Creating Summer Camp Opportunities for Autistic Youth: Design, Logistics, and Program Impact

Summary:

This webinar will offer an inside look at the design and delivery of a specialized summer camp experience for autistic children. The presentation will cover key logistical considerations, program goals, and day-to-day content planning that supported meaningful engagement and skill-building. Highlights will include visuals from camp activities, examples of camper routines, and an overview of how staff and supports were structured to create a neurodivergent-affirming environment. This presentation will center around the planning and implementation process – sharing lessons learned, creative solutions, and reflections on supporting camper autonomy, connection, and joy. Audience members will leave with practical takeaways for building inclusive, supportive programs that honor autistic experiences and promote community-based engagement.

Speaker:

Meredith Matthews is a Graduate Research Assistant at UIC DHD, PhD candidate in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago, and a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).  For the past seven years, she has worked with autistic children, adolescents, and young adults, with a focus on creating inclusive, affirming, and evidence-based supports. Her research interests span acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), interventions rooted in Relational Frame Theory (RFT), and the development of meaningful, strengths-based practices for disabled individuals. Her work also explores the intersection of behavioral science, disability, and climate change, with an emphasis on building more sustainable, equitable systems of care and support.