Variety Club in Pennsylvania

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	Does anyone have information about the Variety Club outside Phildelphia? I am considering it as a summer camp option for my son. It seems to be run well, but it would be great to hear about someone's first hand experience. I am specifically considering their day camp. Thanks! Becky Variety Club has a great reputation for their camps.   They also hold alot of great events as well for autistic children and their families I love Variety Clubs services, but I was unimpressed by their camp. Some background info about my son, Brian. He's 8 years old and somewhat verbal. He is mainly potty trained, but will still have the occasional accident, but part of that is due to another medical condition. He's sweet and loving, but will sometimes have self-injurious behaviors if he's overstimulated. He also has lots of stimming behavior, but it's never harmful. First off, I had heard from a few of my friends that Brian might not be a good fit for Variety club. Friends with older kids had said that the overnight program only takes the highest functioning guys, but I was interested in the day program.  I took Brian there for an interview, and first, the staff stared at him. The director was very nice, but she told me that Brian would have to have an aide, that i would have to find and hire, to come with him to camp, as the counselors there don't deal with any diapers or pull-ups. she told me that we ould try it on a temporary basis. I was pretty disapointed. She told me that Camp Joy might be a better fit for him. Camp Joy actually was a great option. I was expecting it to be a dumping ground for unwanted kids, but it was above and beyond! It's in th e middle of nowhere (schwenksville/limerick area near pottstown). I applied and asked to meet with the day camp director. She was very nice and professional. First, she came straight up and introduced herself to brian and talked to him just like every other kid. i noticed that she was actually with the daycamp instead of inside an office. she was plyaing with them on the playground and was visibly dirty from that and didn't care. and then she met with me and I watched her staff introduce Brian to the other kids and watched while my son actually played with these kids! Sara (the director) spent time asking me what methods I used wiht my son and took notes on what I was saying. I also noticed that the kids there were on a wide range. Some were really low functioning, some were really high functioning. They do all sorts of activities and she focuses on social skills, and will impliment any IEP needed. Brian went there and he loved it! He came home everyday exhausted. I loved that he would have mud and dirt on his shoes. He made projects that I knew he made himself because they weren't the overly done stuff his teachers had been sending home. And he talked to me more than I've ever heard him talk. His counselor sent home a note each day detailing what he did, and i'd ask him questions and he got very excited and told me about it. He's never been so interested in other kids before. He made friends that he visits now during the school year! I think this place is magic. I would reccomend it to anyone!
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