Once again, I'd like to acknowledge that almost everything is harder for parents of children with developmental disabilities. I will never just blow past this point because it contributes mightily to parent and caregiver fatigue, especially as the years go on.
At the same time, we can't get stuck there. Summer is waiting for us, once again. Cue the mixed feelings and let's make it work!
Here are some tips and strategies that can ease the burden and increase the joy... that's our goal, after all...
If your child is a child of routine, use the tools that work across the lifespan: calendars, daily checklists, visual schedules - to bring some order to their lives (and yours); anything that helps them know what to expect is a win!
If you are exploring summer camp options, don't hesitate to contact the program directors; consider drafting a list of your child's strengths and challenges so they can see what type of supports will allow your child to participate fully (and safely)
NOTE: even if a camp is not tailored specifically for children with special needs, that's not necessarily a deal-breaker; I recently read through a list of local Parks and Rec summer camps and noted that my daughter would be able to participate in several of them much more easily than the other options, so I'm going to reach out about those, first. Aim for the "middle" in terms of workability so your child is comfortable and the staff can readily get their heads around any needed supports.
Social isolation is a concern for many parents in the summer, understandably - we want our children to have all the fun they deserve to have. What to do? Revisit (and grow!) your working list of people who can be a source of entertainment. Maybe a fun-loving neighbor could take your person out to lunch or do a craft project one afternoon. Maybe there's a grandparent, a former sitter, a fellow church member, a savvy teenager, a colleague, a special education teacher who would be willing to make some magic with you. Often they just need the ASK. This is your child's circle of support and it's probably much larger than you think!
Despite all good intentions and creative thinking, it's always much harder and much more time-consuming for me to plan a fun summer for Camille, my daughter who has Down syndrome, than for my younger daughter. But taking the time to revisit and reflect upon *what DOES work and who CAN help* is a great way to launch. Cheers to having the most fun summer possible with the options that you have - and the ones that you create!
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