From June 2020

In this upside down world, The Help Group’s summer camp program, Kids Like Me, for neurodiverse 6-21 year olds with autism spectrum disorder and other special needs, went virtual! During these online summer camps, a safe and enriching atmosphere was created for young people to engage, experience, and explore a wide range of activities with an appropriate peer group. Participants from throughout the country took part in social skills training, skills of daily living, physical fitness, art, music, science, cartooning, and many other fun and enjoyable activities.

Kids Like Me was proud to receive national recognition for its programming. CNN Health, in listing camp programs across the country included Kids Like Me and STEM camps, with the headline, “Virtual camps make summer sparkle for kids with special needs.” Kids Like Me was recognized by GMA.com as one of Common Sense Media’s List of 22 approved online camps in the U.S. in its Kids with Special Needs and Special Situations section. According to Common Sense Media’s Parenting, Media and Everything In between column, “Virtual camps and classes offer a wide variety of enrichment to keep kids busy, learning, and having fun — while practicing safe social distancing.”

Most importantly, parents and campers alike report an incredibly positive experience. For many, no such programs exist in their community. The benefit of being able to log in, connect and play with others was monumental for our campers. One camper reported, mom, I got to meet and become friends with “Kids Like Me”!

Learn more at www.kidslikemela.org/camps.

Read the full GMA article here.

Read the full CNN article here.

Read the full Common Sense Media article here.