Volunteering at a Summer Camp

[Guest guest]

,

I know you are an outstanding advocate, and have probably already thought of

these strategies, but here's my two cents anyway:

1. If the issue truly is that 'typical' park district teens are not signing up

for the camp, that's quite possibly true. But at what age does your park

district start hiring 'jr. camp counselors' or volunteers to help run their

camp? Doesn't that usually begin around age 16? If that's the case, without

knowing your daughter's support needs, what about having her fill out the

application to be a camp volunteer just like anyone else? Would she be

considered a 'qualified applicant'?

2. And let's say she needs support needs beyond what typical

counselors/volunteers would get. I'm not sure the Park District would be under

any obligation to make accomodations under the ADA. However, it might be worth

a call to our trusted DBTAC office to ask about volunteering and what strategies

they might suggest -- their phone number is 312-413-1407 and someone can talk it

through with you over the phone.

3. I'm also wondering if you could fine 2 or 3 other teens with disabilities

who wanted to do the same thing, wouldn't your Special Rec Assoc be open to

creating a 'class' just for them, that could focus on a community service

project such as helping out with the Park District? I believe that volunteering

falls under the category of 'leisure' in the 'recreation and leisure' part of

SRA's, right?

If any SRA folks are on list with us, what are your thoughts? Could you support

teens with disabilities who wanted to volunteer in their communities if you had

a class and they were paying whatever the SRA fee would be to participate?

Laurie

From: Bedard

Sent: Friday, March 26, 2010 9:40 AM

IPADDUnite

Subject: Re: Re: What We're About

After many, many years of providing summer camp to children age 3 - 17 our park

district has decided to change the age range to 14. I was told many years ago

that my children would be able to attend until age 21 due to the fact that our

Special Recreation provided them with a one on one aide so they could be

included in our park district. It was a fabulous collaboration between our Park

and Special Rec.

I called our Superintendent and he stated that since there was a lack of

interest in the teens in our area that the decision was made to cut the age of

at 14. I asked him if I could pay for our daughter to attend and volunteer to

work. She was looking forward to becoming a Jr. Camp Councelor and working with

the younger children. I tried to explain to him the heartbreak he was causing

to many teens with disabilities who enjoyed attending because for once they felt

a part of their community. They belonged. He was sorry but there was nothing

he could do about it. I also explained that due to his decision one parent

would now have to stay home during the summer and quit work. This decision had

an impact on the entire family. He wasn't budging about this decision.

I did tell him that I would be bringing my daughter in to see him so he could

explain his decision to her.

Bedard

Ricky, andra and Tiffy's Mom

“Every person, regardless of whatever different abilities they may have, can

contribute, can be a source of joy, can beam with pride and love.†--Eunice

Kennedy Shriver

rom: teteme55 <tetemeameritech (DOT) net>

ubject: Re: What We're About

o: IPADDUnite@gro ups.com

ate: Thursday, March 25, 2010, 10:57 PM

Dear ,

I would also agree about a system of checks and balances but.....my son,

ussell, is 30 years old and I am just plain tired of it. I am tired and while I

ppreciate the whole concept of it, I am just tired.

We get burned out and numb and......I use to have a set of Post-Its with the

ollowing printed on it, " Crisis Du Jour " and I would use them, quite

ften......some times, reading the paper or watching the news, I think to

yself, " now what, what hoops will I have to jump through? " It gets a bit much.

nd yet, I do it.

Anyway, that's my reason for not liking it.

Marie

We were lucky, our name was picked for HBSSP after our Governor gave out names

nd information to Union organizers. I'm sure that it would have bothered me

o be constantly bothered about joing a union.

As far as privacy goes; doesn't bother me at all. My husband and I were

oster Parents for over 15 years. We have lived in the perverbial goldfish bowl

ince. I have had to have my home checked, nurses visit and be fingerprinted

nd have background checks etc. Literally, the State would come in and check

or cleanliness, measurements, food, and of course the safety of the children

hat were placed with us. Never bothered me.

After Ricky was born it just continued. I feel that having the services is

ore important than my privacy. I can see how it may bother some, but I look at

t as check and balance.

I also find it comforting to know that someone is checking on our loved ones

ho are unable to speak for themselves. Someone needs to make sure that abuse

s not occuring. I guess that is a carryover of my Parent days.

