Functional Communication Camp is an intensive camp focused on targeting establishing functional communication including making requests, indicating wants/needs, and actively participating in joint attention activities.  While this camp may be offered for up to 6 weeks each summer, campers may attend as many weeks as they would like (with a minimum requirement of 2 weeks enrollment).  Camp will also target behavioral intervention as it pertains to the child’s ability to effectively participate in group activities and comply with instructions as well as improving communication behaviors. The camp will typically run for three hours each day M-F and will be individualized to what each child needs.  Campers will participate in individual, small group, and large group sessions to establish the ability to make requests, indicate basic wants/needs/feelings, and comply with instructions to improve the ability to participate in joint/group activities. The focus will be on replacing negative behaviors with appropriate functional communication in order to increase communication and decrease frustration.  Group parent/caregiver training and question/answer sessions will also be provided for carryover of skills within the home program or coordination of services with the child’s private therapists. Camp generally has a one to one ratio of adults to children. Staff includes Speech-Language Pathologists, Speech-Language Pathology assistants, graduate student interns, and undergraduate student volunteers. Functional Communication Camp will also have the guidance of a Board Certified Behavioral Analyst and/or a Registered Behavior Technician to target behavioral goals and assist with functional communication targets.  Children generally make marked progress during this intense camp, and past data has shown that the primary change has been that speech therapy and home programs are more effective throughout the coming year after this intensive intervention and training.