Welcome to The Boost’s second-annual summer sleepaway spectacular.
The camps listed below are mostly in New York State, with a few in other North East locales. They all focus on programs for people with a range of developmental disabilities, and offer summer experiences such as outdoor activities, teen travel and college readiness.
Two things to note:
- This is not an endorsement of any particular camp. Always ensure it meets the needs of your loved ones and please do your due diligence.
- We’ve posted camps that got back to us during the fact-checking stage.
This list is designed to grow! If you have any camps you’d like to see added, contact The Boost here.
- Address: One Thoreau Way, Thetford Center, Vt., 05075
- About: Camp Akeela is a “traditional New England camp program” for campers diagnosed with Asperger’s, NLVD or a similar neurodiverse profile. Beyond Akeela helps prepare older campers for life after high school, with an emphasis on social skills, independence and college readiness. Also available: a one-week Family Camp.
- Ages: Camp Akeela, 3rd-10th graders; Beyond Akeela, 10th-12th graders
- Date and rates
- Financial aid available: Yes
- ACA accredited: Yes
- Address: 228 Four Corners Rd., Ancramdale, N.Y., 12503
- About: “A traditional summer camp experience,” run by AHRC New York City. It’s for people who require various levels of support and may also have physical and/or medical needs.
- Ages: 5+-adult
- Dates and rates: Contact the camp for rates.
- Financial aid: Yes
- ACA accredited: Yes
- Address: 473 Skiff Mountain Rd., Kent, Conn., 06757 (at the Marvelwood School)
- About: A camp for children and teens with dyslexia and language-based learning differences. Provides 1-to-1 Orton-Gillingham instruction. (Day camp also offered.)
- Ages: 8-16
- Dates and rates
- Financial aid: Yes
- ACA accredited: ACA “affiliated”
- Address: 450 Route 590, Lackawaxen, Pa., 18435
- About: A full curriculum incorporating an academic and speech program with traditional camp activities. It also offers daily living, physical therapy and occupational therapy programs. Older campers work on transitioning skills and then take part in vocational training and job skills activities.
- Ages: 7-21
- Dates and rates
- Financial aid: Yes
- ACA accredited: Yes
- Address: 2 Chet Swezey Rd., Center Moriches, N.Y., 11934
- About: Run by the Moriches Rotary Health Camp, Inc., this is a traditional summer camp with one-week sessions for campers with a wide range of disabilities.
- Ages: 6-adult
- Dates and rates
- Financial aid: Yes
- ACA accredited: Yes
- Address: 3 Chenango Rd., Edmeston, N.Y., 13335
- About: Part of Pathfinder Village, a planned community, this is a small camp for individuals with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities who have a level of physical/emotional health that will allow them to benefit from camp.
- Ages: 18+
- Dates and rates: Coming soon, check the website.
- Financial aid: Yes
- ACA accredited: No
CAMP RAMAH IN THE BERKSHIRES: BREIRA B’RAMAH & TIKVAH
- Address: Wingdale, N.Y., 12594
- About: Breira B’Ramah, the Jewish camp of the Conservative Movement, is an inclusion program for campers who benefit from additional support due to communication disorders, and intellectual and developmental disabilities. Tikvah is a self-contained program for campers who have a range of intellectual disabilities and developmental delays. Ta’am Ramah is a one-week program to give rising third graders a taste of camp. Check out Camp Ramah’s other overnight and day camps, including its camp in the Poconos.
- Ages: Breira B’Ramah, entering grades 3-11; Tikvah, 10-17
- Dates and rates
- Financial aid: Yes
- ACA accredited: Yes
- Address: 22 Camp Ramapo Rd., Rhinebeck, N.Y., 12572
- About: Summer Adventure is a camp setting for neurodiverse children and teens needing help building essential conflict-resolution skills. Its Teen Leadership includes a variety of team-building activities and work experience opportunities. NOTE: There’s an Introductory Week for children not yet ready for a full sleepaway camp experience.
- Ages: 6-16
- Dates and rates
- Financial aid: Yes
- ACA accredited: Yes
- Address: 1782 S. Johnsburg Rd., Johnsburg, N.Y., 12843
- About: “Fully immersive environment for individuals with disabilities.” Offers differentiated instruction and modified activities. Its sibling institution is The Reece School, a non-profit special education school in New York City.
- Ages: 10-17
- Dates and rates
- Financial aid: Yes
- ACA accredited: Yes
- Address: Camp Reimagined, 160 Big Pond Rd, Huguenot, N.Y., 12746
- About: This camp, active in Michigan since 2013, is designed for autistic children and their siblings. It offers a traditional experience complete with cabins, campfires, tie-dye, swimming, archery and more. New this summer: The Teen Program for siblings who have aged out of the program or for young people who want to be better allies.
