Newsletters

Dear Summer Program Applicant and Parent/ Guardian,

Hi our names are Clementine and Brandon, and we are the Youth Program Coordinators. We will be the ones running this year’s Youth Summer Program. Feel free to call or email us with further questions regarding the information below. Ability 1st Utah is excited for the opportunity to be offering the Youth Summer Program for the Summer of 2026, for youth with disabilities, during the months of June, July and the first week of August.

We hope to receive your application soon. We are now beginning the enrollment for our Youth Summer Program participants, the deadline for applications will be April 31st 2026. Please make sure to turn these in before then. Feel free to email, mail, fax, or drop-off the application to the contact details provided down below.

We will be accepting 25 participants this summer program. There is an evaluation process to determine if you or your youth are eligible to participate in the Ability 1st Utah Youth Summer Program. Not everyone that applies will be accepted. After applications are submitted, we will ask that the parent and youth included in the application to schedule an interview to determine eligibility. If you or your youth does not get chosen for this year’s Youth Summer Program, if they meet qualifications, we will put them on the waiting list.

During this year’s Youth Summer Program, participants will be supervised on 1 staff to 5 student ratio. Please remember this as you are considering to enroll in the Youth Summer Program.

Classes & activities will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the beginning date will be June 2nd and will end on August 6th. The class times will be from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm. Times may vary depending on our activity that day, however we will provide a calendar to each Youth Summer Program Participant.

Parents and/or family members of the Youth Summer Program Participants are more than welcome to join us as volunteers, please reach out to either Clementine or Brandon to join any of the activities or classes on site. Parent chaperones may be needed for onsite classes due to their youth’s needs, parents will be notified if and when necessary.

Notice: Transportation will be provided in the American Fork and Spanish Fork pick-up where JoAnn’s used to be. 

The Youth Summer Program!

Ability 1st Utah’s Youth Summer Program is for young adults that are the ages 18-30 and who do not require 1 staff to 5 student ratio. This program will focus on all aspects of independent living including job skills. Our goal is to teach our youth on how to live a successful independent life in an interactive and fun learning environment.

Ability 1st Utah’s Youth Summer Program is a learning environment, while there will be fun outings that we provide, we will focus on teaching our attendants how to be an effective self-advocate and how to live a successful independent life, so not every day will be a fun outing. We have various ages and functioning levels that we will do our best to accommodate in all of our activities. In some activities we will split our peers into small groups, it is possible that we will separate friends in order for them to learn new social skills and meet new people. We do this to help our youth grow and adapt to new things that may be uncomfortable at first.

Youth Summer Program Dates: The summer program will start on June 2nd and will end on August 6th. The Youth Summer Program will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Youth Program Participants will also be hosting and or performing in their own Talent Show as well towards the end of the Youth Summer Program. Anyone is welcome to attend.

Ability 1st Utah is planning to take a limited number of participants camping from June 16th at 10:00 am through June 17th to 4:00 pm. If you are interested in participating, it is a first come first serve on sign-ups.  Once you have been selected, you will receive more information (sign-ups, packing list, planned activities, time frame, etc.) as we get closer to the date.

The Center will be closed on Friday, July 3rd and Friday, July 24th for the holidays.

We are asking for a $50.00 donation for the Youth Summer Program. This donation will go towards our Youth Summer Program and will assist with the cost of activities and classes. Nobody will be turned away for inability to pay.

The deadline for your application will be April 31st, 2026. 

In the Youth Summer Program, yours or your youth’s health and safety is the highest priority of Ability 1st Utah. We ask that if you or your youth are experiencing any of these symptoms, please stay home until you are symptom free.

Following Systems:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fever
• Chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Vomiting
• Loss or taste of smell

Parents/guardians must provide a phone number where they can be reached as well as an alternative emergency contact, in case your youth becomes ill or injured while at the center.

