The executive director of New York Services for the Handicapped came to Bermuda yesterday to give a presentation on a prominent summer camp which caters to people with disabilities.

Camp Oakhurst, located on the New Jersey coast, caters to people with disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy and Muscular Dystrophy. The camp runs for eight weeks and children can choose to stay for two to six weeks.

During their time at Camp Oakhurst campers get to participate in activities like swimming, sports, arts, crafts, drama, music, dance, cooking, photography, nature programmes, and much more.

The presentation was made by Marvin Raps at the Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy, which provides educational and therapeutic services to students with various disabilities, yesterday evening.

Today he will be meeting with people interested in attending the camp.

Sue Brangman?s son, Jamie, attends the Hope Academy and went to the camp last year.

She said: ?This experience was great for Jaime and for me. I would highly recommend it to other parents. ?We did not know how much we needed this experience until it happened and now Jaime is looking forward to going to Camp Oakhurst every summer!? The visit was funded by The Friends of Hope Academy Limited. Sacha Richardson, who is the director of the charity, said the camp sounded like an good fit for many people.

She said: ?We are very excited to be able to fund the visit of Mr. Raps to Bermuda. There is a great interest in some of our students of Hope Academy attending this beneficial camp.

?There has been very positive feedback from those who have previously attended and as such we feel that other students and other physically challenged members of the Bermuda community should be given the opportunity to be made aware of what is available. ?The charity would like to thank all of our donors who help to make opportunities like this possible.?

The camp is operated by the New York Service for the Handicapped and is accredited by the American Camping Association and licensed by the New Jersey State Department of Health.

The 15-acre facility is barrier free and includes a state-of-the-art, fully adapted gymnasium, and a fully accessible, heated swimming pool. It caters to both adults and children.

The camp?s website states that all campers must provide medical information and be personally interviewed before being admitted to the programme.

It costs $700 per week, but scholarships are available.