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Change yourself; change their world how to play with campers with disabilities.

Article Excerpt
A well-meaning camp counselor once said to her camper, "Don't stare at that person who has a disability." The camper broadly translated that information to, "Don't look." As a result, people who were different became invisible to the camper. Her counselor really meant, "Don't make the individual uncomfortable." As a result of the camper's innocent interpretation, she not only didn't see people who were different, she did not invite or even include them in her environment.

This story isn't that unusual. At times when people encounter a person who seems different, for a host of reasons, they may look away because they don't know what else to do. Tolstoy said, "Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself."

One of the ways to change one's self and learn to be more accepting of people with disabilities is to change behaviors when meeting, working, or playing with people with disabilities in any camp setting. When people, including children, know what to do and how to behave, perhaps more positive results will occur, and the world may change one person at a time.

Tips for Special Populations

The following tips are meant to help people know what to do and how to plan for, invite, include, respect, and play with individuals who may be different (culturally, physically, emotionally, or intellectually). The general suggestions listed fit individuals with disabilities and other special populations, and in most cases, their nondisabled peers will benefit as well. Often, it isn't important to know or understand the actual disability or difference. It is more important to have supportive strategies immediately available to include all camp staff.

These suggestions specifically address play with individuals identified as having attention/hyperactivity disorder, learning disability, emotional disturbance, mental disabilities, hearing and/or visual impairment, autism, and other health-impaired issues such as arthritis and cerebral palsy. The strategies outlined may also be useful when playing with English Language Learners (ELL). Adaptation/Accommodation Strategies for Managing the Camp Environment

Universal design

* Universal design is an approach to the design of all products and environments,...

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