KCTV 5 News Report - SOAR Camp - Lees Summit 2024 - Nations Largest Disability Day Camp

KCTV 5 News report Nathan Brennan reports
Published: Jul. 8, 2024 at 1:24 PM CDT
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Every person wants to feel like they fit in and have a chance to accomplish their dreams. That’s the goal of leaders and volunteers at SOAR Special Needs.
The nonprofit hosts several activities and events for people of all abilities, including a summer camp in Lee’s Summit and Lenexa.
This week, SOAR is hosting its first camp of the summer in Lee’s Summit at Abundant Life Church. This is the 10th year of camp, and SOAR founder, Doc Hunsley said it’s grown every year, becoming the largest disability day camp in the country.
“It’s allowing them to have an experience that they don’t normally have,” Hunsley said. “Letting them see they are created on purpose, for a purpose.”
Throughout the week, teams will participate in a number of activities including games, crafts, and dance parties.
Later this month on July 22-26, SOAR will hold another camp in Lenexa.
In total, the camps will serve more than 200 families. The goal is for every individual to focus on what they can do, not what they can’t do.
“He can be an active part of the community as a child with a disability,” SOAR parent, Tiffany Dozier said. “A lot of times we don’t get that.”
According to Hunsley, no person is sent home or denied for any reason. He said the camp does hold a waitlist because there are not enough volunteers. On average, there are two volunteers for every camper. The Lenexa camp is still looking for volunteers. You can learn more about SOAR Special Needs at www.SOARSpecialNeeds.org.
26% of the US population is diagnosed with special needs or disabilities making them the largest minority group in the country. Therefore, SOAR exists to transform the lives of special families and empowers them to SOAR in their local and faith communities. SOAR helps answer the 3 main questions that every family with an individual with special needs has:
1. Will my child ever be able to provide for themself?
2. Who will take care of my child when I'm gone?
3. Who will take care of me (as a parent/caregiver)?
SOAR answers all 3 of these questions with our current and future programming. SOAR provides respite on a monthly basis taking care of individuals of all ages, diagnoses, and severities. SOAR provides a full medical and behavioral team with every event we do. SOAR also does proms, social clubs, and job training for individuals with special needs/disabilities, plus much more.
SOAR also hosts the nation's largest disability day camp providing 40 hours of respite care to parents/caregivers while focusing on one's abilities and not their disabilities.
Remember to subscribe to our channel and stay up to date on everything happening with SOAR! #ComeSOARwithUs #SOARRnR #TransformingLivesOfSpecialFamilies. Catch all of our events at www.SOARSpecialNeeds.org.