Transportation:

Ability 1st Utah will be providing limited transportation to and from the classes. We are encouraging parents to assist with transportation, this will help to ensure everyone’s participation and assist in keeping the program costs affordable. We have set up two locations for you to meet our drivers across Utah County. The pick-up and drop off locations will be in the American Fork and Spanish Fork area. Parents will also be notified what time the bus will leave the center to the drop-off points. You are responsible for transportation to and from the pick-up and drop-off locations for your youth.

Food & Lunches: On designated activities only Ability 1^st Utah will provide lunches.  There may be an occasional opportunity to eat at a fast food restaurant but this will be limited.  We encourage parents or caretakers to assure that their youth bring food, snacks, water, and sunscreen every day to our activities.  If any participant has food allergies or special food requirements make sure to list them on the application.

Other outings will be scheduled as community opportunities become available, but could include: Examples;

• Job Sites-Deseret Industries
• Aquarium
• Parks
• Hogle Zoo
• Local Recreational Centers
• Planetarium
• Krishna Temple

Ability 1st Utah Youth Summer Program Requirements

Attendance:

Due to the limited number of participants in the Youth Summer Program. Participants will be required to maintain a 90% attendance rate. If you or your youth is sick and unable to attend a class, a 24 hour notice must be given.

Ground Rules:

In order to keep our Youth Summer Program environment safe for everyone. There will be requirements and ground rules that we are asking all participants and their families to adhere to.

• Youth Summer Program Participants will be asked to treat everyone with respect and kindness. We ask that they embrace and celebrate diversity, and to be mindful of their peers’ differences and abilities.
• Youth Summer Program Participants will be asked to report any safety concerns immediately and to be aware and respectful of theirs and others personal boundaries Some people do not understand boundaries and that’s okay! But they will be asked to listen and stop when someone states that they are feeling uncomfortable or don’t want to be touched.
• Youth Summer Program Participants will be asked to be patient and supportive towards their peers during activities. 
• Youth Summer Program Participants will be asked to respect their peers’ personal belongings. Please keep personal items secure and organized and to report any lost or found items to staff.
• There will be Zero tolerance for bullying, harassment, or any discrimination. We asked that Youth Summer Program Participants report any incidents promptly to the designated staff, and to foster an environment where everyone feels safe and valued.

Requirements:

• Participants will be required to provide their own transportation if the center transportation is not available.
• Participants will be required to arrive on time and participate in activities and classes.
• Participants will be required to address their own self care needs. If they need assistance they can bring their attendant.
• Participants will be required to respect their peers, staff and Ability 1st Utah’s property.
• Due to limited capacity in the Youth Summer Program. Participants will be required to maintain a 90% attendance rate. If your youth is sick and unable to attend a class. A 24 hour notice must be given. 
• We do not provide or give any type of medicine. 

The Youth Summer Program follows a three-strike policy:

This three-strike policy will be used with bullying, harassment, discrimination and any attention-seeking behaviors where paramedics are contacted.

• If the Youth Summer Program Participant is showing aggressive or disruptive behavior there will be a warning given to them about their behavior and the parents or guardians will be notified of the incident. This will be the only warning provided due to the safety of our youth.  
• If they continue, they will be given a 1st strike. They will be asked to leave the class, and will meet with Clementine and Brandon after class to discuss ways to change the disruptive behavior. 
• If a Youth Summer Program Participant receives a 2nd strike, they will be asked to leave the class and must contact Clementine and Brandon to set up a meeting involving both the participant and parent or guardian where they will present a way they plan to change their behavior in the future.
• If a Youth Summer Program Participant receives a 3rd strike, we will call the parent or guardian to come pick them up from the center and will be kicked from the program.

Participants that miss three consecutive days of the Youth Summer Program without notifying Clementine or Brandon of illness will be asked to leave the program. This will give the opportunity to others to join our Summer Program. 

If your youth displays attention seeking behaviors that result in an outing facility needing to call the paramedics for any non-medical emergency, it will result in an automatic dismissal from the program.