The journey to success for kids with ADHD starts here
The journey to success for kids with ADHD starts here

The Feeling of Sameness
Have you ever wished that your special needs child could live in an environment full of people who totally understand his differences? An environment where the other kids all had challenging differences too? I think we all have — all parents of kids with ADHD, autism, learning disabilities see how much our children struggle with being misunderstood and treated as an outcast. Of course we want to erase that potential pain.
To be honest, I didn’t think an invisible disabilities utopia like that existed. I send my son, Ricochet, who has ADHD, SPD, Dysgraphia, autism, and a gifted IQ to school and he feels like a failure, due to his neurological differences. I send him to track club and overhear fellow parents discussing the obvious differences in focus and body control between their child and my own. It feels like we can’t escape his differences.
Finding the Right Environment
Being mindful of his struggles, there have been many places I wouldn’t even try to send him, because it felt like feeding him to the wolves, and he doesn’t need more of that. Places like Little League, Boy Scouts, or summer camp. But what I discovered when we attended SOAR’s parents weekend is that it’s not necessarily about the activity not meshing with my child’s differences — it’s instead about finding the right environment for our special children to participate in these types of activities successfully. That is the crucial element! We should never limit our kids.
It certainly feels like these “special” places that accommodate our “special” kids are few and far between. I knew there were summer camps for kids with developmental and behavioral disorders, but they never felt financially attainable for our family and, despite that, I still felt Ricochet would struggle there, even in a catering environment.
The Feeling of Sameness
Have you ever wished that your special needs child could live in an environment full of people who totally understand his differences? An environment where the other kids all had challenging differences too? I think we all have — all parents of kids with ADHD, autism, learning disabilities see how much our children struggle with being misunderstood and treated as an outcast. Of course we want to erase that potential pain.
To be honest, I didn’t think an invisible disabilities utopia like that existed. I send my son, Ricochet, who has ADHD, SPD, Dysgraphia, autism, and a gifted IQ to school and he feels like a failure, due to his neurological differences. I send him to track club and overhear fellow parents discussing the obvious differences in focus and body control between their child and my own. It feels like we can’t escape his differences.
Finding the Right Environment
Being mindful of his struggles, there have been many places I wouldn’t even try to send him, because it felt like feeding him to the wolves, and he doesn’t need more of that. Places like Little League, Boy Scouts, or summer camp. But what I discovered when we attended SOAR’s parents weekend is that it’s not necessarily about the activity not meshing with my child’s differences — it’s instead about finding the right environment for our special children to participate in these types of activities successfully. That is the crucial element! We should never limit our kids.
It certainly feels like these “special” places that accommodate our “special” kids are few and far between. I knew there were summer camps for kids with developmental and behavioral disorders, but they never felt financially attainable for our family and, despite that, I still felt Ricochet would struggle there, even in a catering environment.
I have heard great things about SOARS
I would love to be able to send my child, I have no doubt her self esteem would indeed SOAR !
I feel like I speak for many families, when I say ” it’s just not financially with in reach”. Respectfully acknowledging
the cost of running and staffing such a specialty camp!
Tommie
Hi Tommie!
Yes, SOAR is expensive, there’s no denying it. Remember, most camps are 3+ weeks, so it is a lot longer than many summer camp experiences (so your child leaves with new, improved habits). I know several families who sacrificed and saved all year (or for more than one year) to send their children to SOAR, and felt it was totally worth it. SOAR does offer some scholarships, as they can, and I would encourage you to apply: https://soarnc.org/soar-adhd-summer-camp/financial-policies/.
I was fortunate enough to hear Big John speak at last year’s conference. My husband & I were beside ourselves trying to figure out how we were going to help our high school aged daughter graduate from high school!! Her private school wrote her off & said she is 18 just go get your GED. Well we signed her up for Academic Discovery camp at SOAR and started the process of filling out all the paperwork for the academy. She wasn’t too thrilled about camp & being away from home & her electronics for 26 days, but she went & had a blast. She discovered she loved hiking, camping, & made several new friends. Her last day at camp they told her she was coming back for the school year. I thank you Penny for having Big John as a speaker & introducing us. SOAR has given my daughter her self-esteem back & made her believe in herself again. She has had straight A’s all year which is a first since 9th grade!!! Plus she will go back for the 2018-2019 school year & graduate!!! Camps are expensive, but well worth it for the reward of seeing your childs smile when you pick them up & all the new friends they make while there.