2023 Impact Report
Education
Educating Individuals and Organizations on Fundamentals and Theories of Inclusive and Adaptive Fitness
The revisions and additions to the AdaptX course and the dissemination of new educational content has been a central focus of our organization’s efforts over the past year. We have experienced positive traction sharing the curriculum of the course at the University of Michigan, Arizona, Massachusetts, Colorado, and Arizona State, among others. However, the most recently published version of the course allows for a more comprehensive review of the fundamentals of adaptive fitness, now being offered completely asynchronously and self-paced; while still providing coaches with the opportunity to engage with our staff directly so we can guide you through the development of your inclusive programs. This format will allow us to scale and reach more health and fitness professionals.
Co-designed Three Graduate Level Courses for Education Professionals with Tim Morris, MEd
Tim Morris, MEd
Thank you to Tim Morris for collaborating with us to create three graduate-level courses for Physical Education teachers through Advancement Courses, an online continuing education company that has recently been acquired by Teaching Channel. To learn more about Tim and his impact on the disability space, listen to AdaptX Podcast #006, “Perspective, Perseverance, and Patience: Tim Morris on Life with SCI".
The Teaching Channel Talks
In an engaging conversation with Dr. Wendy Amato of the Teaching Channel, we were able to provide listeners with a relevant exploration of the intersection of education, fitness, and inclusivity while promoting the AdaptX mission.
AdaptX Podcast
This year, we recorded and produced twenty-five episodes of the AdaptX Podcast featuring a wide variety of guests within the inclusion and fitness space. The podcast has not only led to valuable connections with our guests but has also aided us in creating diverse content to supplement the AdaptX Course and share with our audience.
Check out this year’s 25 episodes below.
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![Promotional graphic for the adaptX podcast featuring a smiling woman in a wheelchair flexing her biceps, with text overlay about a podcast episode titled 'Excellng after a SCI' with Jessi Stracham.]()
Jesi Stracham
#001 - Excelling After SCI
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![Podcast cover featuring a Paralympic athlete in a wheelchair competing in a race, with the podcast title 'adaptX podcast' and episode information about Paralympic aspirations and advocacy in New Zealand.]()
Jaden Movold
#002 - Paralympic Aspirations and Advocating for a More Accessible New Zealand
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![Cover image for a podcast episode about accessible spaces and communities, featuring social media and audio platform icons, with a logo of a person in a wheelchair and a circular accessibility symbol.]()
Roll Mobility
#003- A Mobile Solution for Discovering Accessible Spaces and Communities
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![Zach is wearing a black Precision Hydration shirt and a backward hat holding onto his green Ku Cycle bike.]()
Zachary Josie
#004- “Becoming the Fastest Athlete with Dwarfism”
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![Podcasts screen shows Austin Roth standing on a winner's podium holding a plaque at a fitness competition, with another man standing nearby. Spectators are in the background. Text highlights 'Disability Identity in Sport' with Austin Roth.]()
Austin Roth
#005 - Disability Identity in Sport
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![A man sitting in front of a computer wearing a baseball cap and a red shirt. There is a large blue and red logo on the wall behind him.]()
Tim Morris
#006- Perspective, Perseverance, and Patience: Tim Morris on Life with SCI
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![A podcast promotional graphic featuring a smartphone screen displaying the Equip Products podcast episode about inclusive adaptive fitness solutions. The background shows a man in a wheelchair exercising in a gym.]()
Equip Products
#007- Incremental Accessibility: Designing Adaptive Solutions for the Fitness Industry
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![A man with a beard, tattoos, and wearing a black cap and a branded t-shirt, sitting in a wheelchair, speaking into a microphone during a podcast recording.]()
John McKenzie
#008- 17 Years Later: Normalizing Disability and Finding Faith After Injury
