Can My Child With Different Medical, Psychiatric, or Cognitive Needs Go Away To Camp? On A Family Vacation?

I just want my child to feel normal.

Abso-freakin’-lutely they can!! Of course, depending on the level of support and care required, options could be limited in certain geographical areas and it may require some advocating on your part (hopefully we can save you a bit on the research part!). That being said, there are many day, sleep away, and religious programs for children with special needs of all kinds including medical (e.g., pediatric cancer, juvenile diabetes), physical (e.g., limb difference, visual impairment), emotional/therapeutic (e.g., ARFID, grief/loss), and cognitive/developmental (e.g., autism, ADHD). Some programs are aimed to provide support and intervention specifically based on the child’s diagnosis, while some are meant to provide a typical “camp” experience. It is important to discuss these options with your child on a developmentally-appropriate level, as some children may not want to be “defined” by their difference and/or may prefer to attend a camp where they feel they can blend in or be with known peers/siblings. Some of these camps also offer family-based options where either a sibling or the whole family can attend. For a full list of specialized camp, click here. There are also specific vacation programs for children and families with special needs family members (e.g., autism on the seas).