Frequently Asked Questions

AdaptX is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Lancaster, Massachusetts, that makes fitness and sport accessible for people with disabilities. Our mission is accomplished through four programs: professional education, research, inclusive events like the Unified 5K Series as well as amputee running clinics, and grants for adaptive sports equipment. We serve two distinct but related audiences: people with disabilities who want to train and compete, and the coaches, trainers, and organizations that support them.

Yes. AdaptX Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 92-0688377), and donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. AdaptX holds Candid's 2026 Platinum Seal of Transparency, publishes annual impact reports, as well as publicly available tax returns.

AdaptX was founded by Brendan Aylward, who serves as its Executive Director. In 2016, Brendan opened Unified Health and Performance, an inclusive strength and conditioning facility in Lancaster, MA, where athletes with and without disabilities train together. Wanting to create more environments and opportunities for people with disabilities to exercise in inclusive training facilities, Brendan built the first version of the AdaptX curriculum to share what has made Unified successful. Since originally publishing the curriculum in 2020, a team of more than 30 educators have been assembled to revise and improve the educational material. Outside of the gym, inclusive running was a particular passion of Aylward’s. He has pushed his friend, Jacob, in more than 100 races as part of Team Hoyt New England. The ability to continue the work of Rick and Dick Hoyt through running chair donations, duo running demo days, creating inclusive road races with strong duo presences, and operating The Rick Hoyt Research Lab means a great deal to Brendan.

Unified Health and Performance (UHP) is an inclusive strength and conditioning gym in Lancaster, MA, and AdaptX is a separate non-profit. Both companies were started by Brendan Aylward and have a mission of making fitness accessible and inclusive for individuals with disabilities. Unified, a brick and mortar facility, accomplishes this in a specific geographic region. AdaptX carries this mission and extends the impact globally. UHP is an AdaptX-Certified Facility and serves as AdaptX's headquarters, where dozens of people with disabilities train each week.

AdaptX is headquartered at 417 Bolton Road, Lancaster, MA 01523, and runs programs across the United States. The Unified 5K Series has held races in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, and Utah.

AdaptX also works internationally through a partnership with Ability Sports Africa (ASA). ASA is based out of Gulu where the team has hosted the Unified 5k the last two years. AdaptX's online courses are available to learners in any country.

Adaptive fitness is exercise and training modified to meet the needs of people with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities. This might include adjusting equipment, different cueing and communication strategies, and finding exercise substitutions and modifications instead of excluding a client from participating.

The AdaptX approach is "understand the diagnosis, but train the individual."

Adaptive fitness describes training in a gym, training studio, or similar setting. Adaptive sports means competition or organized athletic participation in a traditional sport that may or may not be modified for an athlete with a disability. Wheelchair tennis versus tennis is one example.

Para sport is a narrower term again. It constitutes the different competitions recognized in international Paralympic competition.

Visit the Course Catalog tab underneath Education to see the price of every course we offer.

Check out the free resource, Inclusion 101, to get an idea of what the learning portal and material look like.

The Fundamentals course is essentially a bundle of about a dozen of our individual courses.

For learners who are not interested in taking the entire curriculum but want to learn about a specific topic, individual modules and courses are available for sale as well. Completing these individual courses will not earn you any of the continuing education credits.

Our courses on Osteoporosis and Spina Bifida are not included in the Fundamentals curriculum.

The Fundamentals course, which is our main curriculum, is approved for CEUs through ACE, NASM, NSCA, NCTRC, and CanFitPro.

Individual courses and modules are not CEU approved.

If you are interested in the AdaptX course and cost is a barrier, email brendan@adaptx.org.

The Fundamentals certification course is reported to have taken students 13 to 16 hours to complete.

Individual courses take 1 to 2 hours.

If you intend on taking the full CEU-approved curriculum, then the Fundamentals course has already structured the modules in the manner that we wanted.

If you are just looking for shorter or more specific learning activities, you can take whichever courses you would like. We do suggest that all learners take Inclusion 101 as a foundation.

You do not need any prior experience or certification to take the AdaptX course, just a desire to improve the health and fitness of individuals with disabilities.

