Camps for Children with Special Needs
The Ville de Gatineau Day Camps: ENFEX Companion Program provides one-on-one support for children with special needs or disabilities who wish to participate in the regular Ville de Gatineau Day Camps by matching them up with a companion who is responsible for: fostering the child’s integration and inclusion in the day camps; adapting the nature and order of activities to the child’s abilities and needs; and protecting the child’s safety and integrity during their time at the day camp. The ENFEX Companion Program is for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Disorder with or without Hyperactivity (ADD/ADHD), Intellectual Impairment, physical disability, Tourette’s Syndrome, a global developmental delay, Language or Speech Disorder, mental health problems, behavioural disorder, etc. The ENFEX Companion Program is offered in Aylmer, Buckingham & Masson-Angers, Gatineau, and Hull sectors.
Trait d’Union Outaouais provides various packages of Educational and Group Activities for children and youth with ASD to give them the opportunity to learn while having fun. Programming is designed and facilitated by qualified educators and is based on recognized educational models. Activities allow participants to improve communication skills, develop social skills, increase motor skills, increase autonomy, enjoy outings within the community and socialize and have fun with peers. Children and youth are grouped by age and according to appropriate support levels. Their interests are also considered. Programs are structured, but remain flexible in order to adapt to the needs of each individual.
The Learning Disabilities Association of Quebec (LDAQ)/Association Quebecoise des troubles d’apprentissage (AQETA) organizes weekend activities for children 9-12 years old with ADD and ADHD living in the Outaouas area to allow parents a break at home.
The Association des camps du Québec lists specialized camps for disabled persons or camps offering an integration program or respite services.
Camp le Semeur (summer camp and after school/evening activities)
CAMPS OUTSIDE THE OUTAOUAIS AREA
Camp Kirk helps children with learning disabilities and special seeds build a sense of belonging and self-esteem. The camp is relatively small in size and boasts a large staff to camper ratio (29/36). Camp Kirk sits on 110 acres just north of the village of Kirkfield, on Highway 48 approximately one hour and thirty minutes from Toronto.
D-Camps encourages kids to indulge their sense of fun and adventure in a diabetes-friendly environment where they can meet and connect with other kids and staff who share the same experiences they do and who understand what it’s like to live with diabetes; participate in outdoor activities such as swimming, hiking, canoeing, campfires and archery that help promote self-esteem and personal growth; and, learn how to manage their diabetes independently in a supportive environment. Campers often return home eager to be more independent with their diabetes care and better able to manage day-to-day hurdles. D-Camps is located at Camps Banting & Camp Discovery and Camp Huronda in Ontario.
Located 40 kilometres north of Joliette on a 40-acre peninsula on the shores of Lake Pierre, Camp Papillon welcomes every year approximately 700 campers with special needs. Activities include fishing, camping, swimming, drama, dancing, painting, astronomy, archery, soccer, pontoon boating, Olympiads, hiking and more. Camp Papillon has specialized facilitators on staff, as well as nurses and nursing assistants, who are members in good standing of the OIIQ and the OIIAQ and who work closely to supervise the work of the health care aides, the nutritionist, and the physiotherapist/occupational therapist at the camp.
You can also try-out the Our Kids Summer Camps for Kids with Special Needs Search Engine.
Activities for Children with Special Needs
Trait D’Union: TUOI (Trait d’Union Outaouais) is a non-profit organization founded over 25 years ago in the Outaouais region. We provide services to autistic individuals from the region and encourage integration in the community. Our services also address the needs of families of autistic individuals.
Dragonfly Program: DragonFly is a programme of The School of Dance devoted to learners with Down syndrome. In a carefully designed environment, students use their individual strengths to learn; one day they may be developing math concepts through dance, on another building their understanding of literature through dance, drama, puppetry and story-telling. Our innovative programmes are the result many years of careful programme development. The result is our growing expertise of best practices in educating learners with Down syndrome. DragonFly is delivered in English and French in The School of Dance, New Edinburgh Campus.
Centre équestre Foulées d’espoir is a therapeutic riding centre for children, youth and adults with special needs. The equestrian centre is located at 1120 chemin Filion,
Gatineau, Quebec and the owners can be reached at (819) 592-0089.
