WINTER PARK, Fla. – Summer is almost here, so many families are looking for summer camps to keep their kids busy. But for parents with children with special needs, it can be tough to find a good fit.
CECO, the Conductive Education Center of Orlando, offers two, four-week summer camp sessions. CECO serves individuals with neurological motor disabilities, offering early intervention, youth, adult and flex programs at its Winter Park campus.
Executive Director Krisztina Weiszhaupt gave us a tour of the school and explained that the summer slide can be even more dramatic in students with neurological disorders.
“So students who have neurological disorders, and they don’t stay active during the summer, research shows that the regression is really really large, and it is taking a longer time to regain those skills when they go back to school,” Weiszhaupt said. ”And it’s not only the regression, but it’s also socially very isolating.”
The Conductive Education Model is based on the idea that despite damage to the nervous system, new neural connections can still form.
Weiszhaupbt said part of this model is that the students are challenged physically and spend a lot of time out of their wheelchairs working on strength and stamina. And because all full-time instructors are trained in conductive education and work alongside assistants and interns from local colleges, students are always safely supported and transferred to and from their wheelchairs.
We met two families who told us the safety factor sets CECO apart from other schools. Andrea Springhart’s 14-year-old daughter Brooklyn came to CECO after discovering public school couldn’t accommodate her needs.
“Brooklyn has more stamina because she’s stronger now. So, we can participate in a lot more adventures and like going to the zoo or to the mall,” Springhart said. “I haven’t been able to find another program in Orlando that would be willing to offer more than just one-on-one or a lot of times you don’t even get the one one-on-one. So, because she used to just sit in the wheelchair all day. I have realized over the years that the staff members always arrive with a smile, and they leave with a smile. And I noticed that their energy never depletes, at least they don’t show it. They are here to help the children happily and the adults. And they’re here to walk alongside each and every student to the very last minute when the bell rings.”
Tony Mongkolsmai’s son Jack attends CECO year-round after initially only coming for summer camp. The family relocated from Texas because of the school.
“We actually came to CECO for summer camp right when Jack was around 3 years old, which is when they started accepting kids for summer camp,” he said. “So we came down for summer and rented a house and it was the best experience we had.”
CECO is currently enrolling for summer camp. If you’d like more information or to take a tour, visit CECO online here. Weishaupt tells us she is always recruiting assistants and interns. You can apply online at their website.
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