Every year, the Undivided Research Team puts together a list of summer camps that are either specifically designed for youth with disabilities or can accommodate all abilities. For summer 2026, we've included camps and programs across the country that help teens prepare for a successful transition from high school to college or other post-secondary opportunities.
We're continuing to update this list as more programs are announced or open for registration, so check back throughout spring!
Preparations for life after high school can start while your student is completing their courses! Check out the below for programs that will help them prepare for post-graduation life.
595 Price Avenue, Ste. 100
Redwood City, CA 94063
(650) 322-5910
megan.broome@mcinc.org
Morrissey Compton provides educational, mental health, therapy, and support services to families who are concerned about their child’s “school, behavior, and/or social-emotional functioning.” One of the ways they support families is by providing summer programs covering a variety of topics for children and teens, including social skills, friendship, and stress management. This summer, Morrissey Compton has organized an executive functioning session designed to help high schoolers “ease into this next phase of life.” Students will learn about self-reflection, assessing progress towards goals, time management skills, prioritizing, organizational strategies, and managing attention.
515 E. Poplar Ave.
San Mateo, CA 94401
(408) 475-3323
sandrafishler@landmark.edu
Landmark College, a college specifically designed “for students who learn differently,” brings California Bay Area students some of its resources and services through the Landmark College Success Center (LCSC). The center provides coaching, academic support, and training to students who are navigating the changes that come with transitioning to college. Each summer, LCSC’s coaching programs offer several workshops geared toward high school seniors and recent graduates, including this year’s three-day Executive Functioning and Transition to College Summer Workshop. The workshop aims to help students who plan to enroll in college, a certificate program, trade school, “or start their next educational experience” by developing key skills: executive functioning, self-advocacy, and technology support. At the end of this workshop, participants receive post-program feedback to further aid in their learning journey.
Mercyhurst University
501 East 38th Street
Erie, PA 16546
(814) 824-2000
The IGNITE Summer Program is a one-week program where students experience college life by living in the residence halls, dining on campus, meeting faculty, and “building key social skills that are instrumental in the post-secondary transition.”
Howard Community College
10901 Little Patuxent Parkway
Columbia, MD 21044
(443) 518-4625
disabilitysupport@howardcc.edu
The Project Access Summer Institute program includes instruction in writing, reading, mathematics, executive function skills, advocacy skills, career development skills, and more. On Fridays, there will be college trips or events to expose the participants to college life and post-secondary opportunities.
1070 Arastradero Rd. #200
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 724-9143
snp-reach-oc@stanford.edu
Each year, the Stanford Neurodiversity Project (SNP) hosts a project-based summer camp inviting high schoolers to learn more about neurodiversity. While each student chooses a topic that interests them, the projects are focused on advocacy. The program finds an intersection behind understanding the science behind neurodiversity and empowering neurodivergent students through research and introducing learning strategies and skills. As they work through their research projects, students practice design thinking skills and explore topics such as the history of neurodiversity and how to build community. Students are also introduced to learning strategies in hopes that this will help them choose colleges or degree programs that work best for them. These strategies include the strengths-based model and Universal Design for Learning. This camp is a good fit for budding researchers and advocates interested in a career focused on neurodiversity while also gaining skills to better understand their own brains.
595 Price Avenue, Ste. 100
Redwood City, CA 94063
(650) 322-5910
gohar.jaffer@mcinc.org
Morrissey Compton provides educational, mental health, therapy, and support services to families who are concerned about their child’s “school, behavior, and/or social-emotional functioning.” One of the ways they support families is by providing summer programs covering a variety of topics for children and teens: social skills, friendship, stress management, and more. This year, they’ve put together a workshop designed specifically to provide high schoolers with a “safe space to discuss life stressors” and to “learn healthy coping strategies.” This includes things that directly combat stress like self-care, coping strategies, and resilience building while also providing means for students to prevent stress through time management and healthy communication strategies. It is Morrissey Compton’s hope that through this five-session workshop, participants will be better equipped to “navigate the ups and downs of adolescence and build resilience.”
105 East Street
Leesburg, FL 34748
(855) 220-5376
collegereadiness@beaconcollege.edu
summerprogram@beaconcollege.edu
Summer for Success is a three-week summer program that gives juniors and graduating seniors tools to successfully transition from high school. They learn how to self-advocate and navigate a college campus. Beyond the classroom, the program promotes social skills through activities such as workouts, movie nights, game nights, and talent shows. Participants can take weekend trips to attractions such as Disney World and Universal Studios. Students may also enjoy swimming, water sports, and student clubs like Film Club, Gaming Club, Performing Arts and Sports and Recreation. Three options are offered: Exploration Track, Entertainment Track, or Anthrozoology Track. More information on their program can be found in this YouTube video.
These transitional programs will help you and your student navigate changes as they move from high school graduation to the next phase of life.
