A week at a holiday camp in Switzerland: for many children this would naturally be part of their holiday experience. But for girls and boys with autism it’s a different story. Their dream of spending a whole week playing with other children is all too often unfulfilled. They are unable to properly process the many new sensations, hectic hustle and bustle and unexpected changes so often encountered in a holiday camp situation. This is why the ‘autismus deutsche schweiz’ association organizes holiday camps for children with autism in an environment adapted to their needs and where the Reka Foundation for Holiday Aid makes a significant contribution.
Camp organization is very demanding and costly. A specific holiday camp brings together ten children between 5 and 15 years old who have all been diagnosed with the autism spectrum disorder. “Every year we organize three camps”, explains Regula Buehler, general manager of ‘autismus deutsche schweiz’. “To be able to make a week’s camp possible, children are looked after by carers on a one-to-one basis. For each camp, we have to find camp organizers, cooks as well as carers with experience of looking after autistic children. In addition, we need a hostel with single bedrooms and its own kitchen in order to prepare special diets. None of this is easy to find, but it’s definitely worth it!”
The autistic children and their carers are absolutely ecstatic when things click into place! According to the family situation, these camps are often the only chance the children have to go on holiday. “In the camp the children flourish. It’s very moving for us to see how much they love playing with each other”, explains the general manager. They play inside, go for walks, enjoy the pool. Climbing, summer tobogganing and going on boat trips are a few examples of activities on the programme, as well as evenings with the group. “Mum, can you put me down for next time!” is what Regula Buehler hears most of the children asking their parents. Some of them express their enthusiasm non-verbally, but very clearly!
For the general manager, reactions like these bring both satisfaction about the children’s well-being but regrets as well since demand has grown faster than the possibilities available. Keen interest has confirmed how important these breaks are for children as well as for parents. These camps bring them a breather in their highly constrained daily lives.
The children keep a diary each and at the end of the camp they all look back over the week. Regula Buehler: “These weeks have a lasting effect. The children take renewed strength and unforgettable happy memories from the camp back to their everyday lives.” At home again, as they browse through the camp diaries written and illustrated with their carers, memories of those carefree days together come flooding back.
Reka Holidays are the highlight for the whole family. For Monika Roth* and her two little boys and a daughter of school age, they are really the only possibility to go on holiday at all. “Otherwise it would be far too expensive for us”, says the single mother. “Of course, I never say to the children that we’re poor. On the contrary, I simply try to lead a normal family life.”
read moreA positive decision from Reka Holiday Aid triggers an outburst of joy! The answer as to whether Gabriela Wenger and her family can go on a Reka Holiday arrives sometime around Christmas. “For us, it’s a wonderful present when our request is accepted. Otherwise we couldn’t afford holidays.” The Wenger family includes the parents and their eleven children. The youngest is 6 and the oldest 26.
read moreA week at a holiday camp in Switzerland: for many children this would naturally be part of their holiday experience. But for girls and boys with autism it’s a different story. Their dream of spending a whole week playing with other children is all too often unfulfilled. They are unable to properly process the many new sensations, hectic hustle and bustle and unexpected changes so often encountered in a holiday camp situation. This is why the ‘autismus deutsche schweiz’ association organizes holiday camps for children with autism in an environment adapted to their needs and where the Reka Foundation for Holiday Aid makes a significant contribution.
read more