The AdaptX course is considered a continuing education resource and not a substitution for a nationally accredited personal trainer licensure or fitness professional credential. After completing the course, AdaptX is not liable in any way for the services that you provide and how you apply the material. Coaches who complete the AdaptX curriculum are not covered under the AdaptX liability insurance policy.

The AdaptX course was designed with this audience in mind, but it has been completed by physical therapists, occupational therapists, adaptive PE teachers, special education teachers, and more.

If you envision yourself working with diverse clientele in a fitness or rehab environment, we believe that the material is beneficial.

Yes. There are no global restrictions to taking the AdaptX course.

Our curriculum is online and self-paced to allow us to reach a wider audience.

We are working on adding more in-person learning opportunities. At the moment, observation is always welcome at our headquarters in Lancaster, MA, where dozens of individuals with disabilities train throughout the week.

AdaptX is the intersection of literature and practical experience. The course is created by a diverse and distinguished team of more than 30 educators with practical experience training hundreds of individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities and building inclusive fitness businesses.

The Rick Hoyt Research Lab and our continuously evolving curriculum allow us to fill in the gaps in the literature as well as update the content to match the most recent research.

We are mission-driven, not profit-driven. AdaptX is a non-profit organization dedicated to making fitness accessible. The revenue model does not rely on creating a recurring revenue stream through re-certification processes and CEU requirements. Proceeds are reinvested into the community through our grant programs.

Yes. You will continue to have access to our learner portal, where you can reach the courses that you have purchased as well as a variety of other features.

Those include a certified-coaches database, future live presentations, discussion boards, job opportunities, and more.

Most adaptive fitness trainers start with a general personal training or strength and conditioning credential or university degree, then add specialized education to more effectively serve people with disabilities. The AdaptX Fundamentals Course is designed to achieve the latter.

Fundamentals is a self-paced online curriculum built by more than 30 educators. It covers principles of inclusion, universal design, characteristics of common diagnoses, and how to apply adaptive training strategies. Most learners finish in 13 to 16 hours. Hands-on experience matters too. As you work through the material, we can connect you with other AdaptX-certified trainers and observation is always welcome at AdaptX headquarters in Lancaster, MA.

An adaptive fitness certification is continuing education that prepares fitness professionals to train clients with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities. The AdaptX Fundamentals Course ends with a knowledge test and a certificate of completion. It is a continuing education credential, not a replacement for a nationally accredited personal trainer certification. If you carry a certificate through ACE, NASM, NSCA, NCTRC, or CanFitPro, you will receive continuing education credits to go towards the renewal of your certification.

The AdaptX Fundamentals Course is approved for continuing education credits through ACE, NASM, NSCA, NCTRC, and CanFitPro. It's approved for 2.5 CECS through ACE (and fulfills the ethics requirement), 1.5 through NASM, 2.0 NSCA CEUs in category C, 1.7 CEUs through the NCTRC, and 4 CECs through CanFitPro. Individual courses and modules purchased separately are not CEU-approved.

Yes. AdaptX trains organizations as well as individuals, including corporate teams, health systems, university campus recreation departments, and gyms. We offer our educational products at discounted rates for groups. To set up training for your team, email brendan@adaptx.org.

Start with three things: an accessible space, trained staff, and welcoming communication. Accessibility includes clear pathways, adjustable equipment, accessible restrooms and entrances, and room to navigate the space and transfer from a wheelchair. Staff training covers disability etiquette and language as well as how to modify exercises. Having some specialized equipment for wheelchair-users demonstrates a commitment towards welcoming these populations.

AdaptX's free Inclusion 101 course is a good first step for any fitness facility team. This course was not just designed for the fitness professional but also the front desk staff, swim instructors, and more. An inclusive and accessible experience depends on the entire team, not just a single dedicated trainer.

Inclusion 101: Disability Etiquette and Language is a free AdaptX course for fitness professionals, sport coaches, and facility staff. It shares best practices in language, etiquette, and communication.

Look for a trainer with specific education in adaptive fitness, such as an AdaptX-certified coach, and ask about their experience with your diagnosis or goals. You can find professionals who have taken our main Fundamentals course in our Find a Coach directory. Other good sources include adaptive sports organizations, referrals from your physical or occupational therapist, and local disability organizations.

