Each year, our special-needs edition challenges common misconceptions about accessibility and inclusivity: ADA compliance alone isn’t enough, accessibility-focused upgrades benefit every user, and inclusivity is driven not by a general definition of the term but by the specific needs of the community being served. This issue’s stories drive home those points, too—they’re important messages that bear repeating. But one of this month’s features poses a more poignant question. What if an entire experience was custom-built to address a special need, instead of shoehorning special-needs programming or upgrades into an existing system?
In “Camp And Wellness,” new contributor Macey Shofroth takes us inside Camp Hertko Hollow, an Iowa-based program that serves campers with type 1 diabetes. Youth participants connect with peers who share similar health needs. They forge lasting friendships while also learning best practices to manage the disease. And many of the adults supporting the program also have type 1 diabetes, providing campers with empathetic role models.
At many traditional camps, the number of campers with diabetes is capped to ensure proper medical care. This can be exclusionary and deflating for young people who just want a memorable summer. A place like Camp Hertko Hollow doesn’t simply accommodate them—it centers them. It’s an affirming approach to inclusivity. These kids can have a dynamic summer-camp experience that also normalizes diabetes, expands their support network, and deepens their self-knowledge.
Macey’s story—informed by her time as a camper and volunteer at Hertko Hollow—complicates the idea of specialty camps. So often, they’re discussed as a matter of preference. If a child likes theater, they should go here. If they’re into soccer, they should go there instead. Specialty programs are pitched as places to help kids zero in on their interests and build their skills. But a specialty camp can also function as a safe, welcoming space for kids who feel left out of other experiences. They aren’t extra; they’re essential.
We’ve published stories like these for almost 30 years, brought to our attention and passionately reported on by you. From the beginning, we’ve leaned on you to identify the most important topics and share your learnings from the field. The result is a magazine that’s filled with deeply informed, original journalism month after month. Where most magazines take an insular approach, relying on in-house staff to identify and dictate trends to readers, we listen instead. That’s how we find fresh, meaningful stories like Macey’s, and it’s how we continue to evolve to serve your professional needs.
From our AI agent, Ask PRB+, and PRB+ University to CampFest and ParkFest, we’re constantly working to keep you at the forefront of your industry, but always driven by you. 30 years in, that approach remains our North Star.