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![A woman with short brown hair smiling and wearing a reflective emergency blanket, during an outdoor event. Text indicates it is a podcast titled 'Running Her Own Race' with Mary McManus on endurance sports, resilience, and life with post-polio syndrome, available on various platforms.]()
Mary McManus
#009- Running Her Own Race: Mary McManus on Endurance Sports, Resilience, and Life with Post-Polio Syndrome
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![Poster advertising a podcast titled 'Models of Inclusion with Inclusive Sport Design,' featuring Michael Woods of ISD, available on Spotify, Amazon, Google, and Apple Podcasts, with logos of Inclusive Sport Design, adapt X, and a blue icon of a human figure with outstretched arms.]()
Inclusive Sport Design
#010- Models of Inclusion with Inclusive Sport Design
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![Podcast cover for 'Applying Lived Experiences to Coaching and Competing' with Evan Schwerbrock, featuring a photo of a man in a gym setting, with podcast platform icons at the bottom.]()
Evan Schwerbrock
#011 - Applying Lived Experiences to Coaching and Competing with Evan Schwerbrock
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![Promotional podcast cover featuring a smiling man wearing sunglasses and a black shirt. The background shows a crowd at a marathon or running event. The podcast title is 'adaptX podcast,' episode 12, titled 'Promoting High Performance and Community in Fitness and Endurance Sports,' with host Terence Reuben. Logos of My Team Triumph and streaming platforms like Spotify, Amazon, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts are also visible.]()
Terence Reuben
#012 - Promoting High Performance and Community in Fitness and Endurance Sports
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![Podcast cover art featuring the title 'adapt x podcast' with the subtitle 'Rewriting the Narrative on Training Diverse Populations' and the guest Brad Clark, with a photo of him smiling and sitting with a golden retriever dog inside a gym.]()
Brad Clark
#013 - Rewriting the Narrative on Training Diverse Populations with Brad Clark
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![A person in a wheelchair playing wheelchair basketball with a ball in an indoor gymnasium, with other individuals in the background.]()
Georgia Carmichael
#014 - The Role of Sport in Facing Terminal Illness featuring Georgia Carmichael
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![Sam. a left leg amputee, is running on a track with a grass field in the background.]()
Sam Schaefer
#015 - “How Losing My Leg Helped Me Find My Purpose”
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![Promotional graphic for the adaptX podcast featuring Gina Campbell, episode 016, on systems and strategies for accessible functional fitness, available on various podcast platforms.]()
Gina Campbell
#016 - Systems and Strategies to Make Functional Fitness Accessible with Gina Campbell
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![Promotional graphic for a podcast episode titled 'Improving Health and Fitness Resources for Amputees' with Bob Mitchell, featuring a black and white photo of a person sitting on stairs with a prosthetic leg, and logos for AdaptX Podcast and Inspirations Fitness.]()
Bob Mitchell
#017 - Improving Health and Fitness Resources for Amputees
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![A man in a wheelchair smiling at a service dog wearing a blue vest with a PADS logo, standing in a modern building lobby.]()
Brad McCannell
#018 - Defining Accessibility with Industry Leader Brad McCannell
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![Promotional graphic for the adaptX podcast featuring Tony Jacobsen. The image shows Tony Jacobsen holding a book titled 'Disable Your Disability' with a background of smiling people. The graphic includes text about building independence and inclusive communities through shared lived experience, and mentions the episode number and date.]()
Tony Jacobsen
#019 - Building Independence & Inclusive Communities Through Shared Lived Experience
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![Podcast promotional poster for adaptX episode 20 featuring Dane Stair, discussing applying the social model of disability to adaptive training environments, with a smiling man in a black polo shirt with a logo.]()
Dane Stair
#020 - Applying the Social Model of Disability to Adaptive Training Environments with Dane Stair
