“When you meet one person with autism, you’ve done just that. You’ve met one person with autism,” is a statement the 2017 ASCCA Summer Staff heard from several speakers this morning. Each person visited Camp today to speak about autism and what it might look like for the counselors this summer. The staff is expected to understand that no two people with autism are the same. The autism spectrum is so wide that it is rare for there to be campers each summer with similar behaviors.
Program Director Amber Cotney first spoke to the staff and had them participate in an activity that put them in a situation of overstimulation comparable but not equal to the everyday experiences of people with autism. Counselors were expected to hear a story being read to them while other staff members marched around them clapping, yelling, and spinning. Amber hopes that this will give staff members a small glimpse of a camper’s experiences here with all the loud and distracting activities that are happening all day long.
Peggy Stevens, camper mom and ASCCA board member, also spoke with the staff about her son, Morgan, and her experiences working with the Autism Society of Alabama. Peggy and Morgan first visited ASCCA during a trip with the Autism Society for their annual fall weekend Camp Frog, and she was so impressed by the staff that she felt led to bring another group of families in the spring. After many weekends with the ASA, Peggy was eventually convinced by Amber Cotney to allow Morgan to attend Camp during the summer on his own.
Like many parents dropping their child off at ASCCA for the first time, Peggy presented Morgan’s first counselor with a list of things they need to know about her son. Today, she shared with the staff exactly how important that list is to her because it reveals the ins and outs of her son’s behaviors and how they react to them on a day-to-day basis.
Each summer, the staff is encouraged to take advantage of the lists parents will bring because they are often great tools for ensuring a great week for the campers. For example, Peggy shared an important part of Morgan’s every day routine is how he transitions from different activities. For many people with autism, it is important to be clear that “First this, then this.” The ASCCA staff is trained to communicate clearly with each camper on what activities will be happening throughout the day and when transitions will occur.
After, providing the list and staying in close driving distance of Camp for a week, Peggy picked up her son after his first solo summer experience and asked, “Do you want to go back?” Morgan stated, “Yes, turn around.” With a smile on her face, Peggy shared that experience with the staff because she wants everyone to understand that Camp is a special place. It is a place where friendships are made and never forgotten. She mentioned that Morgan will still talk about many of the counselors he has had throughout the years because of the impact they had on his life, and she credits that to the staff’s continued care for her son and desire to communicate and know him more.
Peggy also brought a friend with her today to speak to the staff, Nancy Barnes. Nancy is President of the Autism Society of Alabama Board and was also Morgan’s kindergarten teacher. She has spent many years teaching children with autism, and states, “These kids are the best ever.” She reminds the ASCCA staff that it is not always easy but that “you can get through it.” The key points that Nancy shared with the staff today were focused on how to form a bond with campers with autism who will attend this summer. First, she said you simply have to make the effort, and show the camper and his or her family that you care. Second, it must be natural and not feel forced. When Nancy first visited ASCCA she was impressed by these values that were shown by the staff in caring for and serving the campers and families with autism that visit throughout the year and how everything felt so natural and comfortable.
Throughout the session, Peggy and Nancy encouraged the staff to be confident and simply go into the summer with a heart ready to care for every camper that will come through the ASCCA gates. You can keep up with all of our activities during this week’s staff orientation and our summer sessions by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and right here on our website!
Located in Alabama on Lake Martin, Camp ASCCA offers campers a wide variety of traditional recreational and educational activities with a unique design for accessibility.
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