was formally diagnosed at Stixrud, but as I said, level 1: he stims at home and is able to act relatively normal at camp; he's asocial, but he's courteous and does not lose his temper easily. That sort of thing. His IEP is mainly for the low processing speed that comes with some types of inattentive ADHD. Everyone can tell he's quirky, but not in a way that necessitates disclosure of each one of his diagnoses.

And now, he's 20 and is the camp counselor, for a STEM camp!

I don't know why you need to be so rude about this. This is a spectrum, by definition. It means that not all kids on the spectrum will act the same way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how your child can have a disability -- which autism is -- but have so little impact that they can go to sleep away camp with no needed accommodations or support. Autism is a disability impacting social cognition and sleep away camp is all about social cognition.

Either you're in denial or this is an example of overdiagnosis that hurts those of us whose autistic kids need support.

Because not all children or adults with autism or ADHD will need accommodations in all situations. In some structured camps and activities, the milder symptoms of each will not be visible to the untrained eye.

Also, I strongly disagree with your last sentence. My now adult child has been majorly impacted by his autism and inattentive ADHD. He has no friends and cannot, or will not, find and maintain friendships, which also poses a problem for professional networking. He cannot make small talk in any way. But he has a high IQ and is a rule follower, and is always well-behaved in a group situation. He has side issues that are associated with these two diagnoses, such as sensory avoidance, processing speed problems and motor/coordination problems, that also impact his life: driving a car is difficult for him, for example. Don't tell me that's nothing! But in random camp situation... you'd never notice much, except that he's slow, keeps to himself, is not athletic and doesn't like touching sticky things.

If you want to lament the widening of the criteria to include milder forms of autism, then create your own thread to do that. But don't blame parents.

I, personally, am very happy that the criteria now include milder forms of autism. My husband, son and many relatives are in that range of symptoms and it explains so much about how they function in life. At last, we know that these profiles are forms of autism. It's a relief, because I have been gaslighted and excoriated too often in my life by relatives for trying to point out that some behaviors that impact me are problematic and need management.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how your child can have a disability -- which autism is -- but have so little impact that they can go to sleep away camp with no needed accommodations or support. Autism is a disability impacting social cognition and sleep away camp is all about social cognition.

Either you're in denial or this is an example of overdiagnosis that hurts those of us whose autistic kids need support.

Preach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I only sign up more expensive, good review and structured summer camps. They have daily/weekly schedule that they know what to expect. I spent a lot of time doing research every year to narrow down what camps they would enjoy and I let them to make decisions which ones to sign up. I share with them in advance if there are swim tests, forecast of rain/heat warnings, program details etc.. I think all these help. One child does not have IEP. The other child's IEP are social friendship, anxiety, and more flexibility. ASD is a spectrum. However, I have seen other NT kids exhibit similar personality characters. I was also surprised that they could do sleepaway camp without accomondation, but they love it that they have yummy food, many new things to try, meet other kids etc.. They have one stuffy animal, and that is their only comfort thing at sleepaway camp. I also deposit many money at their account, so they can buy something at store. I also send them care package box and letters which they are excited for to open and share with peers. All these add up making sleepaway camp so much fun to them. They are both extroverts, love to make friends, and their excitement for summer camps overcome their anxiety and overstimulation possibilities.

I never deny that they are special need kids, and they both have ASD and ADHD. They just do not need any special accomodations with summer camps. I like one PP suggestions to list they do not need any accomondation and check off the boxes of their diagnosis.

Wow that sounds exactly like the DSM-5 criteria for autism!

[Anonymous]

I don’t think you need to provide a full diagnosis, but it is VERY helpful for counselors if you provide some information. It will absolutely help them better care for your kids.

I remember one girl I had in my cabin when I was a counselor at 19. Her parents had provided some information- think along the lines of “Alli can struggle a bit socially and could use help connecting with other girls; she really loves basketball but has a hard time when unexpected things happen.” That info was extremely helpful to us in getting her child integrated in the cabin and making sure she had a successful summer. I remember this 25 years later because at the end of the session her mother came to us in tears thanking us profusely for the great summer her daughter had. At 19, I’m not sure I would have had the awareness to really keep an eye out for her and help ensure things went well if the parents hadn’t given us a heads up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have not told day/sleepaway camps that my ES kids are special needs for the last few years, and they are fine. They are high functioning and they don't need to take medication, so it seems like the camp are not aware of it (no phone calls to report issues). They do a few different camps every summer. They have ASD, ADHD and etc.. Do I technically violate the law that I don't check the boxes that they are special needs or they have ASD & ADHD diagnosis? I don't want to go through the troubles to fill them out the part of SN because some camps request for interview or phone discussion before I can successfully enroll them. I am worried that they get rejected to join their camp, and I know my kids well enough. If they need accomondation one day, I would fill out those parts.

You think people can't tell a kid is autistic/adhd? Come on.

You 100% can. My college age DS is a counselor at a camp, and came home complaining to me about this issue. He basically just said it would be nice if they were told that some kids were going to struggle with certain issues and that it is obvious to him which of "his" kids have ASD or ADHD. It's a STEM camp for kids.

Tell them. They will assign an extra counselor, or let the counselor know what to watch for, how to help, etc. The way OP is doing it means the counselor has to come home and try to figure out what's best by talking to his parents. Not ideal.

This is BS. With due respect to your son, he is not qualified to render any such diagnoses.

I don’t have a lot of “due respect” for a non-credentialed college kid who thinks he can diagnose kids on site. Is he getting his degree from Trump University?

[Anonymous]

I see a lot of my DC acts differently with me than with others.

Tell the camp. If there is a crisis they should know.

My DC had a social issue at school the year prior; camp knew and they kept an eye out. The issue never came up at camp but they knew.

DC also said some red flag things at camp. I was told. Those red flag things are common at his school (we don't know why, we don't like it, it triggers everyone but it was commonplace in his class) and were not really red flags in real life.