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Counselor Mira Freilich, 19, also
spoke with her 6-year-old special
camper's parents before the start of
camp. Freilich, who will be a junior
this fall at the University of Michigan
in Ann Arbor, remembers, "The first
day was the hardest day. I didn't know
if he would run or if he would hide."
A "communication book" traveled
back and forth daily from parents and
counselors to help continue the inter-
action between them. "This has been
extremely helpful to the parents of
non-verbal campers," Furgang says.

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Although the camp strives to be a sup-
portive rather than therapeutic envi-
ronment, social worker Judy Green is
a part of the camp staff team.
The special-needs counselors and
campers are a small part of the camp,
which this summer employed 175
staff members for the over 700 young-
sters served, ages 5-16.
The program is underwritten by a
three-year grant from the Jewish Fund,
created to support community projects
by the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit out of proceeds
from the sale of Sinai Hospital. Now
in its second year, enrollment in the
Special Needs Day Camp Inclusion
Program has doubled since 1999, with
a waiting list of 20 children that could-
n't be accommodated this summer.
"These counselors make the pro-
gram run," Furgang says. "The kids
are so devoted and committed to these
campers."
Furgang cites many significant
changes that have come about in
campers throughout this summer.
"Some swam for the first time," she
says. "A non-verbal child spoke his
counselor's name, while a speech-
delayed child spontaneously put three
words together."
Schwartz sees her inclusion with
Lauren as a way that helped Lauren to
become more social. "If the other kids
see her playing with me, they would
see it's OK to play with her," she says.
Schwartz found that as the summer
went on, she was able to stand back as
Lauren made her way to other kids.
"Lauren learns so much from imita-
tion and the more she is around regu-
lar kids, the more she learns from
them," says her mother, Valerie
Ettinger of Farmington Hills.
"The whole program is designed
toward inclusion," Schwartz says.
"From the beginning to the end of the
day, we are together. I was there to help
Lauren keep up with the group."

Schwartz views the camp's special-
needs counselors as the only way some
of the kids could have been able to
attend camp. "Some of the kids are
slower or have trouble understanding.
The bunk counselors can't always wait
for one child — or chase a child who
may run. If they don't understand an
activity, we are there to facilitate."
Ettinger says Lauren attended the
JCC camp for one year before the spe-
cial-needs program was introduced. The
inclusion of a special-needs counselor
for her daughter has meant a great deal
to Lauren.
Last summer, "if there was an activity
she couldn't do — like she can't play
baseball — she would have sat around
and watched," Ettinger says, but now
"Julie [Schwartz] could take her some-
place else and maybe play catch."
Lauren doesn't read or write, so
Schwartz adapted some activities. She
turned a word-search game into one
where Lauren could find the letters of
her name, which she does recognize.
"But she can color by herself and
she loves to," Schwartz says. Lauren
also likes to shop, which is what she
and Schwartz spent most of their post-
camp afternoon together doing.
"After I saw her room and her toys,
she wanted to go to the mall,"
Schwartz says. "So we went to Twelve
Oaks; to the Disney Store and the
Warner Brothers Store — and she
loves Natural Wonders."
Being a special-needs counselor is
an intense way to spend a summer,
with not much of a break "from the
moment the buses arrive at 9 until the
time the campers go home at 3:30,"
Furgang says.
"Some of the kids have communi-
cation difficulties. The environment is
so demanding. So much is going on.
It's not a controlled setting. A million
distractions impinge on these kids'
sensory systems."

Together Yet Apart

A vital part of the camp is that all of the
kids do the same things together. "The
first day Lauren was introduced as part
of the bunk," Schwartz says.
"If she were introduced as a special-
needs camper, it would set her apart
from the other kids right away."
"The strength of the counselors is
that you can't tell which are the spe-
cial-needs campers," Furgang says.
Parents who send their children to
the camp have basic hopes. "They're
not looking for athletes; for their kids to
do back flips. They just want them to
be with other kids," Furgang adds.

The special-needs counselors report
to Furgang, who is with the kids daily,
and two unit heads meets weekly on
issues and problem-solving.
"We look at this as a learning experi-
ence for the counselors, too," Furgang
says. "They learn as much about them-
selves as about the campers."
Studying psychology and political
science, Freilich found after this sum-
mer, "I became really interested in
learning about autism."
She found it inspiring, watching
her young camper go through many
changes and interacting with other
kids. "It's such a great feeling," she
says. "He's amazing. Everything he
does every day surprises me." Yet, she
admits, "It's exhausting — frustrating
at times, learning how much space to
give — like with any other kid."
For Schwartz, too, the summer
brought changes in her future plans.
"I knew I wanted to be a social work-
er, but now I definitely want to work
more with special-needs kids," she
says. "I feel really passionate about it.
It's so rewarding. I love it."
When Schwartz left Lauren's home
last week, they parted with tears and
the knowledge that they both gave
and they both received. Looking for-
ward to watching Lauren participate
next month in track and relays at the
West Bloomfield Comunity Fame
Games — a special Olympics program
for Jewish kids — Schwartz reflects on
this "social, loving person, who taught
me a lot about myself."
From Lauren, Schwartz has learned
"that it doesn't matter what you know
or what you accomplish — what's
important is who you are."

❑

Doctors, Students
Plan A Picnic

Jewish doctors and medical students,
ages 21-35, and their guests are invited
to a barbecue 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10,
at the Jewish Community Center of
Metropolitan Detroit's JPM Building in
Oak Park.
Hosting the activity is the
Maimonides Society for Jewish physi-
cians, which seeks to strengthen bonds
with the Jewish community and Israel
through educational, social and charita-
ble activities. The Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit's Community
Outreach and Education Department
sponsors the society.
Reservation deadline is Sept. 5. Cost
for the lunch is $10 per person. Kosher
dietary laws will be observed.
To reserve a spot or for information,
call Alaine Waldshan, (248) 203-1486.