Helping to Facilitate the Participation of Children with Disabilities in Community Settings
The
Community Connections Communicator
March - April 2006
In this Issue:
The theme of this month's issue is Summer Fun Here I Come. Although summer is still a few months away, now is the time to start planning for your child's summer activities. In this issue you will find information on how to choose the right summer camp. You will also find tips on making your child's camp experience both enriching and exciting. In addition you will find an abundance of resources on finding day camps, overnight camps and out of state camps. If you are interested in inclusive or disability-specific camps, you will find resources in this newsletter to help you get started. So take a moment and review the great materials in this issue and begin creating your child's summer adventure!
Special Mention:
If you've ever thought about getting a degree in Special Education, we may have just the program for you in the areas of: infancy and early childhood, learning disabilities, severe disabilities (including autism) and transition special education. For further information please visit the University of Maryland's website at http://www.gradschool.umd.edu/catalog/programs/EDSP.html
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Tip Sheets: |
| Top 10 Questions
to Ask when Speaking to a Camp Director or Visiting a Camp You will find 10 great tips on what to ask to get you thinking about whether or not a particular campsite is right for your child. To view the tips in full, please click on the following link: http://www.summercamps.com/Tips.htm |
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| Tips for Choosing
a Summer Camp for the Child with Learning Disabilities
This tip sheet can assist families planning for summer camp for children with various special needs. The ideas given by this author are universal. To view the tips in full please click on http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/parenting/camp_tips.html |
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Packing Checklist
for Travel, Camping and Hiking |
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Articles: |
How to Choose
a Summer Camp |
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Talking About
Homesickness |
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Spotlights of the Month: |
| Camp Invention This week long camp provides an inclusive setting for children with and without disabilities to participate in fun activities in the areas of math, arts, science and history. To learn more about this camp, click on the following link: http://www.invent.org/camp_invention/2_1_0_camp.asp |
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Recommended Websites: |
Washington
Parent: Summer Camp Guide 2006 - take a look at this
cool resource with information on hundreds of summer camps in
the Washington metropolitan area. |
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| LINC's Summer
Arts Camp - check out this computer camp for children with
and without special needs. http://www.linc.org/TextOnly/projects_text.html |
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| Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning Commission in Prince George's Country
- to view all of the summer camp programs offered by Parks and Recs.
click on the following link: http://www.pgparks.com |
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Special Mentions |
Announcing the Launch of Community Connections On-Line Training Modules! |
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| If you would like to further your education, check out these two new programs being offered at the University of Maryland: Doctoral Program in Early Childhood Special Education and Preparation of Leadership Personnel and Masters Program in Early Childhood Special Education. | |
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Spotlight a Welcoming Business: |
| Community Connections would like to “Spotlight” businesses who are welcoming to children with disabilities and their families. If you would like to spotlight a business, please click on this link and we will post it free of charge on our website. Thank you. |
New: Doctoral
Program in Early Childhood Special Education:
Preparation of Leadership Personnel
University of Maryland Department of Special Education
Ranked #5 in U.S. News and World Report
Our program prepares individuals:
To assume leadership positions
in universities, state and local education agencies, policy organizations,
and the federal government.
Unique program components include:
Supervised research apprenticeships.
College teaching apprenticeships.
Skill development in areas of writing for funding and professional publications.
Internships that include settings such as: Professional Development
Schools (PDS), Neonatal Intensive Care Units, Local/State/International
and Federal agencies.
Students participate with faculty in research colloquia.
Financial Assistance
12 month stipend
Tuition reimbursement
Travel allowance for conferences
For more information contact:
Deirdre Barnwell, Ph.D.
301-405-7896 or
301-405-6514
Email: barnwell@umd.edu
Visit us on the web at: www.education.umd.edu/EDSP
Masters Program
in Early Childhood Special Education
University of Maryland, Department of Special Education
Ranked #5 in U.S. News and World Report
Our program prepares students:
To receive a Master's degree
with an option to qualify for teacher certification in early childhood
special education.
To work with children with disabilities ages 3-5 in both school and
community settings.
To work with children and families from diverse cultural groups.
Financial assistance covers tuition, books and fees.
Stipends available for full-time students!
For more information contact:
Deirdre Barnwell, Ph.D.
301-405-7896 or
301-405-6514
Email: barnwell@umd.edu
Visit us on the web at: www.education.umd.edu/EDSP
Masters
Program in Specialization in Early Intervention (Birth-3)
University of Maryland, Department of Special Education
Ranked in top ten in U.S. News and World Report
Unique features of our program include:
Master's degree with an option
to qualify for teacher certification in infancy and early childhood
special education.
Preparation to work with infants and toddlers with disabilities age
birth to 3 in home, day care, and other community settings.
Preparation to work with children and families from diverse cultural
groups.
Program open to parents and students from other disciplines such as
speech pathology, and occupational or physical therapy.
Financial assistance covers tuition, books and fees.
Stipends available for full-time students!
For more information contact:
Sandra Newcomb, M. A.
