Camps (22+ Years)

The mission of the Achievement Centers for Children is to enable and empower children with disabilities and their families to grow, learn, play and prepare for lifelong achievement in society. The agency serves children from birth through adulthood, with a special focus on children from birth through age five.

Their unique, comprehensive service model weaves together education and autism services, therapy services and Intensive Therapy Clinic, and family support services to meet the needs of the entire family and provide the best outcomes.

Achievement Centers has a wide range of summer programs and camps for both children and adults, that range from residential camp (“overnight” camp) to day camps, sports and recreation programs, horseback therapeutic programs, and weekend respite camps. Visit their website for more information.

Akron Rotary Camp offers several respite programs throughout the year as well as summer day and overnight camps. They serve ages 6-adulthood. The goals are to increase camper’s independence and self-esteem; develop social skills; and to further strengthen the family unit by providing a safe, fun and nurturing environment for individuals with disabilities.

Weekend respite– Campers arrive on Friday evening and stay through Sunday morning. Throughout the weekend campers enjoy traditional camp activities, as well as special seasonal ones.

Adult respite getaway weekend– These are structured like the weekend respite program, but with the adult camper in mind.

Day respite– These respite groups provide a chance for children with special needs an opportunity to interact with well trained staff and engage in fun and developmentally appropriate camp activities.

School’s out respite– Developed to provide families with a place to send their campers when they don’t have school during winter break. Campers of any age are welcome.

Summer overnight camp– Children and adults with disabilities learn new skills, develop friendships, and gain independence through this one week overnight experience. Ages 6-17

Summer day camps– Campers enjoy traditional camp activities, while spending each night at home. Various locations.

Sibling summer camp– For one week the siblings of campers, ages 6-17, get to spend a week at camp. Typically developing campers will leave camp with a new appreciation for their brother or sister, and also find more ways to help their sibling with the challenges they may face every day.

Visit the Rotary Camp website or search their Event Calendar for current dates and rates.

Chapter of the Autism Society of America.

Offers support and information for families from diagnosis to adulthood through family support, seminars, community training and social opportunities for those affected with ASD. They also hold monthly parent support groups.

Offers a summer camp called S.T.A.R. (Students Together Achieving Respect), that serves all individuals with any type of disability. Camp is staffed with intervention specialists, a movement specialist and college interns. It blends academic, recreational and social skills lessons to promote individual camper growth. The camp is for individuals aged 3 to 22. Offers ESY opportunities as well.

Residential services, adult day programs, independent living services, affordable housing, and respite for adults over age 18 with autism. Applicants must be a resident of the state of Ohio.

They offer a Social Living Club with weekly activities that includes non-residents.

The Summer Enrichment Program has been serving adolescents with autism for 18 years on the 80-acre Bittersweet Farms campus in Whitehouse, Ohio. Participation in the program is also offered through our Pemberville and Lima locations.

Waivers accepted.

A week-long camp experience for adults 18+ with developmental disabilities. Held at Camp Wise in Chardon, Ohio, campers participate in traditional camp activities including boating, crafts, dancing, swimming and climbing.

Camp Cheerful offers residential co-ed sessions in a beautiful outdoor environment for children and adults ages 7 and older with and without special needs. Camp activities are designed to meet the individual interests and needs of campers of all abilities, and programs promote self-confidence, independence and friendship in a beautiful outdoor environment.

Overnight weekend camp for children and adults with autism and special needs. Activities include sports, campfires, dances, arts & crafts, recreation, and nature and sensory hikes. There is a 4:1 camper to staff ratio, and a nurse is available at camp 24 hours per day.

Respite weekends are offered one weekend every month, Sept. – May for individuals 7 years and older, including adults. Registration deadline for each weekend session is one week prior to the start date of that session.

A grant is available for self-pay families to offset a portion of the fees. Camp Cheerful is a waiver provider: IO, Level 1 and SELF Waivers are accepted.

Horsemanship sessions are tailored for children and adults with physical, mental and emotional strengths and limitations. This year-round program is taught by instructors certified by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship Int’l. in a heated arena. The sensory trail in the woods of Camp Cheerful was designed especially for riders with autism.

The use of the horse and equine-oriented activities are incorporated to achieve a variety of therapeutic goals, including cognitive, physical, emotional, social, educational and behavioral goals.

A variety of programs and exciting activities for all ages including persons with disabilities.

Christopher Discovery Overnight Camp — Available for as little as one week or up to the entire summer. Campers stay in ramped, dormitory style cabins segregated by gender.
direct contact: (330) 334-2900

SumFun Day Camp — A multi-week summer day program based on school calendar for children with special needs, ages 5 though 21 who qualify for services through their local county board of developmental disabilities.
direct contact: (330) 376-2267

Community Respite — Participants must be 13 years old to attend. Available Friday evening to Sunday morning, one weekend per month. While most participants stay for the entire weekend, participants are not required to stay for the entire weekend.