Rossmoor, CA 90720
(949) 445-6405
info@advancedpragmatics.com
Advanced Pragmatics provides kids, teens, and adults with private speech therapy, group speech therapy, and social skills training. Their work focuses mainly on helping teens learn life and social skills to apply “in a highly functional, real-life setting.” Every summer, Advanced Pragmatics hosts three camps “designed specifically for neurodiverse kids, pre-teens, and teens,” which includes kids, middle school, and high school camps. Camp is led by speech-language pathologists who help participants learn, grow, and apply their social and life skills to “practical situations.” The high school camp is designed to help “ease transition to adulthood” by working on independence and confidence by increasing social and life skills. Not only can campers develop these skills, but they can also walk away with new connections to their community.
13851 Stevens Canyon Rd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 867-1115
Camp Via West, an affiliate of Ability Path, provides services that help families and individuals with developmental disabilities “achieve their full potential and be included in all aspects of our community.” This includes educational, therapeutic, and support services for children, adults, seniors, and families. Each year, they host summer camps on their 13.5-acre campus with the help of trained staff ready to “help campers stretch their imaginations,” grow their skills, enjoy the outdoors, and make memories. Their Altitude Camp is a project-based program designed specifically to help neurodivergent teens (middle to high school) prepare for the transition into adulthood by giving them opportunities to build vital skills, especially their social skills, independence, and self-confidence. Campers are grouped up with peers to enjoy typical camp activities while also working on projects related to topics such as film, performing arts, sports, STEM, and more. Campers who have graduated high school have the opportunity to enroll in the CIA transition program where they can choose Counselor In Training, Internship, or Apprenticeship tracks to pursue. Participants have 24-hour access to the Registered Nurses at Camp Via West Health Center, as well as nurse interns to help with daily living, motor, mobility, and hoyer lifts. Regarding 1:1 aides, you can select your preferred staff-to-camper ratio (1:5 or 1:3) when registering. While they do their best to honor these preferences, ratios assigned are determined by safety and camper needs. Please see their ratio criteria for more information.
Curry College
1071 Blue Hill Drive
Milton, MA 02186
(617) 882-2267
kevin@campakeela.com
Beyond Akeela is a three-week college readiness program. Campers come from all over the United States and even travel internationally to attend Beyond Akeela. Activities at the camp include day hikes, swimming, strategy games, talent shows, campfires, game nights, movie nights, and more. Field trips include bowling, mini golf, farmers markets, and museums as well as amusement parks and touring the city. Participants follow a curriculum that includes the college application process, college social life, college essays, college visits, discussions on healthy relationships and living habits while in college, how to access accommodations, career readiness activities of mock interviews, resume building, and discussion of professionalism at work. Life skills are also taught including time management, cooking, and budgeting. A typical daily schedule can be reviewed here. Additional frequently asked questions can be found here.
4655 Old Ironsides Dr. Suite 170
Santa Clara, CA 95054
(408)735-7990, extension 4
Contact: Matt Newton, Program Coordinator
This two-week program is called Transition Skills with a Twist. The program includes independent living instruction (meal prep, financial literacy, wellness); executive functioning instruction (planning ahead, organizing); pre-employment skills (resumes, interviewing skills, volunteering); emotional regulation and stress management; social connection with peers; and mobility training/experience using public transportation.
350 Main Street, Suite 9B
Bedminster, NJ 07921
(855) 593-9355
mailadmin@kitchenstewardship.com
Each summer, KnoWEwell hosts a Life Skills Now camp designed to help children of all abilities “bridge the gap between traditional education and practical life skills, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, useful tech habits, and creativity.” Campers will learn skills related to finances, entrepreneurship and career, home management, independent living, and more. Caregivers also benefit from KnoWEwell’s camp with resources, workshop printables, and workshops specifically created with them in mind. At Life Skills Now camp, neurodivergence is "welcomed and celebrated” with a specific track created with neurodivergent brains in mind.
Making the transition from high school to college isn’t always easy or smooth. These programs offer an array of skill building, support, and preparation for the new experiences to come.
19 River Road South
Putney, VT 05346
(802) 387-6885
summer@landmark.edu
Landmark College, a college specifically designed “for students who learn differently,” provides a variety of summer programs for students to help them develop the necessary skills for college life or making the transition. The Five-Day Online Boot Camp is part of their College START program, helping transitioning or current college students feel confident and prepared for the fall semester by creating a space to develop a compassionate relationship with their neurodiversity, identity, struggles, and needs. During camp, students are supported in fostering a better understanding of themselves, connecting with community, exploring learning strategies, and reframing their thinking about their individual “learning strengths and challenges.” This support is provided in the form of daily check-ins with their professor, personal consultations, peer mentor panels, educational sessions, as well as connecting with and learning from students who have found academic success. Equipped with a better understanding of themselves and their neurodivergence, students explore reading, writing, note-taking, test-taking, executive functioning, and life management strategies to help them navigate college life.