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![Two men shaking hands, smiling, at a podcast event, with a YMCA sign in the background. One man is wearing glasses and a light gray jacket, the other is in a black long-sleeve shirt with YMCA logo.]()
Tim Alexander
#021 - "We Just Need It To Be Possible" - Emmy Award Winning Speaker, Tim Alexander, On the Role of a Growth Mindset in Recovery
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![A person in a wheelchair smiling, wearing a colorful patterned shirt against a plain background with the text 'adaptX podcast' and 'A Trailblazer in Accessibility for Tech Giants: Jake Hytken's Journey in Inclusive Strategy and Design'.]()
Jake Hytken
#022- A Trailblazer in Accessibility for Tech Giants: Jake Hytken’s Journey in Inclusive Strategy and Design
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![A female endurance athlete smiling and holding an American flag behind her. She is wearing a black athletic outfit, a red cap, and a medal around her neck. The background features a podcast logo and event text.]()
Becca Pizzi
#023 - Running the Seven Continents: Becca Pizzi on Life as a Leader in Endurance Sports
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![Two smiling people holding a tray of breakfast sandwiches in a cafe.]()
Mackenzie Edinger
#024- The Advantages of an Inclusive Workforce with Mackenzie Edinger of Inclusion Coffee Company
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![Two men smiling, one wearing a red hoodie with a white logo and sunglasses on his cap, the other wearing a dark shirt with a green logo, both standing behind bicycles. Two children in front, one in a black beanie and the other in glasses and a blue beanie. The text overlay reads: "Our Approach to Training for the 2024 Boston Marathon: My Coach, Steve Sinko" and "adaptX podcast."]()
Steve Sinko
#025- Our Approach to Training for the 2024 Boston Marathon: My Coach, Steve Sinko
Remote Coaching Platform
Assembling a coaching staff that represents and understands the adaptive athletes we aim to serve. Creating an accessible remote training platform to increase participation and performance.
2024 Projects
Assessing the Accessibility of Road Races
Scaling a nationwide assessment of the inclusion and accessibility of endurance events to determine common shortcomings. Creating resources to help race directors address them.
Back in May, Jacob and I qualified for the 2024 Boston Marathon by running Martha Vineyard in 2:55:10.
We will be using the opportunity to fundraise for AdaptX and share our training along the way.
Unified 5k Series
Packaging the systems and strategies of the Unified 5k to expand our event to different communities around the country.
Guide Database
Building an online database of individuals eager to support the needs of those with intellectual and physical disabilities so that adaptive athletes can consistently train and compete.
The 2024 Boston Marathon
AdaptX Ambassador Program
Zachary Josie
In July, our AdaptX Ambassador, Zachary Josie, became the first athlete with Dwarfism to finish a 70.3 IRONMAN distance triathlon in Augusta, Maine. We are lucky to support Zach as he works towards new goals athletically and to help him share his knowledge of inclusion in the endurance space.
Listen to AdaptX Podcast #004, “Becoming the Fastest Athlete with Dwarfism”, to learn more about Zach’s journey as an athlete with Dwarfism.
2023 AdaptXpo and 5K
On Friday, June 2nd, we welcomed twelve amazing vendors to our facility in Lancaster, MA for the inaugural AdaptXpo. These vendors displayed strategies to make spaces and services accessible, technology to measure health and performance, and products to improve your running.
The next day, on June 3rd, we had more than 200 participants walk, run, roll, and row our 5th annual Unified 5K. We are grateful to all of the companies and local business that made the expansion of our annual event possible. It is a privilege to provide the community with the opportunity to engage in an inclusive and accessible race.
Thanks to the generous contribution of The Hoyt Foundation, we’ve been able to outfit a facility with state-of-the-art equipment to conduct research projects that revolve around improving health outcomes for individuals with disabilities; Cerebral Palsy and Down syndrome specifically.
2023 Publications
Accepted for Publication (Pending Minor Revisions) - “Implementation and Clinical Outcomes of Blood Flow Restriction Training on Adults with Cerebral Palsy: A Case Series.” in The Journal of Neurological Physical Therapy
Speaking Engagements
If your company or event is interested in a keynote on inclusion and accessibility in the fitness and endurance sport industry, click the button below
