To an outsider looking in it appears to be your typical gym class. Each child in here has a special need or is related to someone with a special need.
Jacob Nachtsheim’s 12-year-old brother Alec has Down Syndrome. Nachtsheim said, "I've learned a lot about the disability stuff."
Here at the Autism Gym, Alec leads the kickball game.
Theresa Nachtsheim, Alec's Mom said, "He is running from the minute he gets here to the minute he goes home and that interaction, that energy has him feeling better-physically well, he's not going to get overweight."
Joanne Houwers the founded the Autism Gym said, "They won't know why they're running, all they know is that we're clapping for them, we're happy for them and they're smiling and running."
Houwers created the Autism Gym seven years ago, so her then 15-year-old autistic son would have a place to go not only to exercise, but to socialize as well.
"They're kind of standoffish. They don't really want to play with other people, but if the ball's coming at them, they're going to catch it and hopefully they'll throw it back," Houwers said.
Vincent Condello’s daughter Sienna has Autism. Condello said, "There's more coordination."
Condello comes to the gym once a week with his daughter. He says she interacts better and is more calm.
"Not only do the children get to exercise and socialize here, but the Autism Gym also provides a great support system for the parents," Condello said.
"I love the whole peer support. I love to talk to the other mothers," Theresa Nachtsheim said.
"We want our kids to be able to play and have a good time. We want them to swim and interact with other people and we want them to be as normal as possible and that's what I like about it," Houwers said.
The Autism Gym is free and is open to all ages. They are sponsoring a charity golf tournament on Saturday June 9 at the Orange County National Golf Course. All proceeds will go toward the program.
For more information on the Autism Gym log onto their Web site at http://www.autismgym.org/
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