- Ages: 7-17 for those with ASD; 6–13 for neurotypical siblings; 13-16 for Teen Program
- Dates and rates
- Financial aid: Scholarships available.
- ACA accredited: No
- Run by New York State OPWDD
- Address: 3 Care Lane, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., 12866
- About: Serving people with developmental disabilities from areas across northeastern New York. Eight separate one-week sessions. One special week of the program is dedicated to people who have Prader Willi Syndrome.
- Ages: 18+
- Dates and rates: Check with camp for cost, which is negligible.
- Financial aid: No
- ACA accredited: No
- Address: 2000 Frost Valley Rd., Claryville, N.Y., 12725
- About: Mainstreaming at Camp (MAC) is a partnership between the Young Adult Institute (YAI) and Frost Valley YMCA. It’s a recreational program where the focus is having fun in a supportive and inclusive residential camp setting. Campers are included in the larger camp population, while still maintaining a camaraderie in their “villages.” There’s a ratio of 3:1 (camper:staff) to help allow for additional support with ADLs, navigating social interaction, and flexibility for specific needs.
- Ages: 8-18
- Dates and Rates: Contact camp for dates. The tuition of one MAC session (two weeks) is currently being determined and will be updated on the website soon. Payment options include Self-direction and partial family reimbursement (for campers with OPWDD eligibility in NYC).
- Financial aid available: Yes
- ACA accredited: Don’t know
- From the NY District Kiwanis Foundation
- Address: 9020 Kiwanis Rd., Taberg, N.Y., 13471
- About: A traditional summer program with outdoor activities and arts designed to mainstream children with special needs. Non-competitive, it has an emphasis on group and team building.
- Ages: 8-14; teen program, 15-17; high-functioning special needs, 18+
- Dates and rates: Will be posted soon.
- Financial aid: Yes
- ACA accredited: Yes
- Address: 725 LaRue Rd., Spencer, N.Y., 14883
- About: Operated by the Empire State Special Needs Experience, it’s a traditional summer program for people with a variety of special needs and abilities. It also welcomes nonverbal campers and encourages the use of communication devices, and one session offers 1:1 support for campers who need maximum support. Day camp also offered.
- Ages: 6-17; 18-28; 28+ of various abilities
- Dates and rates: Check website in January 2025.
- Financial aid: Yes
- ACA accredited: No
- Address: 653 Colgate Rd., East Jewett, N.Y., 12424
- About: Run by AHRC New York City, it’s a vacation “alternative” to traditional summer rec programs for young adults and adults with mild to moderate intellectual and developmental disabilities. It offers four 11-day vacations (two for older adults, two for younger adults).
- Ages: 13-17; 18+
- Dates and rates: Contact for rates.
- Financial Aid: Medicaid will pay some costs if eligible.
- ACA accredited: Yes
ROCHESTER ROTARY SUNSHINE CAMP
- Address: 809 Five Points Rd., Rush, N.Y., 14543
- About: Since 1922, Rochester Rotary Sunshine Camp has provided a summer camp for children with disabilities. It features activities, arts & crafts, nature trails and more. It also has a Family Sensory Center. Divided into two sessions. Must reside in Monroe County or bordering counties (Orleans, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Wayne). Exceptions will be made based on “Out of County Acceptance Procedure” on the online application.
- Ages: Session 1, 7-15; Session 2, 16–21
- Dates and rates: Use the contact on the website for info.
- Financial aid: Unclear
- ACA accredited: No
- Address: 168 Duck Harbor Rd., Honesdale, Pa., 18431
- About: A structured traditional camp program that includes work on social skills development and executive functioning; Upper Camp for teens also works on vocational and personal development; Teen Travel program for teens struggling with social learning skills and that features both national and international tours.
- Ages: Summer Camp, 8-14; Upper Camp, 15-21; Teen Travel, 15-21
- Dates and rates
- Financial aid: Yes
- ACA accredited: Yes
TRANSITIONS SUMMER IMMERSION EXPERIENCES
- Address: 2736 State Highway 30, Mayfield, N.Y., 12117
- About: A college readiness program for students with autism, ADHD and other learning differences. The College and Beyond program offers personalized pre-college programs and helps students determine what their needs are and, through tours and hands-on exploration, exposes them to different types of college programs. Career and Life offers individualized career prep programs for young adults who want to start careers and live on their own. Day programs also available.
- Ages: College and Beyond, entering grades 9-12 or transferring colleges; Career and life, young adults up to 27
- Dates and rates
- Financial aid: Yes
- ACA accredited: Not applicable