Page:Day Camping for the Trainable and Severely Mentally Retarded (1970).djvu/9



In the last decade, there has been an ever-increasing interest in developing appropriate recreational activities and programs for the mentally retarded. This trend has been very evident in the 18-county area in East Central Illinois served by the Herman M. Adler Zone Center of the Illinois Department of Mental Health. In 1964, two summer programs served a total of 45 trainable and severely mentally retarded children, but by the summer of 1969, 13 community programs were serving well over 400 children and adults.

A variety of community agencies and organizations have contributed a great deal of effort toward the development of these programs, but there remains an ongoing need for assistance and consultation. During the summers of 1968 and 1969, the Adler Zone Center, in collaboration with the Zone VI Advisory Council on Mental Retardation, sponsored several three-day workshops for community agency staff with follow-up consultation in the field. Although these services proved fruitful, there was an expressed need for the development of a handbook for community recreation staff.

Day Camping for the Trainable and Severely Mentally Retarded, prepared by regular and consultant staff of the Herman M. Adler Zone Center, is an attempt to meet this need. It is not designed as an answer for all problems and situations, but has been written as a guideline and a resource for community agency personnel.