Therapeutic Camps as Respite Care Providers: Benefits for Families of Children with Disabilities

Authors

  • Kyle J. Shelton
  • Peter A. Witt

Keywords:

Camp, children, disability, respite, stressors

Abstract

This study examined the utilization of a therapeutic summer camp for children with disabilities as a respite care service for parents of camp participants. Interviews were conducted with nine parents whose children had participated in a 3-day residential camp held at a fully accessible camp facility in Texas. Findings related to two major areas: the value of respite during and after camp, and the qualities of the camp that contributed to respite care provision. Parents reported that respite care is hard to obtain, but that it is much-needed. Parents saw the camp as a source of respite care, and each family did something with the time their child was at camp in order to maximize these respite benefits. Implications for further research include exploring the ways therapeutic camps can work to maximize respite care benefits, as well as examining differences in respite care usage across populations.

Published

2011-03-31

Issue

Section

Research Papers