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Making camp – and our community – more inclusive

Camp Via West, one of the few remaining residential camps serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in the region, is a place right out of central casting.

The beautiful 13.5-acre campus on County owned land in the Cupertino foothills has residential lodges and campsites under the trees, set around two swimming pools, a fire circle, and an open-air amphitheater. 

Indoor and outdoor activities include field sports and recreational games, swimming, hiking, yoga, performing arts, crafts, music, cooking, gardening, and, yes, the quintessential summer camp activity: archery. 

What’s different about this camp is the clientele – children, teens, and adults with differing health needs and varying abilities – and specially trained staff to facilitate overnight and day summer camps, as well as weekend respite programs and family events during the school year. 

Last year, I secured matching grant support for crucial improvements to foster an even more enjoyable – and accessible – experience for campers and their families. As a result, Camp Via West renovated its outdoor sports field, and upgraded its sports facility with ADA-compliant bathrooms, equipment storage, tents for shade, and a concession stand to provide food and water for campers and spectators.

I’m gratified to support these renovations, in no small part because of a statistic you may not know: nearly 160,000 of our residents in Santa Clara County live with a disability. That’s one in 12 people – who are neighbors, colleagues, and friends. 

Some disabilities are visible; some aren’t. Folks in the I/DD community may experience the world a little differently; maybe the way they interact with their environment looks different. Regardless, people with disabilities in our County deserve the same support and access to resources as everybody else. 

My office and I are fortunate to be in a position to help address some longstanding physical and social barriers for local youth and adults who want to engage in camp and recreational activities. 

The renovations also allowed Camp Via West to partner with Special Olympics Northern California, hosting one of their Special Olympic Athlete Leadership programs. Nonprofit organizations that use Camp Via West for group retreats and educational activities will also benefit from the upgrades.

Each year, when I think about how to allocate County resources, I look for issues or organizations that have widespread support – but may not have any one person or institution with responsibility to lead the way. 

Clearly there is a compelling public need for recreational opportunities for folks with I/DD and their families. How do we make that happen? Through creative partnership. 

County support for Camp Via West, an affiliate of the non-profit AbilityPath, paved the way, and was more than matched by private philanthropy and additional grant funding from Helpers Community.

Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of hearing from Camp Via West clients and family members, like San Jose resident Cheryl Snyder, whose son, Adam, has attended Camp Via West for almost 30 years, starting at age 10. 

“The opportunity to be away from home in a safe and inclusive environment is one of the many gifts of being a camper,” Snyder said. “For Adam, these activities are an opportunity to be independent, to be ‘one of the guys.’ This feeling of belonging is really the greatest gift Camp Via West offers.”

Registration for 2025 summer camps will open this fall, as will registration for upcoming respite weekends. While the remaining 2024 camp sessions are full, please visit campviawest.org to learn about wait list opportunities, as well as other Camp Via West programs and events. 

People with disabilities are an integral part of our community. By embracing all abilities, we create a society that is more equitable and more just. Let’s keep at it! 

Joe Simitian
Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors

Article originally published in Los Gatos Living and Saratoga Spotlight magazines.