FSY Accommodations of Persons with Dietary, Disability, Medical, or Other Needs - U.S.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints* (the “Church”) endeavors to ensure that all within its reach feel valued and welcomed. In keeping with this charge, the Church strives to provide accommodations for youth with dietary, disability, medical, or other needs.

We do our best to make reasonable accommodations. Because of the fundamental nature of For the Strength of Youth (FSY) conferences, some abilities and functions are essential to the individual participant experience. The majority of FSY staff are young-adult, summer-seasonal staff and are not qualified or capable of safely meeting the needs associated with every unique situation. Therefore, it is possible that an accommodation reasonable in other settings may not be reasonable for participation in FSY.

Please note that the Church provides many additional opportunities for spiritual growth that may better serve your individual needs in the event an accommodation cannot be made for you to attend FSY. You can learn more about Church youth programming here. The Church also has a disability resources page.

Please read below to better understand the nature of the activities at FSY, the basic expectations to participate safely, and how you can request an accommodation.

FSY DESCRIPTION

FSY is a five-day For the Strength of Youth conference program for youth turning 14 to 18 in the year they participate at host university and college campuses, each with its own legal and safety requirements, which the Church does not control.

Youth stay overnight in campus housing with roommates of the same sex, away from parents and local ward and stake leaders. In the United States, each session generally has between 300 and 1,500 youth participating in a full schedule of gospel-centered activities designed to give youth opportunities to meet new people, develop friendships, and make changes in their lives.

FSY can be demanding physically, mentally, behaviorally, and emotionally. FSY activities include indoor and outdoor presentations, personal study, group activities, outdoor games, and dancing. At some campuses, the walking distance to and from activity locations is long (potentially up to two miles).

There is approximately one young single adult counselor for every 10 youth. Counselors are trained in FSY program activities and youth protection principles but are not otherwise trained or qualified to provide assistance in administering medication; addressing mental, emotional, or behavioral health conditions; or fulfilling the basic personal needs of participants such as dressing, grooming, toileting, showering, or feeding.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS FOR FSY YOUTH PARTICIPANTS

Youth participating in FSY should be able to:

  1. Take care of their basic personal needs (examples listed above) and independently participate with little, if any, one-on-one support.
  2. Hold and administer prescription medication independently.
  3. Follow basic instructions.
  4. Act respectfully toward others.
  5. Independently reside overnight with youth of the same sex.
  6. Navigate campus when not under direct supervision.
  7. Follow the FSY principles and standards of conduct.
  8. Otherwise safely participate in FSY activities.

CONTACT US

If you have any questions regarding accommodations, please contact FSYAccommodations@ChurchofJesusChrist.org. If you wish to speak to someone to help explain how to request an accommodation, please call 1-801-240-3009 ext. 2 (United States). This line is available Monday-Friday, 8:00a.m. - 5:00p.m. MT.

If you are requesting an accommodation for dietary, disability, medical, or other needs, you must include the following information:

  • your name;
  • the specific session you plan to attend;
  • a description of the accommodation sought; and
  • the name, phone number, and email address of your bishop.

Please contact us at the above email as soon as possible and at least 30 days prior to your FSY session.

The Church is committed to its efforts to accommodate the needs of youth where reasonably possible. As a religious program, FSY is exempt from many accessibility laws. However, we will do our best to find ways to help you participate when you give us adequate notice and if we believe, at our discretion, that you can perform the essential functions necessary to the FSY experience and if we can provide an accommodation without:

  • compromising the safety of participants,
  • creating undue hardship on FSY staff, or
  • fundamentally altering the nature of the program.

Giving us adequate time to communicate helps us significantly. Failure to request an accommodation during registration or via email as soon as possible and at least 30 days prior to your session may result in FSY staff being unable to review a request in time to plan and arrange for an accommodation. Participants who arrive at a session in need of an accommodation that was not appropriately prearranged may not be able to check in at FSY and may be sent home or required to check out each night rather than stay overnight during FSY.

Please contact FSYAccommodations@ChurchofJesusChrist.org with questions or accommodation requests.

*The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a Utah Corporation Sole