Summer Skills Camp in Lakewood Ranch gives kids with special needs a lift

Lakewood Ranch's Kristal Triggs would love it if every child could enjoy a summer filled with arts, crafts and field trips, but having a child with autism, she knows many summer camps are not available to children with special needs.

Triggs, whose 6-year-old son Grayson has autism, is the clinical director of Lift ABA, which provides applied behavior analysis therapy. Lift ABA launched a pilot summer camp program, called Summer Skills Camp, in July for children with developmental disabilities. The program has been so successful, Triggs is in the process of creating a nonprofit to support the program.

The program runs Monday through Thursday, as students attend camp at B.D. Gullett Elementary School, while Fridays are for field trips. 

On July 25, students were getting soaked during a field trip to the Waterside Park splash pad. The week before, they went to Tom Bennett Park. the next week will be to Sky Zone trampoline park. 

Applied behavior analysis helps teach social skills to children with developmental disabilities.

“A lot of times, these kids are not able to integrate with others,” said Hannah Andrews, a board-certified behavioral analyst. “So that’s our goal, to have these kids integrate into the world with the help that they need.”

Andrews noted that the regression most students face during summer break can be worse for students with communication and behavioral issues. The camp keeps students on track, but also gives them a true summer camp experience. 

Ashley Geiger’s 5-year-old daughter Kennedy communicates using an iPad. Before having her photo taken, Kennedy first wanted to listen to her favorite song “I Like to Move It” from the movie Madagascar. 

Geiger got choked up when talking about the services her daughter receives and the growth she’s shown since working with Lift ABA. 

Sharing that growth with friends and family on social media led to Geiger selling $4,000 worth of popcorn to support the camp. 

“I am so in love with this program,” she said. “They have changed our lives.”