Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 12:51     Subject: Re:Not telling camps that my kid has SN
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
Post 07/07/2025 12:51     Subject: Not telling camps that my kid has SN
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
Post 07/07/2025 12:46     Subject: Not telling camps that my kid has SN
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
Post 07/07/2025 12:43     Subject: Re:Not telling camps that my kid has SN
Don’t worry. As a camp worker we know, even without you saying something.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 12:41     Subject: Not telling camps that my kid has SN
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
Post 07/07/2025 12:15     Subject: Not telling camps that my kid has SN
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?
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 12:02     Subject: Not telling camps that my kid has SN
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.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 12:00     Subject: Not telling camps that my kid has SN
I always tell camps or activities where I drop off. If I’m not there to manage him, someone else needs to know what’s going on.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 11:42     Subject: Not telling camps that my kid has SN
Yes and you should also drop the IEP so RFK jr doesn’t send him to a wellness camp.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 11:41     Subject: Not telling camps that my kid has SN
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.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 11:40     Subject: Not telling camps that my kid has SN
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.


Where is the BS? these are conditions that ought to be apparent.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 11:39     Subject: Not telling camps that my kid has SN
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.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 11:39     Subject: Not telling camps that my kid has SN
I always talked to the camps beforehand. I can’t remember if I always conveyed the diagnosis but I definitely talked about the specific needs. It got to the point where I even felt like if I said he had autism that they would believe he was a certain type of kid because so many kids are getting diagnosed now and he does not fit the stereotypes (except ironically in his actual stereotypies). I didn’t want them to assume he would be a super STEM kid who loves coding or whatever … not my kid!
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 11:39     Subject: Not telling camps that my kid has SN
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.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 11:39     Subject: Not telling camps that my kid has SN
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.


They will stigmatize his behavior regardless of what you tell them ahead of time. Telling them allows them to make staffing assignments appropriately. Not telling them ultimately hurts your kid. I don't see how you think it would help.