In this episode of Parenting Impossible, Annette explores a growing trend in fitness tailored for individuals with diverse abilities with guest Karen Hurley, a physical therapist and strength and conditioning specialist. With over two decades of expertise, Karen, who holds a bachelor’s degree from Brown University and a master’s from Boston University, shares the concept of adaptive and inclusive therapy. As the founder of A.I.M. Therapy in Needham, Massachusetts, Karen uses a comprehensive approach to fitness, offering CrossFit and functional fitness sessions specifically designed for kids, teens, and adults with autism, ADHD, processing challenges, and anxiety. A.I.M. Therapy provides families access to fitness classes prioritizing inclusivity and personalization, ensuring a supportive environment where everyone can thrive.
Annette and Karen explore Karen’s career as a physical therapist and what inspired her to found A.I.M. Therapy. She shares how CrossFit can be an inclusive and adaptable activity. Karen takes a specialized approach to CrossFit, catering to individuals with autism, ADHD, processing challenges, and anxiety by adapting the program to their needs. Karen shares her experience with Unified Sports and the Special Olympics and how A.I.M. Therapy has evolved, emphasizing inclusivity and community in every session. Finally, she offers resources others can use to bring this type of fitness to their communities.
Annette and Karen cover further in-depth:
- A.I.M. Theray’s core values include accept, include, move, community, and joy.
- Karen’s classes are in a scaled environment, which allows her to create smaller class sizes.
- CrossFit is an excellent exercise for individuals with different abilities because the functional movements mirror life actions at relatively high intensity that continuously vary.
- Resources for bringing adaptive and inclusive fitness to your community include Autism Fitness and Adaptive & Inclusive Trainer certifications.
Karen Hurley is devoted to helping individuals with disabilities, or neurodivergence find movement methods that work for them and help them stay active with her innovative A.I.M. Therapy programs.
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