“Speech is the most important thing we have.  It makes us a person, not a thing.  No one should ever have to be a thing.” – augmentative communication user

Rome, ME (August 17, 2006) – On Fri., Aug. 25, 16 children with disabilities, along with their parents and professionals who support them, will come to Pine Tree Camp for a weekend of innovative programming called Camp Communicate.

Camp Communicate is designed to support non-verbal children who use computerized devices, known as augmentative communication, to communicate.  It also serves as a training program for the child’s parents and professionals who provide them with support.  A unique program regionally, Camp Communicate is a collaborative project of Pine Tree Camp and Communication Pathways, both programs of Pine Tree Society.

According to Linda Bonnar, SLP-CCC, MA, ATP, Director of Communication Pathways, children who use augmentative communication often face a number of challenges including isolation at home, at school and within their community. 

“High-tech augmentative communication is very rare, not because there’s not a need, but because people often don’t know it’s available” said Bonnar.  “Many of our campers are the only ones in their school – or community, for that matter – who communicate in this way.” 

This can present many challenges for the child including lack of communication opportunities to build proficiency, lack of learning from peers who use similar communication methods as well as lack of typical opportunities for friendship and self-esteem building.

Each activity offered at Camp Communicate is specifically designed to incorporate the camper’s communication device.  Activities are designed to motivate campers to initiate, comment, request and actively participate.

“In their everyday life, our campers don’t get the normal childhood experiences,” said Bonnar.  “It’s a very special experience for them to be fully participating alongside their peers, creating real friendships and communicating.”

Camp Communicate makes a tremendous impact on the camper’s parents as well.  Parents are often intimidated by their child’s high-tech communication device, so it goes unused at home and in community settings.  Moreover, parents often feel isolated and alone and have no outlet for support and friendship.

At Camp Communicate, parents will participate in a mix of workshops and supportive discussions, as well as activities alongside their child.  This mix allows parents an opportunity to receive training on how to use their child’s communication device and practice their newly learned skills. 

“The goal is to build the camper’s parents’ skills so they can more effectively support the use their child’s device at home, in school and in the community,” said Bonnar.  “Maybe more importantly, parents have the opportunity to network, build friendships and see their child communicate, some for the first time.”                

Camp Communicate draws upon the strengths of Pine Tree Camp and Communication Pathways, both programs of Pine Tree Society.  The program will take place at Pine Tree Camp's fully-accessible 280-acre facility with staff and volunteers experienced in accessible recreation. Program curriculum and activities will be developed and led by Communication Pathways staff, all highly qualified Speech Language Pathologists with an expertise in Assistive Technology and Augmentative Communication.

Camp Communicate is made possible with support from DynaVox, Semantic Compaction Systems/Unity®, Prentke Romich Company, MaineCite, Mark Hammond and Associates, SoftTouch and AlphaOne.

Pine Tree Camp was established in 1945 as a summer therapy outlet for children with disabilities. Over the years, Pine Tree Camp has evolved into an innovative barrier-free environment offering fully-accessible recreation opportunities to people with disabilities.  For campers, attending Pine Tree Camp is their only opportunity to experience the recreation activities Maine has to offer. By fully participating in new and exciting activities along side their peers, campers experience success and increase their self-esteem in a safe, caring environment. Maybe most importantly, campers build friendships that will last a lifetime.

Communication Pathways has been providing evaluations, consultations and workshops since 1998. These services are provided to children and adults whose disabilities limit their verbal communication and individuals who can benefit from technology to access learning. Services are also provided to families, educators and service providers working, living with and supporting these individuals. The program is staffed by Speech Language Pathologists with an expertise in Augmentative Communication and Assistive Technology for learning.

Pine Tree Society offers a full range of comprehensive and professional services designed to help Maine people with disabilities lead active, more socially connected lives.  For more information on our programs and services, please visit Web site, www.pinetreesociety.org.

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