43
Community donations cover fees for dozens to attend autism camp
BOARDMAN
Families who wanted to send a loved one to PROJECTABILITY, a new summer camp for people with autism, were looking at spending about $500 per week for the three-week program.
They now will pay nothing, as community donations that have poured into the business over the last few weeks have enabled the business to offer all 25 spots free-of-charge.
“We were just hounded with people so willing to help. ... It was amazing,” said Robin Eisenbraun, 23, who started the camp with Megan Key, 26. Both women are intervention specialists at Boardman schools.
Eisenbraun says that within a few weeks, individuals, companies and community groups donated upward of $40,000.
While the camp is filling up quickly, she said, there still is space available. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
PROJECTABILITY, which runs Aug. 3-21 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at Potential Development on Market Street, is aimed at providing “young adults with autism the opportunity to engage in fun camp activities that define, model and shape life skills for a successful home, employment and community life.”
The camp is geared toward people age 14 to 22, but camp leaders are open to accepting applicants of other ages. The camp schedule, which also includes some weekend events, includes activities such as a yoga/meditation session, community outings, behavior assessments and life-skill sessions.
For registration information, visit the “Projectability LLC” page on Facebook or contact Key and Eisenbraun at projectability.llc@gmail.com. Applications can be submitted via email or sent to the camp office at 681 Angiline Drive.
PROJECTABILITY will have a fundraiser from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 12 at Stone Fruit Coffee in Canfield. Ten percent of proceeds from sales that day will go toward the camp.