Guest guest Posted August 18, 2009 Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 Here is a great little story I took from Disability Scoop about a summer camp for adults with disabilities of all ages. I liked this a lot because Noah has attended a summer camp for a number of years, and it has provided a great experience for him in being away from home for a couple of weeks and it has provided invaluable respite for my husband and I. Here is what I found disappointing...maybe you will agree...maybe not... There is a paragraph that states that this is a place where no one is told what not to do and where they try to make things happen for individuals...then the article goes on to say that anything beyond platonic relationships are discouraged and the man featured in the article has this little mantra about no kissing and no running... Sorry, but this bothered me a great deal! No running at camp...why not??? No kissing between consenting adults...why not??? Anyway, I am sighing in great disappointment. Anyone agree? Disagree? Ellen News > Top Stories Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 On his third day at Camp Summit, Freddie Cobb put aside his watercolors and turned himself into an acrobat, carefully balancing on an imaginary high wire, without saying a word. He then gestured wildly as he tamed lions, put up a circus tent and set off fireworks. When he was done, Freddie settled back into his spot in the midmorning sun and ripped off his baseball cap, a shock of silver hair popping out. For 55 years, Freddie has been a fixture at this Argyle camp, one of the few in the state to serve adults with physical and mental disabilities. He was 9 when he arrived for the first time, just a little boy eager to plunge into the swimming pool, ride on galloping horses and roast marshmallows around the campfire. Decades have passed, but Freddie is still excited every summer when camp week arrives. The world around him changes; everyone else ages, but not Freddie, said Jill -, a longtime family friend. " He doesn't know he is getting old, or at least he doesn't act like it, " she said. " Sure he needs glasses and he's a little heavier, but he still gets excited about clowns and camp and things like that. " He's sort of stopped in time. " Comfort zone Freddie, 64, has been coming to Camp Summit longer than anyone else, but he has plenty of peers. Kathy Teague, 49, has been a regular for some 30 years. " It's the highlight of the year for her, " said Teague, her mother. " She loves everything about camp. " But it's more than just a good time. " Here they don't have to worry about anyone making fun of them, " she said. " They're in their comfort zone. " Physical and social barriers that often stand in the way of people with disabilities are removed, said Carla Weiland, Camp Summit president. " Our campers spend so much of their lives being told what they can't do, " she said. " Here, none of that is in our vocabulary. If they want to do it, we will find a way to make it happen. " The wheelchairs are set aside so campers can discover the freedom of flying down a zip line. Ventilators are carried alongside horses so campers can enjoy a ride. With a 2-to-1 ratio of counselors to campers, someone is always close by to keep them safe. The camp accepts all ages and disabilities, but adults make up 72 percent of the participants, Weiland said. Campers pay a fee based on a sliding scale, but no one is turned away because of inability to pay. " We have no upper age limit, " Weiland said. " As long as a doctor says they can come, we'll accept them. " Finding programs for adults with disabilities, especially during the summer, is challenging for caregivers. Programs abound for children with physical and mental challenges, but those kids grow up to a world that is pretty thin on services, said Garnett, executive director for the Arc of Greater Tarrant County, a nonprofit advocacy organization. " People with disabilities typically are invisible in our society, " he said. " They are not welcomed to a lot of programs, so they end up staying at home, watching TV, suffering with depression and having problems with obesity. " The week that Freddie was at Camp Summit, 80 campers shared eight air-conditioned cabins scattered on 117 acres. They played pranks on their counselors, suffered scraped knees and made bead bracelets, among other craft projects. , 60, has been coming to the camp for seven years. Out of breath after tackling the ropes course, the Plano woman said what she likes best at the camp is making friends and eating hamburgers. While campers often make lasting friendships, anything beyond that is discouraged. With so many counselors on duty, it's no problem making sure the campers keep things platonic, Weiland said. Freddie, who is quick to give out kisses, is still learning about boundaries. He knows all the rules and tells the counselors what to do, Weiland said. " No kissing, no running, " Freddie chimed in. Like many campers, he looked forward to the Friday night dance. This year, he packed a favorite Hawaiian shirt just for the occasion. Continue reading » JAN JARVIS, 817-390-7664 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 18, 2009 Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 Here is a great little story I took from Disability Scoop about a summer camp for adults with disabilities of all ages. I liked this a lot because Noah has attended a summer camp for a number of years, and it has provided a great experience for him in being away from home for a couple of weeks and it has provided invaluable respite for my husband and I. Here is what I found disappointing...maybe you will agree...maybe not... There is a paragraph that states that this is a place where no one is told what not to do and where they try to make things happen for individuals...then the article goes on to say that anything beyond platonic relationships are discouraged and the man featured in the article has this little mantra about no kissing and no running... Sorry, but this bothered me a great deal! No running at camp...why not??? No kissing between consenting adults...why not??? Anyway, I am sighing in great disappointment. Anyone agree? Disagree? Ellen News > Top Stories Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 On his third day at Camp Summit, Freddie Cobb put aside his watercolors and turned himself into an acrobat, carefully balancing on an imaginary high wire, without saying a word. He then gestured wildly as he tamed lions, put up a circus tent and set off fireworks. When he was done, Freddie settled back into his spot in the midmorning sun and ripped off his baseball cap, a shock of silver hair popping out. For 55 years, Freddie has been a fixture at this Argyle camp, one of the few in the state to serve adults with physical and mental disabilities. He was 9 when he arrived for the first time, just a little boy eager to plunge into the swimming pool, ride on galloping horses and roast marshmallows around the campfire. Decades have passed, but Freddie is still excited every summer when camp week arrives. The world around him changes; everyone else ages, but not Freddie, said Jill -, a longtime family friend. " He doesn't know he is getting old, or at least he doesn't act like it, " she said. " Sure he needs glasses and he's a little heavier, but he still gets excited about clowns and camp and things like that. " He's sort of stopped in time. " Comfort zone Freddie, 64, has been coming to Camp Summit longer than anyone else, but he has plenty of peers. Kathy Teague, 49, has been a regular for some 30 years. " It's the highlight of the year for her, " said Teague, her mother. " She loves everything about camp. " But it's more than just a good time. " Here they don't have to worry about anyone making fun of them, " she said. " They're in their comfort zone. " Physical and social barriers that often stand in the way of people with disabilities are removed, said Carla Weiland, Camp Summit president. " Our campers spend so much of their lives being told what they can't do, " she said. " Here, none of that is in our vocabulary. If they want to do it, we will find a way to make it happen. " The wheelchairs are set aside so campers can discover the freedom of flying down a zip line. Ventilators are carried alongside horses so campers can enjoy a ride. With a 2-to-1 ratio of counselors to campers, someone is always close by to keep them safe. The camp accepts all ages and disabilities, but adults make up 72 percent of the participants, Weiland said. Campers pay a fee based on a sliding scale, but no one is turned away because of inability to pay. " We have no upper age limit, " Weiland said. " As long as a doctor says they can come, we'll accept them. " Finding programs for adults with disabilities, especially during the summer, is challenging for caregivers. Programs abound for children with physical and mental challenges, but those kids grow up to a world that is pretty thin on services, said Garnett, executive director for the Arc of Greater Tarrant County, a nonprofit advocacy organization. " People with disabilities typically are invisible in our society, " he said. " They are not welcomed to a lot of programs, so they end up staying at home, watching TV, suffering with depression and having problems with obesity. " The week that Freddie was at Camp Summit, 80 campers shared eight air-conditioned cabins scattered on 117 acres. They played pranks on their counselors, suffered scraped knees and made bead bracelets, among other craft projects. , 60, has been coming to the camp for seven years. Out of breath after tackling the ropes course, the Plano woman said what she likes best at the camp is making friends and eating hamburgers. While campers often make lasting friendships, anything beyond that is discouraged. With so many counselors on duty, it's no problem making sure the campers keep things platonic, Weiland said. Freddie, who is quick to give out kisses, is still learning about boundaries. He knows all the rules and tells the counselors what to do, Weiland said. " No kissing, no running, " Freddie chimed in. Like many campers, he looked forward to the Friday night dance. This year, he packed a favorite Hawaiian shirt just for the occasion. Continue reading » JAN JARVIS, 817-390-7664 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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