First-ever day camp leads to special fun

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

Karate class, a trip to the blueberry patch, arts and crafts it sounds like the typical child's busy summer.

But for kids with developmental delays in speech and coordination, such fun is a special treat. And fun was the order of business for kids in the first-ever day camp offered by the Fayette County satellite office of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

"We really wanted to get the kids out in the community," said Patty Disselkoen, an educator in the local Children's Healthcare office. One of the main goals of the day camp was to encourage social interaction with the children, she added.

"For some of the kids, a group setting is just too overwhelming," Disselkoen said.

The 10 campers taking part in the activities suffer from delays in speech, language, coordination or fine motor skills, Disselkoen explained. The day camp featured one trained therapeutic staffer for every two kids, she added.

The idea for the program came from parents of the children, Disselkoen said. The five-day program ended Friday with a field day at the new All Children's Playground in Peachtree City.

A number of local restaurants and businesses chipped in with help to provide food and activities for the campers, Disselkoen said.

"Every phone call we made was a yes," Disselkoen said. "The Fayette County Community needs to be thanked. Thanks to everybody's help, the project went great."

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta provides speech, physical and occupational therapy for children from birth to 21 years old at Fayette Community Hospital. In addition to one-on-one therapy, group sessions are also offered, Disselkoen said.

The Fayette office covers a 13-county area.

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