Deciding where to send your child for summer camp can feel overwhelming for families of children with disabilities. Parents want to know their child will be safe, understood and excited to show up each day. The good news is that camps with the right support do exist, giving every camper the chance to grow, try new things and build meaningful connections. As a nationally recognized leader in inclusion, Keshet shares what families should consider when choosing a camp and how their programs create a community of belonging for all.
Words by Lauryn Smith, Keshet
For many parents of children with disabilities, choosing a summer camp brings a mix of hope and anxiety. Camp is meant to be fun, yet the search often brings more questions than answers.
Will staff truly understand my child’s needs?
Will my child feel safe and included and excited to show up each day?
Will this be a place where they are supported rather than singled out?
The good news is that programs intentionally designed to support campers with a variety of needs exist and are ready for you with open arms. With the right support, every camper can have a summer filled with growth, connection and fun. Parents can send their child to camp each day knowing they are in the best hands and ready to do it all again the next summer.
When families look for summer camp, they are rarely just looking for activities. They are looking for safety, understanding and connection. They want their camper to have a summer that feels joyful, meaningful and just like everyone else’s. At Keshet, what we most of all recognize is that parents are looking for trust. They want to know that the staff has a history of meeting campers’ needs and can confidently do it again with their own child.
When choosing a camp for a child with intellectual or developmental disabilities, many families find it helpful to consider these key factors:
- Individualized support: Low staff-to-camper ratios and access to 1:1 support so all campers can fully participate
- Experienced staff: Counselors with training and experience across a range of disabilities build trust quickly
- Structure with flexibility: Routine schedules paired with the ability to adapt activities to fit a camper’s individual needs
- Inclusion without pressure: Being part of a community where inclusion is seen as the norm, not the exception
- Focus on growth: Supporting social-emotional development, independence and confidence, not just supervision
- Therapeutic vs non-therapeutic: Decide if your child would benefit from trained professionals providing social, emotional and behavioral support, or if a more typical camp experience is a better fit
Keshet’s summer camps, located in the Northern suburbs of Chicago and Wisconsin, were created with this in mind and so much more! Each of our day and overnight camps meets kids where they are, offering the right mix of support, fun and growth. Campers enjoy typical camp activities like swimming, games, arts, sports and field trips while receiving the support they need to be successful. Some campers benefit from hands-on assistance throughout the day, while others need encouragement navigating social situations or trying something new. Each camp experience is designed so every child can feel included, build confidence and experience the joy of summer camp in their own way.
Keshet’s camp team brings expertise in special education and therapeutic recreation. Prior to the summer, every family completes an intake and meets with a member of our full-time team to set their child up for a successful summer. Caring and well-trained counselors help campers feel safe taking risks, build independence and develop friendships throughout the summer. Families can feel confident knowing their child is supported by professionals who understand disabilities and are committed to each camper’s success.
While summer camp is often the entry point, Keshet also offers year-round programming for kids and teens including after-school classes, sports and arts programming, Sunday programming and day-off programming. This continuity helps reinforce the skills and relationships built during the summer. You may also see some familiar faces—staff retention is one of our biggest strengths.
Choosing a camp is not just about planning for the summer. It is about finding a place where your child is understood, where your family feels supported and where you can grow for many years to come. This is something we believe every child deserves. Across all Keshet camps, our mission is to create a community of belonging for all.
If you are interested in learning more about Keshet’s camp programs for Summer 2026, visit keshet.org/camps. We’d be happy to answer any questions and help find the best fit for your camper.
We’re also featured in Chicago North Shore Moms’ North Shore Day Camp Guide and Midwest Overnight Camps Guide.
