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Get ready! This summer the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is offering several different pediatric summer camps. The camps will have fun activities for kids and each will have a different area of focus.
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- Power Play Kids (Ages 3–6)
- Power Play Tiny Tots (Ages 3 months–4 years)
- Power Play All Hands on Deck (Ages 7–10+)
- Stride Through Summer (Options for ages 3–7 & 8+)
- Speech Sound Camp (Ages 4–8)
- Conversation Club (Ages 6–10)
- Toddler-Caregiver Language Group (Ages 4 & under with a consistent caregiver to attend all sessions)
- Young Adult Transition Program 2024 (Ages 13–21)
Power Play Kids
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2024 Pediatric CIMT Summer Camp
Led by our specialty-trained occupational therapists, Power Play is a multi-week program that focuses on improving upper extremity function in children who have spastic hemiplegia or hemiparesis as a result of cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, brachial plexus injury, stroke or other diagnosis.
This program utilizes principles from a modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) protocol, in which the unaffected arm is restrained by a removable cast and the affected arm is used for all functional activities.
Camp activities include games, art projects, outings, sensory play activities, bimanual activities, and self-care. Children will be evaluated at the beginning and end of camp to measure progress and use of the affected arm.
A physician referral/prescription is required to participate in the camp. Participants must have an insurance policy that will cover group therapy
Camp Schedule:
July 22–August 8
Monday–Thursday
8:30–11:30 am
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
355 East Erie St., 18th Floor
Participants must be:
- Ages 3–6
- Ambulatory
- Able to grasp and release an object with the affected arm
- Potty-trained
To sign up, contact us at pedscamps@sralab.org or call 312.238.1139.
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Power Play Tiny Tots
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2024 Constraint-induced Movement Therapy Camp
This camp is currently at full capacity. We appreciate your interest and encourage you to check back with us next year.
Baby Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) is an evidence-based approach for infants and toddlers with hemiplegia and other related conditions*. It involves constraining the less affected arm with a removable cast to encourage use of the affected arm.
Research has proven that children as early as three months of age should begin CIMT. Led by our specialty trained occupational therapists, this program focuses on early intervention and caregiver collaboration. It’s designed to empower caregivers by educating them on how to carryover strategies within their home and routines. This unique program includes:
- Customized cast
- Cast wear schedule
- One week intensive caregiver education course
- Follow-up intervention and caregiver collaboration
- Tailored home exercise program
- Parent support group
Camp activities will target training the affected arm in play and daily routines such as sensory exploration, interacting with toys, mealtimes, dressing, bath time, and more! Therapists will be one-on-one to provide direct feedback on how strategies will be used within your home.
Follow-up appointments can be conducted via telehealth or at our clinic to ensure applicability within your family routines. To best accommodate your insurance plan, please contact us if your child is currently enrolled in early intervention (El) services
*Conditions may include pediatric stroke, traumatic brain injury, hemiplegia, quadriplegia, cerebral palsy, brachial plexus injury, and any health conditions that impact use of one upper extremity.
Ages 3 months–4 years
Power Play All Hands on Deck
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2024 Bimanual Therapy Summer Camp
Led by our specialty trained occupational therapists, All Hands on Deck is a multi-week program that focuses on a two-handed approach in improving upper extremity function in children who have spastic hemiplegia or hemiparesis as a result of cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, brachia plexus injury, stroke or other diagnosis.
This program uses a Bimanual Therapy protocol, with a focus on improving the ability to spontaneously coordinate both hands together through repetitive practice of carefully chosen, goal-oriented, two-handed activities.
Camp activities include games, art projects, outings, sensory play activities, and self-care. Children will be evaluated at the beginning and end of camp to measure progress in strength, flexibility, and use of the affected arm.
A physician referral/prescription is required to participate in the camp. Participants must have an insurance policy that will cover group therapy.
Camp Schedule:
July 22–August 8
Monday–Thursday
1–4 pm
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
355 East Erie St., 18th Floor
Participants must be:
- Ages 7–10+
- Ambulatory
- Able to spontaneously use their affected arm
To sign up, contact us at pedscamps@sralab.org or call 312.238.1139.
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Stride Through Summer
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2024 Pediatric Gait Summer Camp
Led by our pediatric physical therapists, Stride Through Summer is a program for children looking for a challenge. It will include high intensity exercise and activities to improve gait, higher-level mobility skills, balance, strength and endurance.
Participants will be provided with education and resources to help transition the skills they have achieved back to their community, school and home environments.
A physician referral/prescription is required to participate in the camp. Participants must have an insurance policy that will cover group therapy. Individual evaluations lasting 60-90 minutes are required pre- and post-camp.
