Campers-Campers

Here's Olive the morning before her first day of camp.  The beautiful orange ensemble was made by my friend Debbie.

And here she is the morning before her second day.  She's holding my purse and her satchel, ready to head for the door.

On the third morning I got no picture, because Olive was insistently dragging me to the door by my wrist before I could get my camera.

It's safe to say Olive is enjoying camp.  However, let my experience be a lesson to you: never miss orientation.  Even if you're vomiting bile and birthing reptiles, show up.  Even if you have to drag yourself there by your elbows.  Not only did we miss the all-important information regarding fire lanes and where to park, but we also managed to enroll Olive without knowing that this is an integrated camp.  This means that autistic kids and 'nother kids are all mixed up together.  And while statistics seem to show an explosion in the number of children diagnosed with autism, the reality is that Olive's particular camp group consists of 14 neurotypical little girls...and Olive.  I have no idea what they make of her or she of them, but I find myself wishing I'd never read Margaret Atwood's Cat's Eye.

I know several readers of Knitters-Knitters have kids on The Spectrum.  Now would be a good time for you to wax eloquent about your child's terrific experience in the wonderful world of inclusion, even if you have to fudge it a bit.  Tell me that children don't get away with being as scornful and exclusive as they did back when we were mean little girls.

Olive has a young aide who accompanies her on all camp activities.  We'll call her Daphne, in keeping with our beloved Frasier theme.  Daphne includes a bit of text every day on Olive's experiences--not as detailed and reassuring as the Sacred Notebook, but very appreciated, nonetheless.  Here's today's entry:

Today Olive played with Maris and Lilith.  She put her face in the water (at swimming) and used the bathroom.  She also loved art time and Kid's Fit.  Can you please send a water bottle daily?

There's also a checklist, where it indicates that today Olive participated in swimming, Tae Kwan Do, art, story-time and sports, and especially enjoyed putting her face in the water. 

Oh, to have been a fly on the wall at Tae Kwan Do! 

Comments

[Shelli]

Oh I wish my kids were experiencing your campers-campers! One day we'll break free from this rural hell of ours. Love to Olive!

[Badger]

Yay for Olive enjoying camp! She looks very excited on day two up there.

As you know, my boy child occupies a slightly different area of the Spectrum, but he has always been in mainstream classes. There's been good and bad with that, I have to say. I think/hope the fact that Olive is having FUN and wants to go back every day indicates that no one is going all Lord of the Flies on her ass.

Oh, and we have found taekwondo to be WONDERFUL for our Aspie boy. It's an individual sport done in a group, which is perfect for him, and his motor skills/planning improved by leaps and bounds when he started doing it. He dropped out a year ago as a first-degree black belt, but would probably still be doing it if freaking MIDDLE SCHOOL didn't require so much of his time during the school year.

[blackbird]

I've never read Cat's Eye so I am saved the worry...but I'll hope that the kids in her group just accept her and don't give it a thought. I think things are different now - so many children have all kinds of differences.

[Debbie]

She looks like she is having a grand time. Love the outfit :)

[Poppy Buxom]

What they said. My aspies have always been fully included, although when they were younger, they did both; a half day in their regular classroom, and a half day with a group of kids culled from several towns in the expanded school district (NSSED). The "special ed" classes included all the kids that age in the school district, so they had autism, ADHD, blindness, you name it.

As for results, my aspie son has the usual gift of incredible mimicry and came home doing a dead-on impression of another boy's noises. Which was actually pretty funny. But which he then needed to un-learn.

In general, I don't think kids pick on other kids the way they did when I was in school. General bullying, yes, but when even a tiny school has kids with autism, Down's Syndrome, and other issues, the kids are exposed to it from nursery school on up, and really, it's the new normal.

[Ingrid]

She looks like she is having a lovely time! That is probably the best test. Kids seem to get along very well without relying on verbal communication - whenever we travel, my girls (4 and 5) seem to be able to interact with other kids in the play ground with out the benefit of a common language.

[suse]

My littlest (and prior to this year my middle and the year before that also my eldest) goes to a local primary school (elementary school to you) that incorporates three streams: a mainstream, a Steiner/Waldorf stream and an SDS stream (Special Development School). The SDS classrooms have kids with various brands of autism, Down Syndrome, you name it. The classes are all separate but at lunch time, play time, festivals, sport, before/after care, assembly, everything else, the kids all mix together. So you get everyone playing soccer/downball/hopscotch out in the yard together every day, and as someone earlier in the comments said, it's the new norm. The kids are exposed to differences from Day One and they are amazingly tolerant and supportive and understanding.

It's a win win all round.

Olive looks like she's having a ball!

[Irma Perlman]

Just got home and read your story and saw the pictures.She looks as if she is really enjoying it all.She's a happy,happy camper and the other children are her pals. Believe me...

[Dixie]

Most importantly, love her outfits!
I agree with those who said that if it was miserable experience, you'd likely see signs. I'm glad she has a 1:1 though.
In my recent experiences, the Lord of the Fly children are most readily found in middle schools. And, it doesn't matter if you're different or not, they're equal opportunity Flies.

[Lisa thedomesticdiva]

Little Miss Olive seems to answer your question.

Now I'm no expert (although I do believe my son boarders on Asperger's), I've seen kids learn empathy when exposed to children that are different than them. I find they go out of their way to include them and make them feel a part of.

I really don't think you need to worry one bit. The smile on her face says it all.

With friendship,
Lsia

[Kimberly]

I would like to say that I have been reading and enjoying your blog for months now. I find Olive to be fascinating. I have 3 'nother children and I just wanted to let you know, on this day, when my blog is a little bit about complaining about my children...... You are my mothering Hero.... your blog makes me laugh out loud and a few times cry. You are a wonderful human and I admire you greatly. Pat yourself on the back, no, hug yourself for being such a fantastic mother.

Fondly-

Kimberly

[Rebekah]

I think if she were not having a good time with these girls, she would not be dragging you out the door :)