Re: swapping kids... <grin>

[Guest guest]



Not a bad idea, like the MTV show where the kids trade lives for a week, sounds good with the proper screening.....but for now, try http://www.gocamps.com/goCDbSearch.php3?searchType=Overnight+Camps & numPerPage=25 & regionSelect=South for special needs camps in your area!

swapping kids... <grin>

In a message dated 1/5/05 3:54:12 PM Central Standard Time, Autism and Aspergers Treatment writes:

Any advice? I have enough pets… I love my kids and wouldn’t replace one forthe world… Is it wrong to think about getting another???Rabecca RabeccaWell, if you really want another........ ok, I wont auction mine off, but you can borrow him for a few weeks. <wink> Actually my Aspergers and ADHD son , now 15, and will be 16 in April, is behind his peers socially and maturity wise. He is VERY Bright, but behind socially and sometimes emotionally. Anyway, my biggest wish is that he had a place to go for a week or two in the summer. I mean, he needs to get away. Mostly all summer he sits home and plays on the computer, or watches Tv. He reads a lot of books and he does like to swim now and then. He just has no real friends to do anything with, by my only other child Nate, age ten (NT= neurologically Typical, meaning not diagnosed anything ).Anyway, sure wish there was a place he could go that would understand him like farm or a camp or something, and where he could gain some skills and learn how to live with others. He is always around us as we have no family around here. My husband has his parents 5 hours away in WIS. My Mom is in MIch in the summer and FL all winter. My dad lives in AZ. My sister is over an hour from me in Chicago are and my brother is in WI, as are Ray's sisters. My one sister lives in England. We just have no other family here to help out as far as spending time with my son .Anyway, of course I am kidding about your adopting him for a week. However, if anyone knows of a camp for a person who is Aspergers, and a teen, with caring , understanding workers, that is affordable for someone like me that can't pay like 3,000$ for a week of camp, then let me know.Anyway, maybe we can all start a program where we "Swap our special needs kiddos" hehhe Ok,next reality show, instead of "Wife Swap." We can have " Special needs kid swap." Think this would for a week or so? <grin>hugs in IL -- Where it is now snowing, freezing rain, and COLD and icy and school got out early for my son today....... bad roads!!

[Guest guest]

,

Here, our local Kiwanis group has created a camp (1-2 weeks depending

upon the needs/ability of the kid)just for Aspies (different weeks of

the summer are different disabilities, but the Aspie camp is

wonderful)! It is 300-500 depending upon how long the kids stay and

less if they just join in during the days. They also have

scholarships available for those in need… They hold it up in Mt. Hood

National Forest, and the kids all have a fantastic time! It is

staffed by volunteers that work with Aspies, who wanted a chance to

give them a really positive camp experience. They offer horses

(horseback riding for those able, and led around for those who are

more comfortable with it, or viewing from a distance for those who

need it... etc), swimming in a roped off section of a lake, canoeing,

etc. The ratio in most of the cabins is 1-2 or 1-3, but some kiddos

have " helpers " assigned to them individually. I know whole families

that volunteer their time there as well as several local doctors. The

teens get a real charge out of helping individuals and exploring the

world through " their eyes " . Anyway, you may want check to see if they

do something similar in your area.

Tyler really enjoys summer camp, even though he is immature. Because

he is intellectual, he prefers those camps that are " nerdy " to those

that are sports focused. That way, the kids going have more in common

with him and many are as obsessed as he is about the subject at hand

(especially the science camps) He also goes on the Teen retreats our

church puts on, and though he doesn't quite fit well, he enjoys his

time immensely!

I like the idea of child swap, but it would be really hard on some of

our kiddos to go through the location/schedule change without people

whose entire existence is focused upon their experience (that's why

the camp counselors do nothing else while at camp!) Hmmmmm Are camps

really that expensive back east???

~hugs~

Rabecca

(who wishes I had more solutions to the camp problems many face, but

feels lucky that so many options are available for aspies in this

area)

> Rabecca

>

> Well, if you really want another........ ok, I wont auction mine

off, but

> you can borrow him for a few weeks. <wink> Actually my Aspergers

and ADHD son

> , now 15, and will be 16 in April, is behind his peers socially

and

> maturity wise. He is VERY Bright, but behind socially and

sometimes emotionally.

