Summer is just around the corner and many parents are wondering what activites their child, who is on the autism spectrum, can do. Well the answer might be easier than you think, they can do just about anything.
If a child on the spectrum is in a traditional school setting, why shouldn’t he or she be given the same opportunities and chances to be included with those same peers and friends during the summer at the same camps or activity programs?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), “gives civil rights protection to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and federal government services, and telecommunications.”
Essentially this means, public accomodations including places like day cares, hotels, movie theaters, recreation centers, etc. all must comply with this law.
Kim Davis, a research associate at Indiana University in Bloomington, had this to say about the inclusion of chidlren with disabilities:
“The requirements that apply to child-care centers can be applied to recreation programs or camps since they are considered “public accommodations.” Below are the basic requirements of Title III related to public accommodations. (Centers in this article refers to all public accommodations, including camps and recreation programs.)
•Centers cannot exclude children with disabilities unless their presence would pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others or require a fundamental alteration of the program.
•Centers have to make reasonable modifications to their policies and practices to integrate children, parents, and guardians with disabilities into their programs unless doing so would constitute a fundamental alteration.
•Centers must provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services needed for effective communication with children or adults with disabilities when doing so would not constitute an undue burden.
•Centers must generally make their facilities accessible to persons with disabilities. Existing facilities are subject to the readily achievable standard for barrier removal, while newly constructed facilities and any altered portions of existing facilities must be fully accessible.” – Davis
Visit our blog tomorrow to see Part II for tips on how to make sure your child has a smooth transition into the world of summer camps and day care.