00:00I see that all the time.
00:02It's somehow because we're a little different that we can't, say, run our own business or
00:10we can't follow our dreams.
00:13I started working with an applied behavior analysis company and it was at this time that
00:30I noticed that the kids that I worked with that were going through PT and OT were having
00:39the same muscle deficiencies as individuals that I saw while volunteering for Special
00:46Olympics that were in their 30s and 40s.
00:49There was a time of no activity to where they regressed so bad that their deficiencies popped
00:58back up.
00:59I just was like, you know what, I know exercise, I know personal training, I know this population,
01:06so why not give it a try?
01:21A lot of individuals with autism have gross and fine motor issues to where they're bumping
01:30into things every day.
01:32They're falling down.
01:33The majority don't get near amount the recommended physical activity they should in a week and
01:40that can do damage if they want to get a job and they can't stand on their feet for a certain
01:46amount of time.
01:47They can't lift a certain amount of weight.
01:50It can decrease just their quality of life drastically.
01:54The whole goal for this place is to get them ready to go to a typical gym because that's
02:08the goal for everybody is to have society to be inclusive.
02:12I am adapting to their needs so that the atmosphere is most inducive for them to learn.
02:23Some clients don't have very bad noise, sensory stuff, so we have music on blast.
02:30Some do, so maybe I try to increase that ability to engage with louder sounds and stuff like that.
02:41It isn't easy for a lot of people with autism and it's definitely not been easy for me,
02:57but getting them ready to be able to go to, say, a gym and be able to interact in a gym
03:04setting and being able to interact with their community, it just broadens someone's life.
03:12Since I am autistic, I truly care for the fact that these individuals become healthy
03:19and can improve their own lives because it doesn't mean anything if there's only just
03:25a few of us contributing to society and pushing the narrative.
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