the
kids issue
all you need is
love DISCOVER A SANCTUARY DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER BY ANNA-RHESA VERSOLA PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
54
CHATHAM MAGAZINE
N
estled within 133 acres of forest and field in Moncure, Camp Royall is a treasure for participants like
Gabriella “Gabby” Harper, 20. Gabby
found friendship, acceptance and a community that embraces both people with autism and those who support them. “To our family, it’s not about respite; it’s about belonging and inclusion,” says Jennifer Harper, Gabby’s mom. “In terms of a neurotypical experience, you would expect [your child] to have friends and go to social events and extracurriculars all through school. But in our experience, Gabby hasn’t had any stereotypical friendships.”
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024
Gabby, who identifies as an adult with autism, expresses a profound sense of belonging at Camp Royall. “I feel less lonely,” she says. “It’s a good feeling. I love it.” Gabby’s closest relationships are with her family, but attending Camp Royall opened a new world of friendships. “I didn’t know she felt lonely because she never expressed it,” Jennifer says. “Seeing how relieved she felt to be with other people, where she didn’t have to explain herself or mask anything, we see she’s finding that sense of inclusion.” In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued a report highlighting the