Who We Serve
Prime
Time serves families that have a member who is disabled or has a terminal/serious
illness. A wide range of disability types are found among the children
and adults who utilize Prime Time. A very large number of the campers
with disabilities are under the age of 10 years.
Through remarkable advances in medical science and human service in recent
years, individuals with serious diseases, birth defects, and disabilities
now have substantially increased chances of survival. Accompanying this
increase in survivability, is an increase in the number of people needing
expensive treatment and long term support services.
Along with the gratification of improving the quality of the individuals'
time with the family, there is often the contradiction of ongoing physical
and emotional stress. Finding ways to reduce that stress is a constant
quest for families dealing with these issues.
Inherent to the situation of the families of the terminally/seriously
ill or disabled, are the barriers to participation in leisure activities.
Public facilities are not always accessible or safe. Public attitudes
can also be a deterrent to the use of
public parks or recreational sites by a family with a special needs child.
In many cases, the membership costs to participate in private recreational
programs eliminate access for these families.
Recreation which occurs away from the home environment provides many
benefits. This is why an increasing number of recreational programs are
being designed for children who are ill or disabled. Unfortunately, there
are very few programs designed for the entire family...the members of
whom may be suffering great emotional pain as they attempt to deal with
the care of their loved ones.
Prime Time is dedicated to providing a positive intervention in this
dilemma. It is Prime Time's purpose to offer an opportunity for families
dealing with illness, birth defects, disabilities, and disease to become
reacquainted with each other, free of the stress and routine often found
in the home environment. Prime Time offers families the chance to enjoy
one another's company in an invigorating environment, surrounded by nature.
Where the Campers Live
Prime Time serves groups of families from across the Pacific Northwest.
Campers come from throughout Washington State, including the
counties of Island, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston,
Benton, Clark, Columbia, Cowlitz, Franklin, Spokane, and Yakima. We also
had some campers from outside of Washington - from Oregon and as far away
as California and New Jersey.
Camp Family Attendance
Generally, campers from eastern Washington represent about 30% of the total in attendance each year, with 65% coming from western Washington. 5% come from other states, predominantly Oregon and Idaho.
| East and West % |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
| Eastside of State |
293 |
220 |
323 |
245 |
421 |
161 |
359 |
| % of total |
34% |
24% |
30% |
25% |
37% |
18% |
36% |
| Westside of State |
518 |
659 |
712 |
677 |
689 |
696 |
605 |
| % of total |
60% |
72% |
67% |
68% |
60% |
77% |
61% |
| Other States |
52 |
36 |
34 |
74 |
37 |
42 |
36 |
| % of total |
6% |
4% |
3% |
7% |
3% |
5% |
4% |
| TOTAL |
863 |
915 |
1,069 |
996 |
1,147 |
899 |
1,000* |
*This total includes campers and their family members that stay with them over the weekend.
People Served
A wide range of illnesses and disabilities are suffered by the families
who participate in Prime Time camps. 80% of the family members with a
disability are under the age of 10 years old. Very mature for their young
years, these children often return, looking for the friends they made
in previous years.
Some of the support groups who currently participate in Prime Time programs
include:
- A Gift for Special Children
- Angelman’s Syndrome Support
- ARC Support Groups – statewide
- Autism Support Groups
- Boy Scouts of America, Troop 419
- Broadway Learning Center
- Candlelighters of Washington
- Children’s Village
- Community Living
- Dad’s Supporting Dad’s
- Development Disabilities
- Down Syndrome Support Groups
- Dynamic Family Services – Children’s Therapy Center
- Early Childhood Center – PTO
- Enumclaw Special Olympics Groups
- Exceptional Families/Joint Base Lewis-McCord
- Friendship Adventure
- Good Samaritan Hospital – Children’s Therapy Unit
- Immune Deficiency Foundation
- Ingraham High School Special Ed Program
- Isodentric 15 Group
- Ministry for the Handicapped
- Mucopolysaccharidoses - MPS
- NOFAS Washington (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome)
- Northshore Special Families
- Northwest Exstrophy Support
- Northwest Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance
- Parent to Parent Support Groups – statewide
- Parents Supporting Parents
- Phelan-McDermid Syndrome
- Progress Center
- Rett Syndrome
- Seattle Milal
- Velo-Cardio-Facial-Syndrome
- Washington Elementary School Life Skills Class
- Williams Syndrome Association
- Yakima Valley Friends and Family
