Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center

Their dream camp is not equip to handle kids with autism or behavioral issues. The staff lacks the training unfortunately and does not seem willing to remedy that issue. I would not suggest sending autistic children here because they do not have the training for the child to be safe. Their communication is lacking. My child was injured and I was not informed by them even though they provided first aid. In fact when I went to pick up my daughter they said “oh I saw her and she doesn’t have any injuries” my daughter walked up to me with a bandaged arm so either that staff member had not seen my kid or was hiding that she was injured to cover themself. Either way I don’t appreciate the lie. They took my kid off the property for a field trip without telling me and when I came to pick my kid up I had to wait 20 minutes past the latest time they told me they would be back. I requested a schedule of events four separate times and kept getting told “we will have it tomorrow”.

My first interaction was asking them if they accept kids who are autistic and I was told yes. When I applied in person the website application I did was not properly transferred over and someone working at the desk had to manually enter everything in. I told her that my son was autistic and he would be joined by his cousin, who is also autistic. I asked them to keep him and his cousin together because they deescalate each other in unknown (or new) environments well. She did not add this into their site. Staff told me they would not keep them together because they were not required to even though on their site they have a “buddy” option to keep kids together. On the first day, it was two ladies at a table when you walk in. I told her again that my son and his cousin were autistic and was assured that they had “over 30 years with kids through SBCSC”. They assured me they were trained and able to work with ALL kids. They never gave parents a schedule and took kids to the zoo without notifying their parents when they would leave or come back. They had 7(ish) parents waiting (about 2hrs) in the lobby for their kids and they were never notified that they would be leaving the premises. Camp started 6/9 and as of 6/17 when I took my son out I still hadn’t gotten a daily schedule after multiple times asking. My son had a tantrum over something small. Instead of the adult intervening, she left it to a youth volunteer to handle and yelled at my son and he thought he was getting in trouble and had a meltdown. She removed him from the room and then put him in a hold. My son’s response was to defend himself and he did physically defend himself from a lady he had known all but a week who put her hands on him. I responded by buying muffins for the whole staff as well as making my son use his own money for treat bags for the lady who he defended himself against. *When I gave them to him I expressed that he had been wrong but also that they had been wrong by putting their hands on him.* I requested that they don’t do it again. The very next day I was told (by my son) that he was put into another hold and a kid hit him. I tried to ask an adult but got nowhere as they were busy. I’m not happy with my son feeling like he had to defend himself against a grown woman and then treating my like I’m asking for special favors for not doing restraints At the end of the day, if you say you accept ALL kids but really only mean neurotypical kids that should be specified especially when a parent has disclosed multiple times the children are autistic.

LOVE the remodel, GREATLY DISLIKE the fee that only the 23yrs -seniors have to pay to workout in a small weight room area. Love the track to walk around, the outdoor patio, and play area for the kids

Grew up in South Bend on the WS and this was always the place to be. So glad for the new building and the community

I went there once but it was under construction so I wasn't able to go inside

This spot is a great place for kids. One of the lonely REAL rec centers that still MENTOR kids, have family events and give back to the community. After school programs, outside park, basket ball courts, and baseball field. I grow up at this center with my father every summer I visited South Bend.

I believe it was a very nice experience because the adult were trying to make the children realize that since you see chips doesn't mean to just ask for them because you have to work hard for things and they feed people and gave everyone drinks and they had their own computer and they also believe that all children should be respectful to all adults because thats how you make something of your self

The Linden Ave. pop up market was great!