THE BARRIE EXAMINER
August 18, 2007

Special camps, special kids; Unique program grows from 14 children to supporting more than 400 across county

The Sabourin triplets are pretty excited about their first summer camp experience. But without the support of Parks and Recreation, Catulpa Community Support Services and Children's Treatment Network of Simcoe-York, these inseparable four year olds might not have been able to spend their week together. Two of the triplets have special needs. Sabrina has cerebral palsy, so she needs help walking; Colin has Hurlers Syndrome, a condition that affects hearing and development. Both are crazy about their brother, Dylan, the natural born leader of the trio.

"What Dylan does, the others follow," says their mom, Sharon.

The Sabourins are among more than 400 children with disabilities who are enjoying a summer camp in Simcoe County this year. Through inclusive recreation programs, these kids receive one-on-one support at camp from specially trained counsellors and more.

Inclusive recreation services are now being offered through more than 100 municipal Parks and Recreation and YMCA programs in Barrie, Orillia, Bradford, Base Borden, Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Midland, New Tecumseth, Innisfil and the Township of Ramara.

Programs such as these have been a vital resource over the years for parents such as Orillia's Susan Haskim-Quintal, whose 16-year-old daughter, Sylvie, has global developmental delay. This summer, Sylvie is attending a day camp at Couchiching Heights Elementary School in Orillia.

Though she can't communicate in words, her mother can see the joy in Sylvie's face when her counsellor and fellow campers greet her in the morning.

"She won't develop greatly in her life, but having children around really motivates her," Haskim-Quintal said.

According to Nancy Snow, inclusive recreation resource co-ordinator for Catulpa, the demand for these programs has grown tremendously in Simcoe.

"When we started eight years ago, we had 14 kids with special needs attending camps. This year, we're assisting more than 400. Most of these kids wouldn't have this experience without the support of the community and local organizations."

This year, Children's Treatment Network of Simcoe York has also provided funding support so that programs can continue to hire and train inclusion counsellors and run skill building clinics for kids with special needs.

"Recreation departments and service organizations, like Catulpa, are working hard on developing and expanding community-based recreation programs to support kids with special needs," says Bob Morton, CEO, Children's Treatment Network.

As a person with a brother who has special needs, Marcia Feddes, superintendent of recreation Services for the City of Orillia, says inclusive recreation is near and dear to her heart.

"All of us involved in this are committed to equalizing access to recreation opportunities for these kids," she said.

The biggest bonus, she says, is the power that partnerships bring to the process. "It helps us get funding and allows everyone to better support parents, so they don't have to go through 10 extra steps to get their kids registered."

As far as Haskim-Quintal is concerned, inclusive recreation programs have made her life - and Sylvie's - much better. "I can't tell you how much it means to us that she can be part of a summer camp. She just loves to be around other children - it makes her smile."

To find out more about inclusive recreation services in your area and available subsidies, contact Children's Treatment Network at 1-866-377-0286 (www.ctn-simcoeyork.ca), or Nancy Snow, Catulpa Community Support Services at 705-733-3227, ext. 245 (www.catulpa.on.ca), or your municipal Parks and Recreation department. Demand for inclusive recreation services is high, so be sure to register now for next year.