About Camp AkeelaProgram and FacilitiesJoin our StaffCurrent Families

Welcome to Akeela  

The Akeela Camper  

We Believe  

The Community  

Our Directors  

Camp Akeela Staff  

Advisory Board  

Testimonials  

Frequently Asked Questions  

Dates and Rates  

Request Information  


"I want to thank you for helping me to get Zoe's difficulty with her bunk-mate squared away. You're doing a terrific thing by having such a camp. You've certainly made a lasting impression on us. Your fun-loving kindness, dedication and hard work are clear and obvious. We hope nothing but good grows from what you have begun here. Thank you for everything."
Apply NowContact UsHome


Summer Camp Resources | Asperger's Resources | NLD Resources


About Asperger's Syndrome

What is Asperger's Syndrome?
Asperger's Syndrome -- also called Asperger Syndrome, Asperger Disorder, Asperger's, or AS -- is a neurobiological "disorder" characterized by difficulties with social skills and social interaction, problems with transitions and changes, and often a preoccupation with a limited set of interests or activities. Asperger's Syndrome was named after the Austrian physician Hans Asperger who first documented the pattern of AS behaviors in young boys in 1944. It wasn't until the mid 1990s that Asperger's Syndrome was widely recognized by medical professionals and parents.

Individuals with Aspergers have normal to high intelligence and normal language development. People with Aspergers can have incredibly rich vocabularies; their main difficulty with communication lies in misreading nonverbal cues and social situations. The number and severity of Asperger symptoms varies by individual. Many people with a high functioning form of Aspergers see AS not as a "disorder" meant to be treated or cured, but rather as a neurobiological "difference" that need only be understood.

As of yet, there is no one definitive classification for AS. It has been described as an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a form of High Functioning Autism (HFA), a Nonverbal Learning Disability (NLD), and a Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD). It is not until recently that AS has been recognized as a unique condition and diagnosed. In fact, many children originally diagnosed with ADD or ADHD were later re-diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome.

Asperger's Syndrome and Summer Camp for Children
Treatment for children with Asperger Syndrome typically focuses on interventions to help kids better interact with others and become more self-sufficient. Activities and situations where kids receive social skills training, proper communication cues, and emotional support are most helpful.

This is why sending a child with Aspergers to a summer camp that understands AS can be quite beneficial. The summer camp experience in and of itself is a social situation where social skill development and communication are important parts of daily life. A child or teenager at the right summer camp has a wonderful opportunity to learn and practice the social skills needed throughout his or her life.

The program at Camp Akeela is not therapeutic per se, but it offers a structured environment where life skills, friendship development, respect for the community, confidence and fun are encouraged by caring, knowledgeable experts and adults. Not all campers at Akeela have been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. The small nurturing community Camp Akeela provides benefits all children who wish to improve their social skills. To learn more about Camp Akeela's philosophy and program, click here.

Additional Information on Asperger's Syndrome
The web offers a wide range of information on Asperger's and other non-verbal learning disabilities. Below is a limited list of some of the online resources we recommend.

ASPEN (Asperger Syndrome Education Network)
http://www.aspennj.org
The website of this non-profit organization headquartered in New Jersey offers information on education, support, and advocacy for people with Asperger's Syndrome and other Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Asperger's Association of New England (AANE)
http://www.aane.org
Online Asperger's information, support groups, services, grants, resources, events and more, particularly in the New England area.

Asperger Help
http://aspergerhelp.net/
Website with forums, blogs, online support groups, articles and plenty of online information about Asperger's Syndrome.

Asperger Syndrome And High Functioning Autism Association
http://www.ahany.org
Primarily a support group for parents in New York, this site also offers comprehensive information and links on high-functioning special needs / aspergers / autism.

Aspergia
http://www.aspergia.com
This website offers parents a different perspective on Asperger Syndrome, one in which AS is considered not a condition or a developmental difficulty but rather a set of traits representing a step forward in human evolution.

MAPP Services
http://www.asperger.org
MAPP stands for "More advanced individuals with Autism, Asperger's syndrome, and Pervasive developmental disorder (PDD)" and the site lists a plethora of relevant resources and information.

O.A.S.I.S. (Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support)
www.aspergersyndrome.org
Award-winning website widely considered to be the ultimate online resource for AS. The site was written and is maintained by the authors of "The Oasis Guide to Asperger Syndrome," who also are parents of children diagnosed with Aspergers.

Tony Attwood
www.tonyattwood.com.au
Australian psychologist Tony Attwood is an internationally recognized expert on Asperger's Syndrome who studied under Uta Frith, one of the pioneering researchers on AS. Tony's comprehensive website is "a guide for parents, professionals and people with Asperger's Syndrome and their partners."

Asperger's Syndrome is much like non-verbal learning disability. For more specific information on NLD (or NVLD), click here.



About Akeela | Programs & Facilities | Join Our Staff | Current Families
Apply Now | Contact Us | Home

CAMP AKEELA • 866-680-4744 • Send us an Email