Camp ASCCA Blog

June 30th is the awareness day for my disability, Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita. We celebrate by posting pictures on social media wearing blue, shoving pies in people’s faces, and basically talking about it all month long. In the spirit of this, my blog last year during June gave facts about my disability. But I feel that this year, a different kind of awareness-spreading is in order.

Since we aren’t having Camp this summer, I’m going to tell you what my top five favorite programs/activities are. My top favorite would probably have to be tubing. I’ve always loved tubing. I love having the water splash on my face and just having the thrill of excitement while riding in the inner tube.

There’s nothing to fear at Camp ASCCA. Even if you have a particular phobia, many fun activities will likely help you overcome it. Camp ASCCA has been adapted for everyone, so don’t be afraid to try something that may scare you at first.

Hello, my name is Katie Farley. I have cerebral palsy. I cannot walk or do things like write, ride a bike, swim on my own, etc., but I choose to not let those things get me down. I look at it as I’m unique and not in a bad way in a good way. There are a lot of things I can do like talk, hear, read, learn things like how to do simple math problems, things like that. In high school, I went to Spain Park High School. I wasn’t in regular classes. I was in what you call an inclusive classroom.

When someone meets me for the first time, it’s obvious to them that I have a disability. My curved arms and electric wheelchair are pretty conspicuous, and save me the trouble of figuring out the time to informally disclose my Arthrogryposis. But my disability affects me in another way that isn’t visible, and sometimes that makes this condition harder to accept and understand.

What is your unique trait? Having a unique trait is an amazing thing to experience. It can be scary sometimes though, depending on your condition. Later in life, once you get used to having a unique trait and learn more about it, it may not be a big deal. There are many ways to describe and treat unique traits because we are all different in special ways.

From Whoville to Candyland, cabin life is fun and games.

When you arrive at Camp ASCCA, you are given your assigned cabin by counselors who greet you in the parking lot with a lanyard to wear that has your name and the names of your counselor and cabin on it. After signing in, you meet your counselor, who takes your bags to your cabin and places them under the bed picked out for you. Your counselor will ask which sheets they have that you would like for your bed and then makes your bed for you. The rest of the first day you can acclimate to cabin life and start to get to know your bunkmates.