Summer is a few months away, which means we’re on the hunt for summer camps! Traditional camps don’t always take our kids’ extra support needs into account, so we’ve rounded up disability-friendly summer camps in California. Some of these camps are designed just for our kiddos while others invite campers of all abilities to participate. We’ve organized our camp lists by region, and then focus or theme, so you’ll be able to find the best fit for your child this summer! And remember: register early because they fill up fast!
Is your kiddo ready to try the independence of an overnight camp? Maybe you’re looking for a program where the whole family can participate. Check out this list of camps all over California, some of which are free or have scholarships available! You’ll even find a camp “of, by, and for” the Deaf, hard of hearing and KODA youth community!
We’ve found so many camps in the LA area that accommodate kids with disabilities, we’ve separated them by category — education and STEM, recreation and adaptive sports, social skills, visual and performing arts, and therapeutic camps!
A summer camp where your child has their own camp counselor? Yes, please. Check out this list of camps in Orange County for STEM, performing arts, music, adaptive sports, and therapeutic day camps, including Special Camp, which focuses on the camper-counselor relationship.
Does your child love the stage? We’ve got the camp for you! This list of camps in the San Diego area has everything from computer coding to surfing to theater, and more — including free improv theater workshops!
If you want a camp in Northern California, Sacramento, or Central California for your kiddo that has things “traditional camps can’t always offer,” we’ve got the thing for you. Check out this list for camps that offer adaptive sports, science, horse riding, drawing, and more.
Okay, who doesn’t love LEGOS? Click here to find camps in the San Franciso Bay Area specifically for learning disabilities, adaptive sports, performing arts, and other activities, including a Girl Power STEAM LEGO Robotics camp!
Be sure also to check out our article How to Find Your Kid’s Best Summer Camp for information on camp funding options (like Regional Center), questions to ask potential summer programs and camp directors, and the 411 on what camps must provide.
If you’re on the hunt for something a bit more tailored to your family, such as camps in a different part of the world, or maybe even an astronomy or tech-based camp, reach out to learn how you can get a custom research report as an Undivided member!
- How do you determine if a camp is right for your child? Ask the camp director these 5 questions! Watch on our YouTube channel→
- We love sharing the wins that parents in our community are able to accomplish with Undivided’s help! Check out Mandi’s story on Instagram→
- Want to coordinate a summer camp with other families so that your child will have go-to friends? Join our private group for parents→
- We’d love to help a summer program near you be more inclusive to kids of all abilities. Tell them about Undivided on LinkedIn→
- Find a good summer camp for your child and learn all the ways to fund them with help from an Undivided Navigator. Get started→
Have you ever been in an IEP and heard something that doesn’t sound quite right, but you don’t know how to respond? Then you tell your friend, and they’ve heard those exact same words in their child’s IEP? If something is stated as fact and repeatedly quoted as policy, it becomes easier to believe, despite that burning sensation in your gut. (We’re looking at you, “We don’t do that here!”) Join us for a virtual Q&A on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 1:00-2:00 p.m. with Undivided’s Education Advocate, Lisa Carey, who will take some of the most common things said in IEPs and talk us through how we can respond. Register for the event here! (If you can’t participate in the chat during the event itself, RSVP anyway for the full replay and recap straight to your email inbox!)
Office Hours with Leslie Lobel
On Wednesday, March 20 from 12:00-1:00 p.m., Undivided Director of Health Plan Advocacy, Leslie Lobel will be available to answer all of your questions about insurance, including pre-authorizations, explanation of benefits, out-of-network claims, optimizing in-network coverage, and more! Bi-weekly Office Hours are virtual Q&A sessions with experts that are open to Undivided members only, so sign up here if you’d like to attend!
