Camp Royall Adapts to Take Care of Campers

This summer, we were thrilled to be able to open Camp Royall so that campers could again have the best summer ever. They were splashing in the pool, singing songs at Shady Circle, and learning new skills. They were greeting old friends and making new ones!

The past several months have been hard on everyone, and many things have changed. But what hasn’t changed is the strength of our autism community. We thank our supporters for enabling us to offer these opportunities to campers and to their families, who enjoyed some much-needed respite while knowing their loved ones were well taken care of. Our safety efforts began long before campers arrived at Camp Royall. In planning, Autism Society of North Carolina followed best-practice guidance and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Camping Association, the NC Department of Health and Human Services, and local health officials. We had to completely change our camp structure so that we could maintain smaller groups that did not interact with any other camper groups. Unfortunately, this meant fewer campers were able to attend this year. All campers were asked to screen their health for two weeks before arriving at Camp Royall and stay home if they were not feeling well. (We enacted flexible cancellation and refund policies.) Camp staff arrived at Camp Royall two weeks before opening to train on all of our new safety protocols, such as increased hand washing, social distancing, and sanitizing. We commend them for taking all of our cautionary measures seriously and helping campers to understand and follow all guidelines through the use of social narratives, modeling, and visual supports such as physical markings. The facility team also went above and beyond to ensure we had all of the supplies and staff to support extra cleaning and the delivery of meals, which campers ate with their small groups in a home base, rather than in the dining hall. Small groups spent all of their indoor time in these home bases, and then rotated into outdoor activity spaces. These spaces were sanitized between small groups, and no activity equipment was shared. During camp, all staff wore face coverings all day, and campers who could tolerate masks also wore them; everyone received a temperature check three times a day. Even with all of these changes, campers were able to have their best summer ever at Camp Royall! Joshua C., who has been coming to Camp Royall since he was very young, said thinking about camp and seeing everyone again has made him happy! His favorite camp activities are the pool and the campfires. His dad says, “Whether it’s having a place other than home to go where my boys can be just who they are and be loved for it, or gaining skills like communication and making lifelong friends, or just giving our family a chance to breathe and get some much-needed R&R, Camp Royall has been a blessing beyond words. You know a place is great when a kid on the spectrum who prefers not to talk can always be relied upon to say ‘camp’ and smile while doing it!” Lia’s favorite part about Camp Royall is hanging out with her friends. She also loves to play outside, do arts and crafts, and

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of course, sing and dance! Her mom says, “It is such a gift to be able to drop Lia off at Camp Royall and know she will be surrounded by counselors and staff that not only understand her, but appreciate her entirely. Camp Royall knows the aspects that will make the experience successful for people with autism, including sending out a schedule in advance, providing a sensory room to relax if needed, and creating the time and interest in talking to parents about the unique needs of their child.”

Joshua A. said he loves everything about camp, and he had his best week ever because of his new friend, Harrison. His mom says, “Joshua started coming to camp at Camp Royall before kindergarten because I needed help. Before that first time at camp, I still tucked him in and helped him with his bedtime routine, but after that first week at camp, he came home and told me he didn’t need me at bedtime anymore. He gained independence and became self-assured at camp. Camp Royall is the only place on the planet where he can be himself. He doesn’t just fit in there, he belongs there.”

More Fun to Come at Camp Royall

As of this printing, we plan to offer most of our usual yearround programming but attendance will have to be limited to follow the safety protocols we established during summer camp. Please check our website for updated dates and to register: www.camproyall.org.

Track-Out Day Camps will be offered for school-age children during breaks from school. Mini Camps provide campers the chance to spend the weekend at camp, from 5 p.m. Friday to 12 noon Sunday. Campers enjoy a miniature version of our summer camp program while families benefit from some respite; preference is given to campers living at home. Supervision at a ratio of 1:1 or 1:2 is provided for all campers during these weekends. Residential Week-Long Camps will be offered in December, with a range of activities. Dates will be set based on school and college schedules, which affect staff availability, so please check our website. The overnight program includes a 1:1 or 1:2 counselor-to-camper ratio, based on each camper’s level of need.

Adult Retreats give independent adults, 18 years and older, a chance to enjoy time with friends at Camp Royall. We hope to offer a week-long retreat plus several weekend retreats. Participants enjoy recreational activities at camp as well as outings in the community when safety guidelines allow. Teen Retreats give independent teens (ages 13-22) time at Camp Royall with friends. We gather on Friday evening to share dinner and activities. The weekend includes leisure and recreational activities at camp, as well as outings in the community when safety guidelines allow. Compared to our other programs at Camp Royall, the supervision level during Teen Retreats is low. Teen Tuesday offers teens (ages 13-22) the opportunity to learn life skills in a welcoming group setting. The group meets one Tuesday a month from 5 until 7:30 p.m.

