Industry Buzz: Enhancing Fitness in the Autism Community

David Geslak began working with children with autism in 2004. A personal trainer, Geslak had never worked with children on the autism spectrum before. That was until he met Joseph*, a meeting that led to a career transition that has made an impact on the lives of children and families across the nation.

According to the National Institutes of Health, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by social impairments, communication difficulties and stereotyped patterns of behavior — though the severity ranges by individual — 1 in 88 people are estimated to be diagnosed with ASD.

As a result of these challenges, individuals with autism struggle with a few key things that may come natural to others. For example, many require visual aids to accompany verbal directions. Additionally, due to heightened sensory systems and senses, gyms and equipment can be intimidating, and in some cases, traumatic. These challenges can make exercise for children and adults with autism difficult.

When Geslak met Joseph, he was unaware that Joseph was on the autism spectrum. All Geslak knew was that their goal was to improve Joseph’s sports development. “After I physically assessed Joseph, I saw that his motor planning — skipping, hand-eye coordination — needed improvement and knew this had to be ‘fixed’ before I was going to put a basketball in his hands.”

Geslak realized that breaking down movement patterns was key. “Autism exercise is about following visual instruction,” Geslak explained. “Think of your daily ‘to-do’ list. They need this accompanied with a visual. For example, if you were going to have an individual do a jumping jack, you would want to not only say and model the exercise, but also show a picture of someone doing it.”

By drawing from these practices, Geslak was able to improve Joseph’s sports development. “After four sessions I taught him how to skip, something that his occupational therapist and teachers could not get him to do,” said Geslak. “However, the biggest contributor to Joseph’s and my success was trust and the emphasis I put on building our relationship.”

According to Geslak, his time with Joseph proved to me a turning point. “I continued to work as a personal trainer with children on the spectrum and quickly came to the conclusion that this was my calling,” he said.

A couple years later, in 2009, Geslak created the Exercise Connection DVD, an educational program that is used to educate families and professionals on the impact exercise can have on the lives of individuals with autism. Geslak also has three books, speaks on the topic, and has become a resource for individuals with autism and their families.

According to Geslak, there is an opportunity for health clubs to offer the Exercise Connection Program and be trained by Exercise Connection coaches, however, he cautioned that it isn’t the right program for every gym. “First, they have to have a staff that is capable both intellectually and emotionally for this challenging community,” he said. “Second, they have to want to do it. It has to be a part of their mission statement; to be more inclusive and want to truly change peoples lives.”

If a club would like to be more inclusive of individuals with autism, Geslak suggested they reach out to students with degrees in Special Education. “Every year thousands of students graduate in the field of Special Education,” he said. “And these students are looking to make a difference … Implementing exercise in the autism and special needs community is a big project and your club may be the ideal location.”

For more information about Exercise Connection, visit http://www.ecautism.com/.

*Last name was not provided.

Rachel Zabonick is the assistant editor for Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@clubsolutionsmagazine.com. Reach out to her about exciting events or programs your club has implemented, or to share the amazing accomplishments of a member.