How to find a summer camp that actually fits your autistic child in Central Ohio — and how to pay for it.
Summer camp can be a great experience or a stressful one, depending on fit. Columbus has a growing range of sensory-friendly and inclusive camp options. This page covers the types, how to vet them honestly, and how families fund camp.
Run on Bridgeway's Columbus campus by the same staff and at the same teacher-to-student ratios as the school year, with summer and social-skills elements added and a stated goal of reducing summer regression. Ask whether the program is open to children not enrolled at the Academy and how funding works.
Visit siteA four-week themed day camp offered at TLS's Worthington, Johnstown and Canal Winchester locations. Applications open earlier for current TLS students than for outside families and close well before the season starts, so the window is tight — check the current year's dates before planning around it.
Visit siteRegional — a 195-acre accessible campus in Ashley, roughly 40 minutes north of Columbus, with summer day camps (ages 5–22), week-long residential sessions, year-round respite weekends and autism-specific family camp weekends. An approved Ohio DODD waiver provider. The organization states plainly that its camp waiting list continues to grow, so apply early.
Visit siteRegional — a residential camp in southern Ashland County, roughly 90 minutes northeast of Columbus, serving ages 6–29 with autism, ADHD, learning disabilities and mood disorders across six week-long sessions. Staffing is roughly three staff per eight campers. Scholarships are available but do not cover the deposit.
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10 Amazing Activities to Do With an Autistic Child This Summer — free PDF, delivered instantly.
No spam. Unsubscribe any time.