Hi,

Since Liam was old enough (he's 7) we've wanted him to do something to stimulate the brain cells in the summer. It seems every door closes. Our city schools do give him something like 8 hours of instruction in the summer, and we can really tell the difference come September, but it's still only 8 hours.

There was a summer camp for learning disabilities, which stopped the year he was old enough to go. I've been after the director to restart, but after 3 years of struggling to get her to either restart it or hand it off, I've had no success.

I was just talking to an autism center an hour away; it looks like their stuff is for way higher-functioning children than Liam is. (He can do a little reading and counting, but he's essentially developmentally 3.)

The ed experts we consulted said he gained more than a year cognitively last year (hooray!), but you better not get used to it, they said; things slow down around age 10.

I'm trying to think outside the box. What else can we do? I lack both ability and patience to challenge him this summer, but we try other things. Vacation Bible School. A camp for mentally handicapped children and adults which doesn't challenge (sort of more day care). Do homeschoolers do things in the summer, that we can join them for? Does anybody here homeschool a DS child -- what do you use? Any other ideas?

I also need to consider if this is something to overcome, or a sign from the heavens to stop trying to help so much.

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Father of Liam (DS, '08 ) and Charles ('10).

Jacob's school runs a club (using school facilities) in the mornings for the first 2 weeks of the summer holidays, and various voluntary organisations run summer schemes. We are in the Uk tho. I guess it varies with each locality. Are there any charities nearby which might run suitable clubs? Do you know any other parents you could join forces with to plan outings etc? Good luck!

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Rachel
Mum to Thomas 05, Luke 07, Jacob DS 09. Married to Stephen.

Is that 8 hours total all summer or 8 hours a week? Our local school district has extended school year for children who are likely to fall behind during the summer break. Mark has been going for the past 3 years and it has made a big difference just in keeping to a routine which he needs. Can you talk to the school to see if they offer more?

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Maureen - Mom to Daniel(27), Brandon(25), Jordan(19), Thomas(17), Carrie(13), Samuel(10) and Mark (8)
https://www.carepages.com/carepages/MarkEdwardC32708

It's 8 hrs total.

We had a big to-do w/ the school system from the start, complaining to the state when they (illegally) denied him ESY because they didn't have a program or personnel. State said, they amended their documents to make it look like they denied him ESY because he doesn't need it. Problem resolved. Grump.

But the teacher documented his regression over the summer, so now he gets some. It's made a huge difference despite the limited hrs.

Wife had an idea to hire a special-ed major to teach him some this summer. Still hoping to hire someone. I was considering taking 2 weeks to stay w/ in-laws in a bigger city, but even they don't have anything really appropriate. Maybe nobody does this.

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Father of Liam (DS, '08 ) and Charles ('10).