Registration for 2021 Programs

As we did last year, we will open registration for the Camp Royall Summer Camp lottery earlier this year. Online registration for summer 2021 will run from Nov. 9 to Jan. 15, and we will be able to notify you about placement and scholarship awards on Feb. 3, 2021. We hope this will help you as you make your summer plans! Registration will be open from Nov. 9 to Dec. 15 for all other programs running from January to August 2021, and families will be notified about their placements on Jan. 8, 2021. After the registration period, you can apply for waitlists. g

As always, we are honored to provide a caring, accepting place for campers on the autism spectrum. Please contact Camp Royall staff if you have any questions at 919-542-1033 or camproyall@ autismsociety-nc.org. You can also learn more on our website, www. camproyall.org.

Achieve A Better Life Experience: NC ABLE

By North Carolina Treasurer Dale R. Folwell, CPA

In years past, those with disabilities who accumulated more than $2,000 risked losing critical benefits, such as Medicaid, SSI and other public support programs. However, in direct response to the asset limitations imposed by public support eligibility, the federal Achieve a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act was introduced and signed into law in 2014. This important federal legislation laid the groundwork for each state to create and administer its own ABLE savings program. North Carolina passed its NC ABLE Act in 2015, with the NC ABLE Program launching two years later.

The NC ABLE Program is designed for individuals of any age with the occurrence of disability prior to the age of 26. NC ABLE accounts are tax-advantaged savings that allow for contributions up to $15,000 per year, with a greater annual allowance for employed account holders through the ABLEto-Work provision. NC ABLE account balances up to $100,000 are excluded from assets for the purpose of determining SSI eligibility. In terms of being able to think about financial independence, transformative care and resources for eligible individuals, this program is a game-changer. Funds held in an NC ABLE account may be used for qualified disability expenses (QDEs) by the account holder. QDEs are broadly defined as expenses that maintain or improve the health, independence and quality of life for the account holder. Examples of QDEs may include education, housing, healthcare, transportation, assistive technology, cellphones, food and more. Many states have enacted ABLE programs, but there are distinct differences in the way they are implemented. North Carolina took time to develop the NC ABLE Program structure and administration. NC ABLE is administered by the Department of State Treasurer and governed by a Board of Trustees that has the fiduciary duty to establish, manage and oversee all aspects of the program for the exclusive benefit of account holders. Additionally, the NC ABLE board made the decision to join the National ABLE Alliance, a consortium of 17 states that uses the strength of its partnership to negotiate multiple financial options at a low, competitive cost. Through this alliance, NC ABLE offers seven account types, including checking and investment options ranging from conservative to aggressive risk. You can include a combination of checking and investment types in your NC ABLE account. And, while you certainly receive the benefits of hometown advantage, accountability and accessibility if you reside in North Carolina, you do not have to be a resident to participate in the NC ABLE Program. In three years and through primarily grassroots efforts, we have enrolled over 1,000 participants. For those receiving meanstested public benefits, it is a monumental step towards financial independence. However, these accounts not only help those receiving public assistance, it provides a more secure financial future for all qualified individuals. NC ABLE accounts act much like a health savings account in the sense that you can use the funds for qualified expenses now or in the future. With an average account balance of over $7,000, we can see that the program is working. In North Carolina, 2.5 million people are directly or indirectly impacted by a disability. While not all of them may be eligible for an NC ABLE account, it does speak to the work that needs to be done to raise awareness and let everyone know the program exists. Awareness is key and we must connect with the individuals and families that would benefit from the NC ABLE Program. In a recent survey of current account holders, over 97% stated they would recommend the program to others. We need to continue that momentum.

Opening an account is easy and can be done online by the individual, guardian, parent or authorized person. In June, the North Carolina General Assembly, under a bill sponsored by Reps. Carson Smith, Allen McNeil and Senator Andy Wells, expanded this list to include siblings. Allowing parents and siblings of eligible adults lacking capacity to open an account on their own is a distinguishing feature of the NC ABLE Program and increases the reach and accessibility of these savings accounts.

NC ABLE savings accounts provide a path to financial independence and security for the future in a way that was not possible just a few years ago. This program is a tool, a resource and a beneficial option for many individuals. It is now not only okay to dream, to plan, and to transform care, it is now okay to save. Be Able with NC ABLE. Learn more about NC ABLE, its benefits and how to open an account at www.nctreasurer.com/ divisions/nc-able. g