YMCA readies for summer youth programs for kids of all ages, abilities

Cheektowaga, N.Y. (WBEN) - While we're still weeks out from the start of summer and schools letting out for summer vacation, folks at the YMCA of Buffalo-Niagara have been preparing well in advance for the return of kids to take part in weekly programs they have to offer.

"We start the planning for summer camp probably right after summer camp ends. We do some debrief, and then get going with the planning for this year. So we're very excited for this year," said Brenna Lupo, vice president of education and child services for the YMCA.

Lupo says there's something new being offered every day and every week for kids at camp across several locations in Western New York.

"For families across the board, we have programs from Lew-Port all the way on down to our Southtowns location at Camp Eggert. We have two resident camps in Barker and in Wyoming County," Lupo noted with WBEN.

At the YMCA Buffalo Niagara, leaders want to make sure every kid has an ability to participate in their summer programming, no matter the age or certain abilities a child may have.

"We never want to turn anybody away," Lupo said. "We want to make sure that everybody's included, so we make sure that all ability levels can be included in our programming."

In light of Autism Awareness Month and being an autism mom herself, Lupo is fully aware of the need and lack of programming throughout the area, and the YMCA knows they can't do it all on their own.

"We partner with some great agencies to be able to provide that programming in all of our locations, to be able to meet the need and not have any barriers like transportation or inability to pay with our scholarships. So all families can really participate and get the help that they need," Lupo said.

So what does the YMCA offer for kids and families that may have developmental or intellectual disabilities?

"At all of our summer camps, we employ inclusion specialists, and their sole purpose is to make sure all kiddos are included in the summer camp program," Lupo detailed. "We focus on integrating kiddos with intellectual or developmental disabilities right into our summer camp program. So it's not a separate program, they're with their neurotypical peers. We just make sure they have the extra support to be able to be successful at summer camp."

One of the programs noted by Lupo this summer for developmentally and intellectually disabled children of all ages is adaptive swim lessons.

"Those swim lessons are geared toward, again, intellectual and developmentally delayed students. Our swim instructors are incredible and patient and kind, and really work with the kiddos and meet them where they're at," she noted.

The YMCA's summer programs are not the only way kids with developmental and intellectual disabilities can be included in the fun with all they have to offer.

"Our inclusion specialists not only work during the summertime, but they work during our school year as well," Lupo said. "We have three that focus on our school-aged child care programs to make sure kids can participate at all ability levels. We also offer Special Olympics year-round, as well as our adaptive swim lessons year-round."