301-405-6476 or
301-405-6515
Email: snewcomb@umd.edu
Visit us on the web at: www.education.umd.edu/EDSP
Tip Sheet:
Top 10 Questions
to Ask when Speaking to a Camp Director or Visiting a Camp
When determining if a camp is right for your child, you may want to
evaluate the program and services provided by those camps that interest
you. This tip sheet provides you with questions to ask regarding medical
concerns, age and experience of the staff and the camp format. You will
also find questions that allow you to ask the camp director about religious
services, camp costs, and their policy with handling children who are
homesick. To view the 10 questions in full, please click on the following
link: http://www.summercamps.com/Tips.htm
Tips for Choosing a Summer Camp for the Child with Learning
Disabilities
If you want practical information on how to make summer camp work, check
out the tips provided by Ann Cathcart, a parent of a child with a learning
disability. In this article she gives six tips to consider when choosing
a camp for your child. You will find suggestions on deciding what type
of program is right for your child. Ideas such as discussing with your
child his wants, talking with the camp director, and considering your
child's abilities are all included in this tip sheet. You will also
be challenged to find out the camp's policies, staff-to-student ratio,
and size of the camp to assist you with your choice. There is also a
list of online camp resources included in this tip sheet. To view it
in full, please click on the following link: http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/parenting/camp_tips.html
Packing Checklist
for Travel, Camping and Hiking
Whether you are sending your child on a camping adventure or the whole
family will be out enjoying nature together, the checklists provided
in this tip sheet are essential. You will find information on tips for
packing including first aid items, clothing, toiletries, eating items
and much more. If you want to get a jump-start on getting ready for
camp, click on the entire tip sheet below: http://www.saferchild.org/list.htm
Articles:
How to Choose a
Summer Camp
Choosing a summer camp can be a fun yet overwhelming venture. There
are many questions that you and your child should ask yourselves before
deciding which camp is just right. Whether you are considering a day
camp or sleep-away camp, this article will give you suggestions on how
to research what will be a good match for your child. Determining what
your child wants, finding out the size of the camp and locating programs
of interest are also discussed. This is a very interactive article so
get out the pen and paper, call a family meeting and begin planning
for your child's wonderful summer experience. To view the article, click
on the following link at http://www.summercamp.org/guidance/pamphlet.html
Talking About Homesickness
This article provides parents with insight on how to help cool the fears
their youngsters may have with attending an overnight camp. Great ideas
on how to address nervousness and anxiety are included. You will also
find ways to communicate with your child regarding his fear of facing
new challenges. The author also includes ideas to help your child when
they are actually at camp and are very homesick. Such suggestions include
talking to a camp counselor or friend or bringing pictures from home
to feel safer and comforted. There is also a suggestion for parents
to be honest about their first experience with camp. It would be great
to discuss their anxiety and how they dealt with their fears. Keeping
the lines of communication open between the parent and child will hopefully
create an easy transition to the wonderful world of camping! To view
the article in full, check out the link at http://life.familyeducation.com/summer-camp/anxiety/36348.html
Spotlights
of the Month!
Camp Invention
Is your child really into science, math or history? If so, Camp Invention
is just right for them. Camp Invention has a week long camp in an inclusive
environment, which is ideal for children with disabilities who can bring
a buddy or be paired with a typical peer. This camp is offered throughout
Maryland with locations in such cities as Ellicott City, Millersville,
Rockville, Baltimore, Annapolis and more. This camp will help youngsters
in the first through sixth grades explore with their imaginations to
create and invent numerous projects. To learn more about this camp:
http://www.invent.org/camp_invention/2_1_0_camp.asp
Recommended Websites
Washington Parent: Summer Camp Guide 2006- locate hundreds of summer camp listings in this resource, with a special section devoted to finding camps for children with disabilities. To view the camp guide, please click on the following link http://www.washingtonparent.com/guides/guide-camp.htm
LINC's Summer Arts
Camp- find out information on this inclusive computer based
camp for children ages 7-14. Take a look at the website at
http://www.linc.org/TextOnly/projects_text.html
Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission in Prince George's County- provides day camps for children with and without disabilities. Therapeutic programs are also available. Contact MNCPPC at (301) 699-2480 or visit their website at http://www.pgparks.com
We currently offer training
and technical consultation to businesses, churches, and other community
organizations to help make them more welcoming to families and children
with special needs. If you know of a business or other organization
that would like to take advantage of these services, please e-mail us
at: communityconnections@umd.edu
OR
If you know of a business that is already welcoming to children with
special needs and their families and you would like to share this information
with other families and professionals, please send us your name as well
as the name and contact information for the business with a brief description
of why you believe they are welcoming to families. If appropriate, we
will post the business on our website and we may even feature it as
a 'Spotlight if the Month'. E-mail your submissions to: communityconnections@umd.edu
*Questions or Suggestions about our newsletter? Have an idea you would
like to submit? Please feel free to contact us at communityconnections@umd.edu
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Disclaimer
Unless otherwise noted, all referenced articles are available
at no charge to you. Community Connections provides this for informational
purposes only and cannot attest to the accuracy of information provided
by linked sites. The opinions and views expressed at these web sites
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2005, Community Connections. All rights reserved.
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© 2004 University of Maryland. All Rights Reserved.
Last updated on
May 4, 2006
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