CHAPEL HILL, N.C. โ A Chapel Hill literacy and disability professor is being recognized nationally in a new Disney+ documentary called “People and Places.”
Dr. Karen Erickson, who is known for helping children who struggle to speak, co-founded Camp Alec, a sleepaway camp to assist children struggling to speak.
“It is such an amazing thing to imagine those families who are just finding out about that they have a child with a developmental disability,” Erickson said.
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Camp Alec teaches campers how to write and express their thoughts.
Most campers arrive at the camp already experienced with the program, so the professionals can focus more on speaking. Campers learn the ability to develop their inner speech by learning how to spell.
“For families to have a vision of what’s possible, for educators to have a vision of literacy and communication that everyone should be getting access,” Erickson said.
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The camp also allows campers to interact with others who similarly are spending nights away, for often the first time ever.
While augmentative and alternative communication is still advancing, the devices can run low on power, and figuring out how to maximize their batteries will be the next step.