Ask what prior experience they have in adaptive fitness, whether they have worked with someone with a similar diagnosis, and whether there are any accessibility barriers that may be present. A good adaptive trainer will ask about your goals first, not just your diagnosis. Don’t hesitate to ask for a tour so you can observe what adaptive equipment the facility has, how the facility is staffed, and what their membership looks like.

One other conversation that might be good to have is whether you will be able to get support from staff and trainers without necessarily having to pay a personal training rate. For example, if you need help loading a barbell or putting away equipment, will someone be present to assist?

For most people with disabilities, strength training is safe and beneficial when it is programmed for the individual. Research supports resistance training for people with a variety of physical and intellectual disabilities.

People with disabilities are more often under-trained due to a lack of opportunities, so a well-designed program should be appropriately challenging for the individual. Talk with your healthcare provider about any condition-specific precautions, such as autonomic dysreflexia after a spinal cord injury or atlantoaxial instability in Down syndrome.

Yes. Observation is welcome at Unified Health and Performance, 417 Bolton Road, Lancaster, MA 01523, where dozens of people with disabilities train each week and where AdaptX operates out of. To train there, contact Unified Health and Performance at unifiedhp.com (opens in a new tab) and info@unifiedhp.com. To arrange an observation visit, email brendan@adaptx.org.

No — we do ask applicants to list their diagnosis, but we do not require medical proof of disability.

We do ask applicants to share about their financial situation but do not require applicants to submit tax documents or other proof of income. Our goal is to make sure that this grant program has the largest impact possible, so we would prefer to support individuals who otherwise would not be able to access these opportunities due to socioeconomic barriers.

We will start with 1-year contracts and will mutually agree upon ongoing support.

If you have questions as to which grant application is correct for you, email brendan@adaptx.org.

We ask that recipients utilize the funding within the following calendar year. If you are selected during this cycle, we ask that you use the funds before the end of the next year.

We will provide you with AdaptX-branded apparel that we would love for you to wear in your community and in competition. Our marketing team will also work with recipients on strategies to communicate the impact of our grant program and if you are comfortable doing so, share your story.

AdaptX awards grants that cover adaptive sports equipment for athletes who couldn't otherwise afford it, including racing wheelchairs, running blades, sports chairs, mono skis, sleds, and more. Apply through the grant application on adaptx.org/grants. To apply, you’ll need a: personal statement, letter of recommendation, a picture of you training or competing, a quote from an equipment provider, and a written statement on your finances or a previous year’s tax return.

AdaptX grants support individuals with disabilities and the facilities that serve them. Grant categories include basic equipment, camps, or clinics for youth under 18; upgraded sports equipment for competitive athletes; and adaptive fitness equipment for inclusive gyms.

You do not need medical documentation of your disability or proof of income. AdaptX asks about your financial situation and prioritizes applicants who face socioeconomic barriers.

AdaptX grants have funded running blades, racing wheelchairs, Hoyt running chairs for duo teams, sports chairs for tennis, rugby, and basketball, handcycles, mono skis, and sleds. Past grants have also covered accessibility upgrades like ramps and bathroom renovations, physical therapy, and vehicle hand controls.

Running blade and Hoyt running chair grants are made on a rolling basis throughout the year. Our annual grant cycle opens in the fall and awards are announced in December.

Typically not. Most insurers cover prosthetics and wheelchairs needed for daily living but classify sports-specific equipment as not medically necessary. That coverage gap is a major reason AdaptX's grant program exists. Check your own plan, and ask your prosthetist or seating specialist whether an appeal or letter of medical necessity could help.

Duo running is when a runner pushes an athlete with a disability in a jogging stroller or specialized running chair, so both complete the race together as a team. Team Hoyt made duo running famous, and AdaptX's founder has raced as a duo in more than 100 road races.

Duo teams are welcome at every Unified 5K and are recognized in their own adaptive division.

If you’re local to Massachusetts, AdaptX has a Hoyt running chair loaner program. If you are not, reach out to us and we can connect you with an organization in your area. Athletes who want a running chair of their own can apply for an AdaptX grant.

