What Inclusion Means to Us
My son Andrew was diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome at age four. Because so much of his life from that point on was filled with therapy, tutoring, and smaller classes geared for his learning style, he wanted to be with everyone else when it came to sports and the outdoors. While a few programs were specifically designed for kids with intellectual and developmental disabilities, none were inclusive and only served to further alienate him from his peers. Knowing the rules of the game made him even more frustrated because leagues for kids of differing abilities often ignored the most basic of those rules. While it was a perfect fit for some kids who just wanted to play, the differing rules were so frustrating for Andrew that he refused to go. Then I saw how he thrived in our neighborhood and during school recess, where he intentionally sought out and engaged with neurotypical kids. As a mom, it was hard to know your child needed something that didn’t exist.
In 2011, when Andrew was 10 years old, Zac Brown founded Camp Southern Ground with the goal of creating a truly inclusive summer camp. This was incredibly exciting news as I had long struggled to find inclusive extracurricular activities for my son, activities that would provide accommodations but also allow him to participate alongside his typical peers. Here was a sleep-away camp that not only promoted independent living skills, it also reinforced good nutrition, trying new things, and growing confidence. Camp was focused primarily on outdoor activities – which he loved – and, best of all, it was inclusive so he would not be singled out as different from his typical peers. It would provide organic and authentic socialization opportunities, as opposed to the scripted ones he received in therapy. The icing on the cake came a few years later when Treehouse Masters, one of my son’s all-time favorite shows, built the Space Crab Treehouse at Camp Southern Ground.
My dream for my son was for him to be as independent as possible and also be an engaged, accepted member of his community. Andrew grew up on a street and in a community where he was encouraged, supported, and accepted for his strengths, and never being singled out for the things that made him different. He was fortunate to have this village but many like him, for one reason or another, do not. Finding this level of acceptance and support is often extremely difficult for those who have limited resources, attend schools with limited funding for needed programming, limited access to the necessary professionals and a community that is not accepting of being different.
Camp Southern Ground was created with the vision of acceptance and diversity right from the start where each child could shine based on their own unique strengths and talents. It provides an organic opportunity for children to learn about diversity in a natural way that will hopefully become the basis for their future, thereby helping to eradicate any negative stereotypes or preconceived notions around individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities.
We watched for announcements as funds were raised and camp constriction began. We donated at concerts and attended local fundraisers. Andrew aged out before Camp Southern Ground opened for its first full summer session in 2018, but our excitement did not diminish. We are thrilled for all those families who have the opportunity to participate in this amazing experience! Andrew did tour Camp last year just to see the result of what he’d been watching grow for years. Now that he is transitioning to adulthood and entering the workforce, I am excited to learn that Camp Southern Ground recently made it a goal to hire neurodiverse summer camp counselors, so children will see themselves reflected in the camp leadership.
The benefits of attending an inclusive recreational summer camp are invaluable, and not just for atypical kids. Oftentimes, the lessons learned are more impactful to the neurotypical camper, teaching empathy, acceptance, and compassion. Frequently, the response to this experience for many typical peers is to eventually enter a related field of study or career path that works with a neurodiverse population. This was the case for Andrew’s younger sister, her friend, two of our neighbor’s children, and many of the high school classmates that grew up alongside Andrew. I am thrilled to know these are the kids that will lead by example as community leaders, teachers, therapists, doctors, camp directors, and a host of other professions!