Some kids with disabilities unable to attend Tennessee summer camp due to new guidelines

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Some Middle Tennessee parents are in a bind after they were told their child couldn’t go to summer camp last minute. They are now trying to juggle a job while watching their kid with special needs.

Almost 10-year-old Landon Mitchell loves to be in the water. All around, he’s a cool kid, which is what his mom, Nichole Mitchell, admires about him.

“He is a joy,” she said. “He is very social, he loves being around people, high energy.”

Landon Mitchell is also autistic and non-speaking. His mom said he was supposed to return to Camp Widjiwagan in Antioch starting this week. It’s a YMCA camp the disability nonprofit, Easterseals Tennessee, has a day program with.

“But unfortunately, we got those letters last week that said they are not able to continue those services,” said Nichole Mitchell.

The letter was from Easterseals to parents discusses a new limit that restricts camper from attending and leaves parents with no options.

“Within 48 hours it was like “you’re going to be working from home for the next five weeks, figure it out”,” explained Nichole Mitchell.

The letter said due to changes in YMCA guidelines, Easterseals must limit how many of their kids can go.

“Things abruptly stopped when the ratio was switched up with the number of counselors and campers,” explained Nichole Mitchell.

The message said the YMCA now requires each camper to have a counselor, which Easterseals said they could not provide due to staffing.

WSMV4 asked the YMCA why they made the change.

In a statement, the YMCA said:

“Our YMCA is honored to work with Easterseals to make summer camp opportunities possible for the young people they serve.

As has been the arrangement for many years, Easter Seals provides staff for their campers in order to ensure proper and specialized supervision based on the specific needs of their children while utilizing our Camp Widjiwagan facility.

The YMCA maintains a set of standards required of external groups and has worked with Easter Seals to review those standards to ensure the safest environment possible for campers.

Those expectations, including camper-to-staff ratios, were communicated nearly a month ago. It is our understanding Easter Seals mailed letters to parents regarding their camp guidelines explaining how this may have affected their child’s enrollment as a result.”

– K. Dawn Rutledge, Ed. D. Director of Communications for YMCA of Middle Tennessee

“It’s almost a disservice whenever we have to parent and work simultaneously,” said Nichole Mitchell.

She said while she is blessed to be able to work from home, it’s not ideal. She added she wishes there were more options for children like Landon.

Easterseals said in the letter families would be reimbursed if they were unable to attend Camp Widjiwagan. They plan to work with the YMCA to enhance the program next summer.

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