Shuttle services are provided at various locations in Summit County.

Medicaid, IO Waiver, Level 1 Waiver, Family Support Services, ESY, private pay and other options are available.

Courageous Community Services (Formerly known as Camp Courageous) serves children and adults with developmental disabilities, ages 15 and up. The residential camps begin Sunday afternoon and run through Friday morning. They provide a residential summer camp program that fosters socialization and independence, while allowing campers to experience the outdoors.

Weekend respite camps include all of the fun of a Residential Camp packed into a weekend. Campers arrive Friday afternoon and stay until Sunday morning. During the summer, campers are welcome to attend either Residential Camp before or after a Respite Weekend (or stay the whole 2 weeks).

They accept Individual Options,Level One or Self Waivers and private pay.

For kids, young adults and adults starting at age 7.
This is a Christian-based camp that offers 1 week sessions, each week catering to a different age range.
Cost of camp varies by week. Partial scholarships are available based on camper and family needs. The camp accepts SELF, IO and Homecare waivers.

See website for detailed camp schedule.

They provide educational, spiritual, pastoral, sacramental, catechetical, camps, social and recreational programs.

The mission is to assist people with cognitive and other developmental disabilities and physical disabilities to understand, develop and live out their lives as completely as possible within the Church and the larger community.

Camp Happiness is a summer program for children and young adults ages 5-21 with cognitive and other developmental disabilities, regardless of race, religion, culture or economic background.
They offer social and recreational activities, as well as skill enhancement. Participants also go swimming and on community field trips. Camp locations are in Parma and Wickliffe. Some financial assistance is available.

Their very popular Monthly Dance/Social offers persons of all abilities, ages 16 and over only, the opportunity to learn social skills and form friendships. Dances are held on the second Friday of the month, from 7-9pm. They take place at the OLA-St. Joseph Center, 2346 West 14th Street, in Cleveland. Entry for $3 dollars a person.
Call (216)334-2963 for more information, or visit their website.

Offers include respite services; speech and language therapy; and in-home respite care. There are also summer camps for children with disabilities in Alliance and Ashtabula.

For children younger than 3, Easter Seals offers speech and language therapy.

Read this document for further information about Easter Seals’ services.

Campers will experience the real workplace in a variety of settings including the Two Café and Boutique, the Two gardens, local restaurants, manufacturing plants, distribution centers, and car dealerships. This summer camp program that will be focusing on the following job-related skills:
Resume writing
Interviewing skills
Dressing for success
Networking
Communication skills
Customer service
Retail selling
Workplace ethics and behavior
Self-Awareness lessons
Self-Advocacy lessons
Self-Regulation lessons

A division of Medina Creative Housing, Medina Creative Transitions is a residential and commuter post-secondary college program for individuals with disabilities. They offer academic supports, independent living skills training and career skill training through partnerships with Cuyahoga Community College and Lorain County Community College.

Programs are offered during the traditional school year and as a summer program.

Read this brochure for further information about their 2018 summer program.

Residential and day camps for children and adults beginning at age 8. Year-round respite camps that promote self-confidence, self-esteem and promoting positive human relations, attitudes and behaviors.

Camp for people age 5 through adulthood who love sports. The camp is $225/week, with some financial assistance available.

SHC provides services to individuals with disabilities and their families. They are an advocate for human rights, in addition to many programs for children, adults and families.

Services include:
Camp Paradise — traditional day and residential summer camps for adults with developmental disabilities
Residential Services
The Link Day Program (social opportunities and job training for adults)
Special Olympics
In-Home Support
Ombudsman
Resource Center
Transportation Services

Offers movement therapy classes for people with special needs, ages 5 – 25. There are many different styles of dance and movement available, and accepts individuals with and without dance training. Aides are allowed to attend with students.

Dancing Wheels also offers a Youth Arts summer camp (ages 6-14) and a Little Learners summer camp for 3-5 year olds.

A music therapy program, offering music therapy services for individuals and groups of all ages and abilities. They also offer a music therapy and summer camp program for teens and adults with special needs. They primarily serve children ages 3-21 living with Autism and/or Developmental Disabilities. They also feel it’s very important for continuity of services even after our clients age out of the school system so we also offer a continuum of services to people 21 and up.

They have an office in Hudson, Ohio and provide in home services in Summit County, Ohio and the surrounding area.

They do not accept insurance at this time.

UDS serves individuals of all ages with all types of disabilities – from the mildest to the most severe. They are committed to offering high-quality options to help fulfill social, vocational, community living, low vision and transportation needs.

In addition there is a Toy & Resource Center for parents of children with special needs and a program with sports programs sanctioned by the Special Olympics.