Children with disabilities have a haven in Pasco County, thanks to Barry and Paula Cohen.
The couple runs the PACK camp in New Port Richey. It stands for the Pasco Association for Challenged Kids, a non-profit the Cohens started in 1997. Paula said it started when they couldn’t find a summer program for their son Gregory.
“He was diagnosed with autism at 2 1/2,” Paula said. “So our lives have constantly revolved around autism.”
As it turned out, the Cohens weren't the only family facing the same problem.
“They say necessity is the mother of invention. That’s true,” Barry said. “We started the camp for our son, and we said Gregory can’t be the only special needs kid out there that needs this service. And boy, we were right."
The program is three weeks long and includes children with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other challenges.
The non-profit is run on grants and donations, and the Cohens try to keep the small cost to parents as low as possible.
The PACK camp has staffs three experienced counselors and one full time nurse. Some summer activities include visits from firefighters and their truck, magicians, clowns and the balloon guy.
“We have some kids who have been with us for almost all 17 years, or at least five or 10 years,” Paula said. “They just come in that first day. They go flying in to find their friends, their counselors, us. There are so many hugs and smiles. This is like their home for the summer.”