Dream Big Career Camp Now Free for Families
Author:
Starkloff Staff
Reading time:
2 minutes
Date:
May 8, 2025
Press Release: St. Louis Camp Removes Cost Barrier, Empowering Youth with Disabilities to Dream Big
St. Louis, MO – May 7, 2025 – What does it look like when young people with disabilities are invited to think big about their futures? At Dream Big Career Exploration Camp, the answer includes workplace tours, leadership training, self-discovery, and friendships that last a lifetime. And this year, there’s a big change: Starkloff Disability Institute has eliminated the $500/week camp fee—making Dream Big completely free for families.
“At Starkloff, we know that economic challenges hit the disability community especially hard,” said Lori Becker, Chief Executive Officer. “Families raising children with disabilities already face higher costs related to healthcare, education, and accessibility—and in today’s economy, those pressures are growing. We believe every young person deserves the chance to dream big about their future, regardless of income.”
Thanks to a generous grant from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, as well as steadfast support from Dream Big corporate partners and individual donors, Dream Big Camp is now accessible to even more youth.
Dream Big, a program of the Starkloff Disability Institute, is a one-of-a-kind experience for youth ages 11–21. Through powerful, disability-led programming, students envision bold futures—whether that means college, a great job, or independent living.
Each camp day is structured to include:
- Peer Connection: Morning icebreakers and games help students build social skills and friendships.
- Company Visits: Students tour inclusive companies like Bayer, Riot Games, Edward Jones, and Purina—meeting professionals with disabilities and participating in hands-on career activities.
- Curriculum: In the afternoon, students take part in Starkloff’s Adulting with a Disability program—goal setting, financial literacy, college readiness, and more, all designed and led by disabled professionals.
- Social Time: Each day ends with reflection and conversation with campers and counselors.
“So many of our students have been told to limit their goals,” said Julia, a program leader. “We help them see that their disability is not a limitation—it’s part of their strength.”
Dream Big hosts four weeks of camp between June 9–July 25, 2025, and is free of charge for the first time ever. Accessible door-to-door transportation for students is available at no cost.
More information can be found at DreamBigCamp.org.
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Contact: Maggie Mahoney
mmahoney@starkloff.org
About Starkloff Disability Institute
Starkloff Disability Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in St. Louis, Missouri that builds inclusion where we live, learn, work, and play through disability-led programs that advance economic opportunity and transform lives. SDI was founded in 2003 by disability rights pioneers Max and Colleen Starkloff. To end exclusion and poverty we work on both sides of the problem: preparing disabled youth and adults to be competitive in the workforce and educating companies and communities to be disability welcoming. To learn more about our work to help disabled people thrive, visit starkloff.org.