> Anyway, my biggest wish is that he had a place to go for a week or

two in the

> summer. I mean, he needs to get away. Mostly all summer he sits

home and

> plays on the computer, or watches Tv. He reads a lot of books and

he does like to

> swim now and then. He just has no real friends to do anything

with, by my

> only other child Nate, age ten (NT= neurologically Typical, meaning

not

> diagnosed anything ).

>

> Anyway, sure wish there was a place he could go that would

understand him

> like farm or a camp or something, and where he could gain some

skills and

> learn how to live with others. He is always around us as we have

no family around

> here. My husband has his parents 5 hours away in WIS. My Mom is in

MIch in

> the summer and FL all winter. My dad lives in AZ. My sister is

over an hour

> from me in Chicago are and my brother is in WI, as are Ray's

sisters. My one

> sister lives in England. We just have no other family here to help

out as far as

> spending time with my son .

>

> Anyway, of course I am kidding about your adopting him for a week.

However,

> if anyone knows of a camp for a person who is Aspergers, and a

teen, with

> caring , understanding workers, that is affordable for someone like

me that can't

> pay like 3,000$ for a week of camp, then let me know.

>

> Anyway, maybe we can all start a program where we " Swap our

special needs

> kiddos " hehhe Ok,next reality show, instead of " Wife Swap. " We can

have "

> Special needs kid swap. " Think this would for a week or so?

<grin>

>

> hugs

> in IL -- Where it is now snowing, freezing rain, and

COLD and icy

> and school got out early for my son today....... bad roads!!

[Guest guest]

Hi

Would I have to take anyone else's kid in return? Just kidding. I wouldn't swap my for anything. She plays a lot with her older sister in the summer but she also spends a lot of time with the video games too. Last summer was the worst. Usually we join our local pool and go there most days. This past summer I was on strict bedrest with my last pregnancy. Neither child got to do much of anything. This summer we will join the pool again.

On another topic, I just started reading the Oasis Guide to Aspergers. It is a little depressing since I see my dd in every page. Since we don't have a formal dx it is just my suspicion. But this book is confirming it. I guess it is good that we can have a name for what is going on and try to get a handle on how to deal with it but still. I'm sure you all understand. Even though she is doing the same things she was doing before I still think I am feeling a little grief over the loss of my expectations.

CarolLaha1960@... wrote:

In a message dated 1/5/05 3:54:12 PM Central Standard Time, Autism and Aspergers Treatment writes:

Any advice? I have enough pets… I love my kids and wouldn’t replace one forthe world… Is it wrong to think about getting another???Rabecca RabeccaWell, if you really want another........ ok, I wont auction mine off, but you can borrow him for a few weeks. <wink> Actually my Aspergers and ADHD son , now 15, and will be 16 in April, is behind his peers socially and maturity wise. He is VERY Bright, but behind socially and sometimes emotionally. Anyway, my biggest wish is that he had a place to go for a week or two in the summer. I mean, he needs to get away. Mostly all summer he sits home and plays on the computer, or watches Tv. He reads a lot of books and he does like to swim now and then. He just has no real friends to do anything with, by my only

other child Nate, age ten (NT= neurologically Typical, meaning not diagnosed anything ).Anyway, sure wish there was a place he could go that would understand him like farm or a camp or something, and where he could gain some skills and learn how to live with others. He is always around us as we have no family around here. My husband has his parents 5 hours away in WIS. My Mom is in MIch in the summer and FL all winter. My dad lives in AZ. My sister is over an hour from me in Chicago are and my brother is in WI, as are Ray's sisters. My one sister lives in England. We just have no other family here to help out as far as spending time with my son .Anyway, of course I am kidding about your adopting him for a week. However, if anyone knows of a camp for a person who is Aspergers, and a teen, with caring , understanding workers, that is affordable for someone like me that can't pay like 3,000$ for a week of camp, then let me

know.Anyway, maybe we can all start a program where we "Swap our special needs kiddos" hehhe Ok,next reality show, instead of "Wife Swap." We can have " Special needs kid swap." Think this would for a week or so? <grin>hugs in IL -- Where it is now snowing, freezing rain, and COLD and icy and school got out early for my son today....... bad roads!! __________________________________________________