The Ottawa Children’s Theatre’s Drama Weavers offers specialized support for children with a variety of learning needs so that they, too, can have enriching artistic experiences. Class sizes are very small and responsive to the needs of the children in the class. Course content explores creativity and storytelling skills, while balancing individual expression and collaboration. Classes are specifically designed to enhance the experience of children with specialized learning needs. They have a team of instructors who combine professional theatre skills and years of experience working with children and adults with diverse special needs.
Cardio-Poussette (Stroller-Cardio) is aimed at new mothers who wish to get back into shape while having their baby with them, in their stroller. But it may be possible for a mother of a disabled child to participate in this activity as long as the child is in a stroller which can roll in muddy or uneven paths.
Défi sportif is a unique multi-sport event for athletes with a disability. It reunites athletes of the five types of disabilities: auditory, physical, psychiatric, intellectual, and visual.
The Special Olympics and the Special Olympics Outaouais Group Facebook Group offers programs specifically designed for people living with an intellectual disability, and encourages and facilitates access to regular sports programs offered throughout Quebec community in specific sports. Special athletes take part in the Montreal Games, in the regional and provincial finals of the Québec Games and in the Canada Games.
The Association sportive des sourds du Québec promotes sport and physical activity for Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Quebec. They do so by: financially supporting athletes who wish to improve their training to compete at the national, provincial or international level; offering sport or physical activity programs; supporting the planning of a sport event being hosted in Quebec, and; financially support Quebec teams that will participate in a national competition.
Girls on the Spectrum Ottawa (Facebook Group)
Adapted Baseball for kids/youth (Video with information) Free every Sunday at the Branchaud-Brière Complex.
Uni-Gym Chameleons Gymnastic Group: The objective of the chameleons is to introduce gymnastics to children that have an ASD or an intellectual deficiency. This initiation will allow the athletes to evolve at their rhythm, according to their strengths and skills. For schooled and adolescents, the presence of a tutor is mandatory in the gym, it will be at your discretion to participate more or less with the class. Age: 3 to 21 years old, 1 accompanying adult mandatory. Schedule: Friday, 5 to 7 p.m. from September 21st to November 30th. Cost: $12 per child (1 accompanying parent free). Questions? 819-778-3879, .
APICO for families who have a child/youth with an intellectual disability (offers various camps and Saturday Craft Activities; French website, but bilingual staff).
The Fondation des skieurs handicapés du Québec is a non-profit organisation which helps disabled people ski by providing adequate equipment. Though their website is French only, please contact to ask about services in English.
Loisir sport personnes handicapées (LSPH) helps promote activities and sports for children with special needs. Though their website is French only, please contact to ask about services in English.
The Association québécoise de sports pour paralytiques cérébraux‘s goal is to improve the quality of life of persons suffering from cerebral palsy by offering physical activity programs adapted to their condition. Though their website is French only, please contact to ask about services in English.
Association sportive des aveugles du Québec Though their website is French only, please contact to ask about services in English.
TOOLS FOR PARENTS TO HELP ACCESS CAMPS AND ACTIVITIES FOR THEIR CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
The Carte Accompagnement Loisir (CAL) sticker gives the accompanying adult free access to tourist sites and activities. The sticker is the property of the handicapped person and is valid for all types of handicaps.
Access2 Card program helps to ensure that entertainment, cultural and recreational opportunities are more available and accessible to all. Managed and administered by Easter Seals Canada.
Museum of History, Museum of War and CINÉ+ Attendant Pass: Caregivers or attendants accompanying a child, youth or adult with a disability receive free admission (maximum of one attendant per person). The child, youth and adult with the disability still pays regular admission, based on age group. All other visitors in the group must pay regular admission fees.
La Route Accessible offers maps for easy access to safe trips to more than 100 adapted and safe cultural and touristic establishments.
Tourism Quebec has a search engine in which you can find accommodations and tourist sites whose access has been evaluated by Kéroul. This evaluation takes four criteria into account: adapted to people with a physical impairment; partial access to people with a physical impairment; services for people with a visual impairment; and services for people with a hearing impairment. Visitors are nevertheless advised to confirm the level of accessibility with the establishment in question prior to travelling there.
