Accessibility Services

Our Accessibility Services and Inclusion Program supports campers who need additional accommodations in the Day and Residential Camp programs. We work to adapt programs to the needs of each child and that resembles the support a child with a disability receives at school as closely as possible; such as check-ins, breaks, or visual schedules. If it is determined that a camper requires one on one assistance to access camp and be successful, then they will be paired with a trained staff to support them throughout their time at camp.

Differences Between Camp and School

Utilizing IEPs and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
School: Schools are required by law to give accommodations only based on their developed and implemented IEP.
Camp: Camp is required to follow facility accessibility laws under ADA, but is not required to follow specific accommodation plans. Camp offers accommodations based on IEP, but also considers the recommendations of parents, as well as what our staff deem best for your camper.

One on One Support
School: Schools are legally obligated to provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to all eligible students with disabilities, as mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). One on one support is provided if deemed necessary by the school environment.
Camp: Camp focuses on advocacy for children with disabilities and provides resources and support services that supplement those provided by schools. One on one support is provided if deemed necessary by the team and parent recommendations.

NOTE: One on one support being needed in a school environment is not always necessary in the camp environment, and vice versa. We will utilize our best judgment in determining whether or not your child would benefit from one-on-one support at camp.

Types of Services Offered

These are set times where our trained staff checks in with how the camper is doing and managing camp. These check-ins are mainly utilized by campers who need support managing their anxiety or feeling overwhelmed in the camp environment, but this service can be implemented for any camper.
These include the use of fidgets and headphones to help manage sensory overstimulation and are available to all campers at camp.
These are helpful for campers who need reminders of which activities are happening in what order and when or campers that thrive on a routine. The visuals instead of words can support campers as they gain independence in understanding their schedule without the barrier of reading comprehension.
These are supervised times away from the large group or activity and can look different for each individual camper depending on their needs in that moment. These breaks can include a nature walk, sitting away from the rest of the group, or utilizing another activity space in order to self-regulate.
Phantom Lake YMCA Camp also has dedicated sensory rooms available that offer fidgets and other sensory calming activities to help re-regulate campers’ emotions and help them overcome instances of overstimulation in a safe environment for the camper and others.
This individualized support is provided by our trained staff members. Similar to a paraeducator in a school environment, our staff will provide support in and out of the group environment to make sure that the camper’s needs are being met on an individual basis.
When is 1:1 Support Recommended?
There is not a specific diagnosis that indicates a need for 1:1 support through accessibility services. This support is based on a camper’s individual needs, with the goal of increasing independence over time. Campers who may need one on one support include campers with physical disabilities where they may not be able to easily navigate the camp terrain on their own, behavioral challenges where they may need additional eyes to keep them regulated in a group environment, social skill challenges where the camper may struggle to understand and use certain social skills, and campers that struggle with transition times.