Bedard

Ricky, andra and Tiffy's Mom

“Every person, regardless of whatever different abilities they may have, can

ontribute, can be a source of joy, can beam with pride and love.†--Eunice

ennedy Shriver

Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

------------ --------- --------- ------

[Guest guest]

,

I know you are an outstanding advocate, and have probably already thought of

these strategies, but here's my two cents anyway:

1. If the issue truly is that 'typical' park district teens are not signing up

for the camp, that's quite possibly true. But at what age does your park

district start hiring 'jr. camp counselors' or volunteers to help run their

camp? Doesn't that usually begin around age 16? If that's the case, without

knowing your daughter's support needs, what about having her fill out the

application to be a camp volunteer just like anyone else? Would she be

considered a 'qualified applicant'?

2. And let's say she needs support needs beyond what typical

counselors/volunteers would get. I'm not sure the Park District would be under

any obligation to make accomodations under the ADA. However, it might be worth

a call to our trusted DBTAC office to ask about volunteering and what strategies

they might suggest -- their phone number is 312-413-1407 and someone can talk it

through with you over the phone.

3. I'm also wondering if you could fine 2 or 3 other teens with disabilities

who wanted to do the same thing, wouldn't your Special Rec Assoc be open to

creating a 'class' just for them, that could focus on a community service

project such as helping out with the Park District? I believe that volunteering

falls under the category of 'leisure' in the 'recreation and leisure' part of

SRA's, right?

If any SRA folks are on list with us, what are your thoughts? Could you support

teens with disabilities who wanted to volunteer in their communities if you had

a class and they were paying whatever the SRA fee would be to participate?

Laurie

From: Bedard

Sent: Friday, March 26, 2010 9:40 AM

IPADDUnite

Subject: Re: Re: What We're About

After many, many years of providing summer camp to children age 3 - 17 our park

district has decided to change the age range to 14. I was told many years ago

that my children would be able to attend until age 21 due to the fact that our

Special Recreation provided them with a one on one aide so they could be

included in our park district. It was a fabulous collaboration between our Park

and Special Rec.

I called our Superintendent and he stated that since there was a lack of

interest in the teens in our area that the decision was made to cut the age of

at 14. I asked him if I could pay for our daughter to attend and volunteer to

work. She was looking forward to becoming a Jr. Camp Councelor and working with

the younger children. I tried to explain to him the heartbreak he was causing

to many teens with disabilities who enjoyed attending because for once they felt

a part of their community. They belonged. He was sorry but there was nothing

he could do about it. I also explained that due to his decision one parent

would now have to stay home during the summer and quit work. This decision had

an impact on the entire family. He wasn't budging about this decision.

I did tell him that I would be bringing my daughter in to see him so he could

explain his decision to her.

Bedard

Ricky, andra and Tiffy's Mom

“Every person, regardless of whatever different abilities they may have, can

contribute, can be a source of joy, can beam with pride and love.†--Eunice

Kennedy Shriver

rom: teteme55 <tetemeameritech (DOT) net>

ubject: Re: What We're About

o: IPADDUnite@gro ups.com

ate: Thursday, March 25, 2010, 10:57 PM

Dear ,

I would also agree about a system of checks and balances but.....my son,

ussell, is 30 years old and I am just plain tired of it. I am tired and while I

ppreciate the whole concept of it, I am just tired.

We get burned out and numb and......I use to have a set of Post-Its with the

ollowing printed on it, " Crisis Du Jour " and I would use them, quite

ften......some times, reading the paper or watching the news, I think to

yself, " now what, what hoops will I have to jump through? " It gets a bit much.

nd yet, I do it.

Anyway, that's my reason for not liking it.

Marie

We were lucky, our name was picked for HBSSP after our Governor gave out names

nd information to Union organizers. I'm sure that it would have bothered me

o be constantly bothered about joing a union.

As far as privacy goes; doesn't bother me at all. My husband and I were

oster Parents for over 15 years. We have lived in the perverbial goldfish bowl

ince. I have had to have my home checked, nurses visit and be fingerprinted

nd have background checks etc. Literally, the State would come in and check

or cleanliness, measurements, food, and of course the safety of the children

hat were placed with us. Never bothered me.

After Ricky was born it just continued. I feel that having the services is

ore important than my privacy. I can see how it may bother some, but I look at

t as check and balance.

I also find it comforting to know that someone is checking on our loved ones

ho are unable to speak for themselves. Someone needs to make sure that abuse

s not occuring. I guess that is a carryover of my Parent days.

Bedard

Ricky, andra and Tiffy's Mom

“Every person, regardless of whatever different abilities they may have, can

ontribute, can be a source of joy, can beam with pride and love.†--Eunice

ennedy Shriver

Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

------------ --------- --------- ------