James finds confidence and community at Coolamatong ASD Camp

James finds confidence and community at Coolamatong ASD camp
For Katie –mother of James, who is on the Autism spectrum– finding safe, non-judgemental spaces where her son can settle and the family can feel welcome, has always been hard. At Camp Coolamatong, Katie watched James not just survive, but thrive.

Thanks to your prayers and support, you’re creating safe spaces for children and young people like James to experience God’s love, hope, and good news through welcoming and supportive Christian communities like those at Camp Coolamatong.

Katie credits the love of the leaders, and the unique atmosphere of inclusion for giving the whole family renewed hope and a much-needed haven.
“James has a lot of struggles, and he did exceptionally well in the camp. He was far more confident and engaging than I’ve ever seen him before. Particularly in a group situation,” Katie says.

James also formed strong bonds with leaders. “I think especially heartwarming was his one-on-one connections with people, including leaders Bridget and Josh.
“Being with Josh was such a positive experience that James…is now going around the house saying that Josh is his best friend and he can’t wait to see him again in heaven.”

For kids on the spectrum, sensory elements like noise, texture, and taste are a huge obstacle to comfortable participation in events outside the home. Thanks to the safe, encouraging atmosphere of camp, James was able to enter sensory spaces he had never felt ready to try before.

Katie found this true across the board for James but “especially in an indoor environment which he always finds particularly challenging with the noise levels… I felt like there was huge amounts of growth in him as a person because of the camp experience.”

Katie was delighted to find food wasn’t an issue either. Camp even had her children’s favourite food: blueberry yoghurt!

While the family struggles to attend church with James’ additional needs, James and his siblings were able to take part in valuable Bible time.

For parents of kids with additional needs, the judgement of others is always on their minds. How will they cope if my child screams, makes noise, or acts in an unexpected way? Thanks to your support for SU ministries like Camp Coolamatong, James and his family were welcomed with open arms and no raised brows. This meant Katie and her husband Matt were able to rest too.

“I can feel quite isolated at times and it really felt lovely to be around other families that were Christian as well as having autistic family members,” Katie says.

Even the five-hour drive home didn’t dampen the family’s spirits. For Katie, the feeling of safety found at camp travels with them and they hope to return.
“The take-home for us is the growth and connections established in a safe space,” Katie says.

Thank you for creating safe and inclusive spaces for children like James to experience the joy of community and connecting with the Christian faith. To keep this working going, visit su.org.au/donate.