'Mom went to speech ... instead of the beach.' (Camp Chatterbox. Children's specialized hospital. Mountainside, New Jersey)

Camp Chatterbox * Children's Specialized Hospital * Mountainside, New Jersey 

Camp Chatterbox is a week-long overnight camp for children between the ages of five and 16 held at Camp Merry Heart, the Easter Seals Camp of New Jersey, in Hackettstown. The camp is for children who use augmentative communication device (AAC) systems and their parent(s) or caregiver.

The mission of Camp Chatterbox is threefold: to help children become more interactive (meaning communicating with each other and the staff) using their AAC systems and to have fun in the process; to help parents gain the necessary skills to facilitate functional use of the device at home; and to provide opportunities for professionals working in the field to gain hands-on experience working with children using AAC devices.

Like other camps, the children actively participate in activities such as, daily announcements, arts, and crafts, nature, and evening recreation events. Margaret Crowe, mother of camper Jimmy, nine, says, "Since you are staying in a cabin, you don't think you are roughing it, but in a sense you are, because the bathrooms are very rustic, and there are community showers. To tell you the truth, Jimmy, myself, and ray other children could probably just stay at home and commute to camp every day because it is so close, but the camp experience is definitely more fun."

With every activity, there is always the incorporation of the child's augmentative device, so that they may become more interactive with one another, their families; and the outside world.

For instance, one of the night activities consisted of a magical scavenger hunt, in which the counselors dressed up like leprechauns. When the kids met up with, the "leprechauns," they had to answer questions oil their augmentative communication devices in order to win.

Sharon Fitzpatrick, mother of camper, Dennis, 12, (who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy), Joined her son along with the rest of the family at camp last summer. Fitzpatrick relates "As parents, we tend to act as translators for our children. The camp helps kids like Dennis learn how, to effectively communicate for themselves without our interference."

While the children are taught the importance of speaking for themselves, the parents also have a role. It is the philosophy of the camp program that parents be knowledgeable in operating their child's device and that they become aware of the broad range of device options oil the market. As informed parents they can be better prepared to participate in any decisions regarding device selection and/or implementation for their child.

The focus of interaction training is to teach parents effective ways to communicate with their children using an aided AAC. Training in interaction skills has taken a variety of formats and occurs through a combination of parent lectures and participation in intervention and recreational activities.

Parent lectures have included such topics as: "Designing Manual Communication Boards," "Issues in Pragmatic Development," "Wheelchair Maintenance," "Boardmaker Training," "What's New in Computer Software?" and "Optimizing Communication." Training sessions are taught by manufacturer representatives and focus on the needs defined by each parent. They have included a range of topics from basic programming to interfacing a device with a computer. One of the fundamental principles shared with parents throughout the course of the program is that they give their child access to aided AAC (i.e., a device or a manual board) whenever practical. If the child needs his aided system, it will be available. Without access to his aided system, the child will never develop functional system use. To promote this concept and teach others, a variety of training activities are available.

Parent training sessions run concurrent with the children's therapy program. Since quite a few families have now attended camp for several consecutive seasons, parents may select activities that meet their needs. In addition, whole families are invited to attend, because although Camp Merry Heart's sleepaway camp sessions have ended, the day camp is still in session. This way, siblings also get the opportunity to make new friends and enjoy themselves.

Training continues long into the night, but not on a formal basis. Interns can often be found helping parents customize devices, and/or fabricating manual boards. Each parent is also offered an individual meeting with the camp director. These meetings offer parents a forum to address specific questions, or issues of concern related to their child's use of AAC.

However, aside from learning how to operate and utilize their devices, both the parents and their children have found comfort and friendships.

Fitzpatrick recalled meeting a little girl from New Hampshire who, at first, was extremely distant and shy. However, when the girl saw others like herself using augmentative devices, she got very excited and started interacting with others and ended up making many friends.

Eleanor Jacques who attended camp with her 13-year-old granddaughter, Jennifer, says that Jennifer keeps in touch with the friends she has made off season through email and writing letters. Jacques says she has seen a real rise in Jennifer's self-esteem. Fitzpatrick also noted that a bunch of the girl campers got together one summer and had a sleepover. This was a treat, because the campers and their families normally stay in large cabins with other families. While training is important, parents also make helpful connections nd friendships.

"Social hour," for instance is held from 9:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. The Camp staff assume the role of "cabin sitters" freeing parents to gather in the "Rec. Hail." Some parents choose to just sit and talk, while others work together brainstorming better ways to customize their child's technology.

Camp Chatterbox also offers a parents night out in which past trips have included going out to dinner, while the lads have their own special night.

Crowe confesses, "I was a little nervous about going, because, after all, once you get there, you don't know if you are going to get along with everyone. But those feelings changed when all the parents got together, and we kind of became a community."

So, just as, going away to camp for the first time can be a scary experience for children, going to camp as a "grownup" carries its own set of anxieties. Yet, by the end of camp, anxieties turn into confidence as well as fond memories for parents and children alike.

For more information on Camp Chatterbox, write to the Children's Specialized Hospital, 150 New Providence Rd., Mountainside, NJ, 070992.

Joan Bruno, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is the augmentative communication manager at Camp Chatterbox.