Autism Summer Camp Guide

Autism Summer Camp Guide For Families of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders in DC

Provided by DC Autism Parents (DCAP) 202.271.9262 www.dcautismparents.org

DCAP Autism Summer Camp Guide 2

ABOUT US DC Autism Parents (DCAP) is an organization created by parents of children with autism for parents of children with autism. OUR MISSION The Mission of DC Autism Parents is to improve the lives of all affected by autism in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area through advocacy, education, support, services, and research in order to promote community inclusion and awareness. ABOUT AUTISM According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC), 1% or 1 in every 110 children has been diagnosed with autism. Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain, impacting development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Children and adults with autism typically show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE This guide is intended to help parents identify summer programs and camps available for their child with autism spectrum disorder. This guide is not intended to be all-inclusive. DCAP is not endorsing any of these resources. We encourage parents to carefully research options, talk to professionals and other parents, and most importantly, trust their own instincts. No two children on the autism spectrum are exactly alike; and treatment outcomes will vary from child to child. It is important to recognize that you can make a difference in your child’s life and that your child can be successful.


Achieve Beyond Summer Camp Achieve Beyond: Pediatric Therapy & Autism Services 7143 Shreve Rd. Falls Church, VA, 22043 Phone: 703-237-2219 www.achievebeyondusa.com Ages 3-10. This summer camp helps children on the autism spectrum, with developmental delays and social skills deficits, to learn and practice new skills with other children.

“B” Social Mini Camp Fitness for Health 11140 Rockville Pike, #303 Rockville, MD Phone: 240-231-7138 ww.fitnessforhealth.org This program will integrate social cognitive thinking with motor activities. Concepts will be introduced in a fun and motivating way encouraging participants to explore and improve their social thinking skills and motor development. These sessions will integrate social cognitive thinking and movement in collaboration with Early Intervention Therapists (Speech Language Pathologists) and Fitness for Health Staff.


Basic Concepts Summer Camps Basic Concepts, Inc. 966 Hungerford Drive, unit 7 Rockville, MD Phone: 240-447-8013 http://www.basicconcepts.org/summercamps.html Ages 3-9. This program is intended for children who have mild to moderate deficits in speech, language, play, sensory, and socialization. Basic Concepts offers a variety of classes. Numerous therapeutic interventions (sensory, play, music, social, and behavioral) are utilized throughout the day. Speech language pathologists, special educators, occupational therapists, and early intervention play therapists provide services in all our classrooms.

Camp Aristotle (Silver Spring) Auburn School 9545 Georgia Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone: 301-588-8048 http://www.theauburnschool.org/camp.cfm?master=1175336&cfm=end Serves rising Kindergarteners through 10th graders. Camp Aristotle is designed with engaging and exciting activities, projects and visitors relating to a weekly theme. This summer camp model integrates social thinking and learning support throughout the day so campers can build friendships, explore, and most importantly, have fun!


Camp Little Foot/ Learning Enrichment Program The Treatment and Learning Center/ The Katherine Thomas School 9975 Medical Center Drive Rockville, MD 20850 Phone: 301-738-9691 http://www.ttlc.org/camp_littlefoot.htm Ages 3-7. Camp Littlefoot is designed for young children with speechlanguage and/or occupational therapy needs. Although chronological age is used as a guideline, we also consider the developmental age and needs of the child when determining camp placement.

Camp Sports Plus Sports Plus Group, Inc. P. O. Box 83274 Gaithersburg, MD 20883 Phone: 301-452-3781 Fax: (301) 869-7498 www.playsportsplus.org SPORTS PLUS offers a small and personal summer camp for verbal children able to follow simple directions between the ages of 5 and 13 with mild to moderate autism spectrum disorders, ADD/ADHD and other developmental disabilities. SPORTS PLUS programs are designed for children whose capabilities fit between existing mainstream sports programs and adaptive sports programs. Class sizes do not exceed 12 children. The camper to paid staff ratio will be no higher than 3 to 1. Numerous experienced volunteers will also be present to assist our paid staff. Sports activities will include Sports Plus’ sports and swim programs and other activities.


Floortime Summer Program The Floortime Center (Formerly known as DIR Support Services) 4827 Rugby Avenue Bethesda, MD 20814 Phone: 301-657-1130 Fax: 301-657-1131 www.dirss.com This program offers comprehensive Floortime summer groups that integrate goals in: Communication, Social Development, Sensory Integration, Occupational Therapy, and the Arts. Groups are small with 3-6 children, with a 1:2 adult to child ratio.

Jump Start Camp National Speech/Language Therapy Center 606 Shields Drive Bethesda, MD 20817 Phone: 301-493-0023 http://www.nationalspeech.com/#!__camp Ages 2-6. Jumpstart Camp is designed for children with speech and language delays, including autism and disorders of articulation, receptive/expressive language and auditory processing.

Leaps and Bounds Summer Camp Leaps and Bounds 4906 Wisconsin Ave., NW Washington, DC 20016 Phone: 202-237-8737 Fax: 202-237-8480 http://www.leapsandboundsot.com/lbwebsite_007.htm Ages 3-7. The focus is on improving gross motor skills, fine motor skills, motor planning, body awareness, visual motor skills, sensory processing and modulation, and social skills.


Summer Sensation Camp Children's Therapy Center of Columbia 6420 Dobbin Road, Suite B Columbia, MD 21045 Phone: 410-997-8081 http://www.summersensationscamp.com/ Ages 4-8. Summer Sensations is a full-day camp program designed to support children with sensory processing differences. It combines an enjoyable camp experience with valuable therapeutic intervention. The program offers small group sizes, and a small camper/counselor ratio of 3:1.

Survivor Camp 2012 Building Blocks Speech Therapy 5125 MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 10 Washington, DC 20016 Phone: 202-363-8255 www.buildingblockstherapy.com Ages 2 ½ to 7. This camp focus on social skill development, language processing skills, motor planning/speech intelligibility, sensory integration, feeding and oral motor skills, and HAVING FUN!