Summer in Florida is long, hot and, for many autistic children, a big break from the school routine. Camp can fill those weeks with structure, activity and time with peers. It can also be a lot: new staff, new children, heat, water play, noise and a schedule that changes every day. This guide compares the main types of camps, explains Florida's background screening rules for camp staff, gives a list of questions to ask, and shows how the FES-UA scholarship can pay for some camps and not others.
What types of summer camps are there?
Camps fall roughly into four groups. Many families use more than one over a summer.
| Type | Who it is built for | Strengths | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inclusive (mainstream) day camp | All children, with some support for children with disabilities | Time with a wide range of peers; often close to home; many activities | Large groups and noise; staff may have limited disability training; support depends on the camp |
| Specialty or disability-focused camp | Children with autism or developmental disabilities | Smaller groups, trained staff, sensory breaks built in | Fewer locations; may fill early; cost varies widely |
| Interest-based camp (art, science, sports, music, coding) | Children with a particular interest | Builds on what your child loves; shorter days or weeks | Support varies; may assume skills like group instruction-following |
| Therapeutic or skills-focused program | Children who need a specific goal worked on | Structured teaching of social, communication or daily living skills | Less "camp" feel; may be billed differently; check qualifications |
Some families also use a school district's extended school year (ESY) services in summer, when the IEP team decides they are needed. ESY is a school service, not a camp. Our guide to extended school year for autistic students in Florida explains how it is decided.
What does Florida require of summer camps?
The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) says summer day camps and summer 24-hour camps are defined in s. 409.175, Florida Statutes, as recreational, educational and other enrichment programs during summer vacation for children who are 5 years old on or before September 1 and older. DCF says Florida law requires all summer camp personnel to be screened, including owners, operators, employees and volunteers who provide care for children, through a Level 2 background screening (fingerprinting with state checks through FDLE and national checks through the FBI). Volunteers who help less than 10 hours a month need not be screened if a screened person is always present and keeping them in sight. Staff must be rescreened annually unless an exception applies.
DCF lists a Background Screening Helpdesk at 1-888-352-2849 for complaints or concerns about summer camp staff screening.
The DCF page focuses on screening. It does not describe disability training, staff ratios or behavior support, so those are questions you need to ask each camp yourself. Some camps also choose voluntary accreditation through a national camp organization; ask whether the camp is accredited and by whom.
What should I ask a camp before enrolling?
Use this checklist on a call or a visit. Answers you get in writing are easier to hold the camp to.
Staff and support
- What is the staff-to-camper ratio in my child's group? How old are the counselors?
- What training do staff get on autism, communication and behavior support?
- Can a one-to-one aide or support person attend with my child? Is there a cost or a form?
- How do you handle a child who leaves the group, has a meltdown or is aggressive? Do you use restraint or time-out?
- How will you communicate with me during the day?
Safety and health
- Are all staff Level 2 screened as Florida requires?
- How do you supervise swimming and water play? Are lifeguards on duty? How do you keep track of children near water?
- What is the heat plan: shade, water breaks, indoor time, lightning rules?
- Who gives medications, and what forms are needed?
- Are gates and doors secured for children who wander?
Daily structure
- Is there a written daily schedule I can share with my child? How often does it change?
- Is there a quiet space for breaks?
- How loud are group activities, and are headphones allowed?
- Can my child visit before camp starts or start with shorter days?
- What is the policy if the placement is not working?
Water deserves extra attention. Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for Florida children ages 1 to 4, according to the Florida Department of Health, and many camps include pools, splash pads or field trips to beaches and springs. Ask specifically how your child will be watched. See our drowning prevention guide.
Can FES-UA pay for summer camp?
Sometimes. The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) lists "fees for specialized summer education programs" among its authorized uses in s. 1002.394(4)(b), Florida Statutes. Step Up for Students' 2026-27 FES-UA Family Handbook (last modified September 16, 2026) adds the details:
- Specialized summer education programs, including overnight and day educational camps, require pre-authorization.
- For camps not developed specifically for students with special or unique needs, the pre-authorization must include a letter from a therapist or doctor describing how the program will benefit your child.
- Camp lodging and food costs are not covered.
- Summer day camps and seasonal enrichment programs may be eligible when they provide structured instruction in an academic, artistic or skill-based area, led by qualified instructors. If a program mixes activities, only the instructional part is eligible.
- Traditional overnight camps that provide general recreation, lodging or non-instructional activities are not eligible. The handbook says sports-related camps can be submitted under sports lessons.
Applied behavior analysis is a separate authorized use (specialized services by approved providers). Whether a particular camp or provider qualifies is decided by Step Up for Students, so check with Step Up and keep receipts that show your child's name, dates, a description of services and the amount. Step Up's handbook explains the documentation rules. At Hope Center, families can use FES-UA scholarship funds toward balances left after insurance, most often BCBA supervision and parent training; call us to confirm for your child. For camps and other providers, ask Step Up and the provider. Our guide to the FES-UA scholarship explains eligibility and amounts.
How do I prepare my child for camp?
- Visit first, or look at photos and videos of the site, the group room, the pool and the bathrooms.
- Share a one-page profile with the counselor: how your child communicates, what they love, what upsets them, what helps them calm down and any safety concerns.
- Practice the morning: the drive, drop-off, the goodbye routine.
- Use a visual schedule of a typical camp day, and ask the camp to tell you about changes such as field trips in advance.
- Pack sensory supports: headphones, a hat, a water bottle, a comfort item and a change of clothes.
- Start small if you can: half days or one week before committing to the whole summer.
Our guides to visual schedules and heat intolerance can help.
How does ABA fit with camp?
Some families keep ABA sessions going around camp hours; others work on camp-readiness skills in the spring, such as following group instructions, waiting, toileting routines, tolerating sunscreen and swimwear, and asking for a break. In some cases an RBT may support a child in a community setting such as camp, if the treatment plan includes it, the camp agrees and the insurance plan allows it. Insurers often exclude services that are mainly educational or that replace an aide, so check with your BCBA and your plan before assuming camp support is covered.
Hope Center for Behavior Change provides ABA in homes, schools, daycares and the community, with centers in West Palm Beach, Temple Terrace, Port Charlotte, Jacksonville and Sebring. Families comparing life in Florida may also want to read is Florida a good state for autism? To talk about summer planning, contact us or call 561-337-8865 for a free consultation and a free check of your insurance benefits.