Agencies Serving persons with Developmental and Physical Challenges

Irv Segal

Although The Guided Tour, Inc. has been serving persons with developmental challenges for more than 30 years, we still encounter agencies that are unfamiliar with our service. We would like to tell you about ourselves.

So much has happened in the field of mental retardation and developmental disabilities since 1965, which is when I began my work directing Ronald B. Nipon Association, one of our country's first recreation and socialization programs for adults with developmental challenges. It was when I was in that position that I learned how growth-producing it is for persons with developmental challenges to travel independently of their families. It gives them a sense of belonging, an opportunity to say "these are my friends" and to be able, many for the first in their own lives, to share their own travel and vacation experiences with their families, the supervisor at the training center, or with their neighbor. Workshop supervisors often call me to let me know how positive and how motivated a particular trainee is after a trip with The Guided Tour.

While it was very difficult to "sell" the positive byproducts of travel in those early days of mental retardation services, I nevertheless left the Nipon Association, and in 1972 The Guided Tour became a full-time, year-round program. However, professionals in the field of MR/DD services, as well as family members, where not yet convinced of the merits and the appropriateness of travel. It was necessary then to take on the directorship of The Young Adult Group, a socialization and recreation program located in Elkins Park and the Main Line areas of Philadelphia suburbs.

Over the years, The Guided Tour has become a national program with people traveling with us from almost every state in the U.S., Canada, England, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Our staff is composed of social workers, therapeutic recreators and direct care personnel who have many years of experience working in agencies serving persons with developmental challenges. It may be hard to believe, but we are probably one of the few providers in this field of work that has no staff turnover. However, we are always adding to existing staff, for there are always new trips.

My son Ariel who, along with his brother and sister, has been traveling with me since the age of three, joined me as assistant director of The Guided Tour in 1986. In 1990 he received his MSW in Social Work Administration and brought many wonderful ideas and innovations to our program. That same year, my wife Zipporah, coordinator of The Guided Tour and a social worker for many years received her MSW . In 1999, my youngest son, Doron, joined us on a full-time basis.

In 1981, The Guided Tour opened its seashore program in Ventnor, New Jersey, just three blocks from Atlantic City and eight houses from the beach. It is a beautiful house facing the ocean with eight staff for 13-14 travelers. Each year more individuals return to the shore and, by May, the program is usually filled through the end of August. However, we continue the program into mid-October, including a week in September when we attend the Miss America festivities.

In 1994, The Guided Tour purchased Camp Lee Mar in Lackawaxen, PA, a summer camp for children and young adults with developmental challenges. Ariel directs that program, which is for individuals 5 through 21 years of age. The camp was established by Lee Morrone in 1953, and we are fortunate that she continues with us as a full-time consultant. Camp Lee Mar is one of the few summer camps nationwide that combines summer recreation with academics, including speech therapy, perceptual training, computers, and daily living skills.(The camp is fully air conditioned.)

I have tried to pack a lot into this communication, but I cannot convey the true spirit of The Guided Tour and Camp Lee Mar in such limited space. If you received this packet after contacting The Guided Tour, you have been added to our mailing list and will receive our updated "Rates & Dates" flyer two times a year. If you received this packet from some other source and would like to be added to our mailing list, or have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to telephone our staff at our toll-free number, 1-800-783-5841.

We also can design a trip or an encampment in the Pocono Mountains to meet your agency's particular needs.

Thank You.