United Cerebral Palsy Inland Empire

Skillbuilders after school programs are designed to help teens with special needs who are between the ages of 8 and 18 fully integrate into the communities which they are a part of. These programs are based in community accessible sites. The teens in this program are guided by a well trained "recreation coach" who specializes in working with youths with special needs. 

In Skillbuilders, our clients' integration into the community is our main concern. We achieve this goal by providing them with the guidance and support that they need to behave appropriately, and to communicate effectively with their typical peers. Our clients are strongly encouraged to participate in team sports, crafts, and all the other activities that occur at each site. Skillbuilders also routinely takes fieldtrips to many places throughout the communities in which they are located including theme parks, restaurants, zoos and parks.

Skillbuilders is an excellent place for children and teens with special needs to come after school and make friends, do exciting activities and have fun. Here they will make lifelong friendships and have a high level of social interaction with many different people.

All of our "recreation coaches" are well trained in dealing with children and teens with special needs. They are all required to go though CPR, First Aid training courses as well as criminal background checks before they are hired. We maintain an extremely high standard of quality and look for coaches who really love to work with kids. We have on coach assigned to every three kids, and in extreme cases one coach will be assigned to a single child. The safety, comfort and progress of our clients is very important to us.

Skillbuilders programs currently meet at the boys and girls clubs in Indio and Palm Springs.

If you would like more information on our Skillbuilders programs, please contact:

Ruby Ison (Indio) at (760) 989-9814

Kathy Mckinney (Palm Springs) at (760) 285-2825

During each Summer, the Indio, Palm Springs host the Challenger's Programs.