Special Needs and Inclusion for KIDS at Camp Kef

Kids at Camp Kef at the Kaiserman JCC are truly included, regardless of ability. Parents of children with disabilities are not asked to provide their own support staff to accompany their children to camp. Parents of children with disabilities are not required to pay any extra tuition to have their children's needs met at camp. Camp Kef's program meets the mandate of the Jewish community to be a place that is truly inclusive of all children of all abilities.

Last summer, my son Aldo had an amazing experience at Camp Kef, because of his 1:1 Jaden. Camp provided this 1:1, trained him and gave him support throughout the summer to help manage some of Aldo's more challenging behaviors. Without this person, Aldo would not have been able to have the amazing, life-changing Jewish summer camp experience that he had at Camp Kef. He even learned to swim!

Aldo is lucky. He's all signed up for camp and he is guaranteed a 1:1 for Kayitz (Summer) 2024. But spots are limited and other children who desperately need a summer to thrive might not be so lucky. Each inclusion support personnel costs approximately 6K to support 1 child with a disability at camp. Help Camp Kef stay the truly inclusive and amazing program that it is by helping children to receive the support and accommodations they need to be successful at camp.

I'm turning 40 next week and in my 40 years I never imagined myself as a parent of a child with a disability. But this identity, as a parent, and a parent of a child with a disability, has completely transformed my life. I am so grateful to have received this unbelievable gift of parenting Aldo, but also because of the side of the world that we have been able to experience because of his disability. Places like Camp Kef and the people who devote their lives to supporting children with disabilities. I am so, so proud to support them.