Attracted to the charm of Main Street and the abundance of recreation options, Park City is chock-full of fun finders, explorers, musicians and dreamers. Unfortunately, these opportunities often seem exclusively tailored for those who are nondisabled, leaving others wishing to participate. Since 1985, the community’s National Ability Center (NAC) has been the dream maker, committed to providing a safe, inclusive and uplifting environment for people with disabilities and making it possible for everyone to experience the joy that recreation in Utah provides.
Longtime participant and NAC Reservations Coordinator Allie Schneider knows firsthand the transformational power of adaptive recreation. Schneider was born with spina bifida. Spina bifida occurs when the spine and spinal cord don’t form properly, leaving the bottom half of the body without feeling. At age 4, she visited the center and was put on the snow. At the time, she was using a walker and couldn’t walk unaided let alone ski down the hill.
She says, “My first feeling was oh my gosh, I’m doing this! I’m doing something that anybody else could do, and I’m doing it with my family, which is the greatest gift that the National Ability Center could have given to me.”
Schneider remembers her next thought being, “If I could do skiing, what else am I capable of doing?” She underscores, “Understanding how capable you are is an incredible gift.”
In a world where dreams bridge the gap between perceived limitations and what is possible, NAC stands as a beacon of hope with its uplifting mission to empower individuals of varying disabilities by building self-esteem, confidence and lifetime skills through sports, recreation and educational programs. Located on 26 acres at the edge of Park City, the National Ability Center Ranch and Equestrian Center is a mecca of outdoor recreation.
Cofounder Meeche White’s original dream was to help people feel better about themselves, which is exactly what happened. She says, “People didn’t think they could do something or were told that they couldn’t do something, and then they come out and go skiing or ride a horse and all of the sudden doors are wide open.” White emphasizes, “Your whole vision changes of what you think is possible.”
Last year, NAC opened McGrath Mountain Center at Park City Mountain and provided life-changing programming for more than 5,500 individuals, facilitating an incredible 30,000 experiences. The organization serves people of all ages with physical and cognitive disabilities, with more than half of the participants being children and young adults under the age of 21.
Family members are encouraged to participate, strengthening family bonds and creating a shared space for connection. There are more than 20 program options for various skill levels to choose from such as archery, rock climbing, high ropes challenge course, skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, rafting, canoeing, and equestrian and summer camps to name a few.
Chief Programming and Education Officer Tracy Meier says, “Everybody should have the right to live their best life, and that means people with disabilities and their friends and families all together.”
NAC does everything it can to remove the barriers for people participating in their programs, including financial burdens. In 2023, the nonprofit awarded $640,000 in scholarships. Most importantly, the organization’s staff and participants demonstrate that everyone can experience all that Utah has to offer.
If you want to learn more about the National Ability Center programs, make a financial contribution or find out about summer and fall events like Barn Party, Summit Challenge and MOFO Ride, visit discovernac.org.