Baby Sharks (ages 3–7):
This camp is currently at full capacity for All Stars (ages 8+). We appreciate your interest and encourage you to check back with us next year.
Participants must be able to:
- Sit safely for 1 minute with distant supervision
- Climb up and down stairs (walking or crawling) with close supervision
- Walk for 2 minutes with or without assistive device with distant supervision
- Transition from the floor to standing with minimal help
- Follow a simple two-step command
- Mask and practice social distancing
- Be toilet trained or able to verbalize the need to use the bathroom. If not toilet trained, the parent will need to stay on the floor to assist.
All Stars (ages 8+):
This camp is currently at full capacity for All Stars (ages 8+). We appreciate your interest and encourage you to check back with us next year.
Participants must be able to:
- Sit safely for 2 minutes with distant supervision
- Climb stairs with 1 handrail and minimal help
- Walk for 2 minutes with or without assistive device without help
- Transition from the floor to standing with minimal help on an assistive device
- Follow simple three-step or complex two-step commands like touch your knee then pretend to talk on the phone
Speech Sound Camp
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2024 Pediatric Speech Summer Camp Information
Led by two of our speech language pathologists, Speech Sound Camp is an intensive therapy group that focuses on improving speech intelligibility and production of various speech sounds in the context of peer and group interactions.
Improving speech skills is facilitated through massed practice in shared book reading and facilitated play.
Children will practice speech skills to navigate group activities, improve their intelligibility to unfamiliar listeners, and repair communication breakdowns.
Camp Schedule:
June 17–28
Monday–Friday
9–11:30 am (includes a snack break)
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
355 East Erie Chicago, IL 60611
Ages 4–8
To sign up, contact us at pedscamps@sralab.org or call 312.238.1139.
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Conversation Club
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2024 Pediatric Speech Summer Camp
Led by two of our speech language pathologists, Conversation Club is an intensive therapy group that focuses on improving receptive, expressive, and social language skills in the context of peer and group interactions.
Improving language skills is facilitated through shared book reading and video watching and facilitated, collaborative play.
Children will practice expressive, receptive, and social language skills to navigate group activities, follow directions, initiate conversation with peers, and repair communication breakdowns.
Camp Schedule:
July 8–19
Monday –Friday
9–11:30 am (includes a snack break)
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
355 East Erie Chicago, IL 60611
Ages 6–10
To sign up, contact us at pedscamps@sralab.org or call 312.238.1139.
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Toddler-Caregiver Language Group
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Led by two of our speech language pathologists, Toddler-Caregiver Language Group is a new addition to Outpatient Pediatric programming that focuses on coaching caregivers on evidenced-based language facilitation strategies, responding and waiting, making comments, and showing it.
Caregivers will gain experience using language facilitation strategies outside of the traditional therapeutic setting to increase carryover to home, including a park and sensory playroom. Caregivers will also have the opportunity to meet other caregivers.
Toddlers will practice communicating their wants, needs, and ideas with new play partners across a variety of setting.
Camp Schedule:
August 2 and 16, September 6 and 20
9–10:30 am
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
355 East Erie Chicago, IL 60611
Ages 4 & under with a consistent caregiver to attend all sessions
To sign up, contact us at pedscamps@sralab.org or call 312.238.1139.
Young Adult Transition Program 2024
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Pediatric & Adolescent Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation professionals at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab are committed to empowering adolescents to become more independent by preparing them for a smooth and successful transition toward the future.
About Our Program
The Transition Program provides skill training for patients. Caregiver education and involvement is also key to the program. The program offers the below classes.
Community Transportation
June 17–28
Trip planning
Navigating local streets
Money Management
July 1–12
Identifying money
Balancing a basic budget
Cooking
July 15–26
Meal planning
Simple meal preparation
Medical Information and Care
July 29–August 9
Increasing awareness of medical history/management
Asking questions at medical appointments
Education and Employment
August 12–23
Learning about the IEP process
Identifying potential career interest areas
Learning how to apply/interview for a job
How to get involved?
Request a prescription for a speech therapy evaluation and treatment from your physician. You will need to contact the Pediatric Program to sign up and schedule a Transition Group Speech evaluation. The Young Adult Transition Group is held in person and will include one individual speech and one group session each week. Individual speech sessions will be scheduled according to your preference and group sessions will be held every Thursday.
Participant Requirements
Must be 13–21 years of age
Must be independent with toileting or provide caregiver if needed
To sign up, contact Chris Lau at clau@sralab.org or Ramey AbuDayyeh at rabudayyeh@sralab.org or call 312.238.8012