Aurora University
347 S. Gladstone Ave.
Aurora, IL 60506
Camp Spartan offers exposure to college life for high school students and recent graduates. Campers will take non-credit courses, participate in social activities, and learn executive functioning skills while staying in the residence hall. All participants must have no aggressive incidents or self-harm records within the past few years, be able to attend general education academic courses with limited assistance, administer all mediations on their own, and be able to wake independently with the use of an alarm clock. They must also have a family member within three hours in case an emergency pickup or dismissal occurs.
West Chester University
700 South High Street
West Chester, PA 19383
(610) 436-1000 or (610) 436-3168
Contact: Cherrie Fishbaugh
The CARR program is designed for students to experience various elements of college life, including learning about autism resources on campus and the difference between IDEA vs ADA for high school to higher education. There are multiple sessions for different ages:
Mercyhurst University
501 East 38th Street
Erie, PA 16546
(814) 824-2000
The CREATE Summer Program is a three-week program where students can experience college life by living in the residence halls, dining on campus, and enrolling in a three-credit course. The program also has educational and social activities to promote socializing. The students participate in the College 101 Series and the Mini Lecture Series to familiarize them with college departments and expose the participants to different faculty and lecture styles. After completing the program, all students will receive a formal written assessment documenting their performance throughout CREATE. The report will highlight their strengths and challenges and make recommendations to support their transition to a residential college life as a full-time student.
Hudson Community College
80 Vandenburgh Ave.
Troy, NY 12180
(518) 629-7740
Contact Dawn Danner, Director
Hudson Community College is offering a transition course to help students be prepared for college in the fall. This is open to all students looking into college, not only those attending Hudson Community College in the fall. Topics they will cover include the differences between high school and college and how to navigate them, course loads and academic advisement, what to expect in college classes, how to navigate a college campus, homework and grading, understanding the schedule and what to do in free time, how to follow a syllabus, when to seek help, and what resources are available for help. They will also learn how to get set up with the college’s Center for Access and Assistive Technology and how to request accommodations, communicate with faculty, and become part of the campus community. The program aims to help participants develop self-awareness and self-advocacy.
19 River Road South
Putney, VT 05346
(802) 387-6885
Contact: Carroll Paré
The Summer Readiness Program is a two-week program in which students take three classes: College Writing, Executive Functioning and Study Skills, and a lecture course. Skills learned will be note taking, writing briefs, understanding the difference between high school and collegiate-level writing, how to organize course materials, executive functioning skills, self-advocacy in regards to academics, and the social experiences of freshman year. Interested students must show proof of admission to a four-year college or university.
Multiple locations:
UC Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
Cal State Long Beach
Long Beach, CA
(877) 566-9247
info@cipsummer.com
College Internship Program (CIP) offers programs and services designed to help high schoolers with learning differences “learn valuable skills to make a successful transition” to life after high school. Their summer program focuses on helping students feel “well-prepared” as they make the transition to “college, employment, and independent living” and sets out to accomplish this through skill building. This includes independent living skills, executive functioning skills, social skills, budgeting, future goal planning, housekeeping, and more. Each participant will have a person-centered plan created specifically for them and will leave the program with a detailed assessment. Campers will also have the chance to experience and practice independent living by residing in student housing while also having access to support from 24/7 staff and medication reminders. This program also prioritizes exposing participants to a “supportive community” where they can thrive and thus creates a schedule that includes downtime for socialization, relaxation, and activities planned around the student's areas of interest. Students must be capable of attending without a 1:1 aide.
Whether your student has just graduated high school or college, or is otherwise ready to enter the workforce, these programs provide various opportunities and services to help them succeed.
California State University Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330
(818) 221-0605
YouthNavigation@newhorizons-sfv.org
Students selected for the Southern California Youth Leadership Forum program participate in a week of workshops that highlight learning options, career paths, and self-advocacy after high school. Students learn leadership skills and effective advocacy, learn about various programs and supports that are on campus, and listen to professionals with disabilities in a wide range of careers.
New Horizons
15725 Parthenia St.
North Hills, CA 91343
(818) 894-9301
youthnavigation@newhorizons-sfv.org
At this four-week program, where participants learn college and career readiness skills. They will visit local employers and post-secondary learning institutions as well as meet with counselors and disability support professionals. Activities include self-advocacy talks, ice breakers, budget skills, mock interviews, and public speaking.
385 Fairview Road
Ojai, CA 93023
(310) 476-8571
Contact: Rory Carmer
Camp Ramah provides “immersive Jewish experiences rooted in Torah, Avodah, and Gemilut Hasadim” for young adults and children through their various events and summer camp. They offer two summer programs for campers with disabilities: Amitzim for children and Ezra for young adults. While each is unique, both programs focus on creating community and increasing independent living skills. Ezra is a vocational training program over four to eight weeks where participants live at camp, so their days are filled with “job site experience, life skill classes, recreational activities, and living Judaism.” The goal of the program is to help prepare “young adults for independent living and teach them employment-related skills.” While at camp, they’ll learn “lessons of responsibility, kinship, sportsmanship, and sharing” as well as vocational, independent living, self-image, and social skills. Participants will also have direct independent living experiences through running the cafe one night a week, participating in the buddy program, and collaborating with others to plan days off.
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