Next Stride clinics are free hands-on events for people with limb loss who want to start running, build confidence in the gym, or improve everyday mobility. No running or fitness experience is required.

Participants learn the fundamentals of gait as a below-knee or above-knee amputee, try new prosthetic and adaptive technology, and practice strategies for modifying gym exercises. Clinics are led by Sam Schaefer, a below-knee amputee and fitness professional, with support from physical therapists and prosthetists. Clinics provide demo running blades so participants can run for the first time.

Anyone with limb loss is welcome, whether they are new to prosthetics or already active. Physical therapists, fitness professionals, and clinicians are welcome to observe and/or participate. Prosthetists who would like to donate their time to support our participants, can email brendan@adaptx.org or register as a volunteer through the clinic's RunSignup page.

AdaptX partners with like-minded organizations or individuals to bring Unified 5K to new cities. AdaptX provides the funding, race model, and race directing services. Local partners help with course design, the venue, volunteers, sponsors, and community outreach. To bring a race in your community, email brendan@adaptx.org.

Aides and guides should register but as a reasonable accommodation under section 504, they will not have to pay an entry fee.

The Unified 5K Series is a nationwide inclusive road race series where people of all abilities, with and without disabilities, run, roll, or walk side by side in the same event.

Races are held across multiple U.S. cities each year. Adaptive divisions are built into every race, so athletes with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities are recognized and celebrated.

Absolutely. A large share of our participants are running, rolling, or walking their first 5K.

The pace is welcoming rather than overly competitive, and the format is built around inclusion, not finish times. Whatever your pace or experience level, you will fit right in.

We do complement that environment by attracting a field of adaptive athletes who are striving for a PR.

Yes. We designed all of our courses to be wheelchair accessible.

If a course has characteristics that would require a certain level of ability and experience, such as uphill sections or sharp turns, these will be specified.

Yes. Volunteers are a huge part of what makes Unified 5K races possible, from bib pick-up and course support to helping guide adaptive athletes.

You do not need any racing or athletic experience to volunteer. Sign up through the race’s RunSignup page or reach out to the local race contact, and we will match you to a role.

Groups are welcome, and we make it easy to register together.

Reach out to brendan@adaptx.org to learn more. We will help coordinate bulk sign-up, bib assignment, and day-of logistics for your group.

The Unified 5K offers 7 adaptive divisions so athletes can compete in the category that suits them properly.

Every division completes the same course at the same event, alongside the open category of runners who do not identify as disabled.

Definitely not.

If you would like to be recognized in one of our 7 adaptive categories during the medal ceremony, we would need you to share that information during registration.

No. You can opt to be included in the open field if you do not want to be listed or included in an adaptive division.

If you have not already registered, we would recommend registering in the open category.

If you registered in an adaptive division but do not want to be eligible for winning a category award, you can email brendan@adaptx.org.

Yes. During registration you will have the opportunity to specify what type of mobility aid or adaptive equipment you plan to use.

We appreciate that the biomechanics and bioenergetics of running as a BK versus an AK athlete are significantly different, and therefore not necessarily a fair competition.

Historically we have not had a large enough amputee field size to justify separate divisions. In the future we certainly hope to. The same goes for the severity of a participant’s vision loss or neurological condition.

Registration fees are not refundable unless the event is cancelled due to weather or an unforeseen circumstance.

Registration cannot be deferred to a future year’s event.

Registration cannot be transferred to another participant.

You can edit your registration in RunSignUp, or email our team and we can modify it for you.

At the end of the race you can visit the registration table. If we have extra inventory, you may exchange it, but it is not guaranteed.

If the t-shirt deadline has not passed yet, you can email our team and we can edit your registration.

We partner with many like-minded charitable organizations and companies to make these events successful.

AdaptX is the sole beneficiary of registration and fundraising proceeds unless otherwise specified. Unified 5K Brunswick, which benefits Maine’s Adaptive Outdoor Education Center, is one example.

No. There is no fundraising obligation.

No. You can set a goal for your fundraising efforts, but you are not obligated to reach a certain amount.

There are incentives at different levels, and our peer-to-peer fundraising coordinator, Justin, can support your efforts. He can be reached at justin@adaptx.org.

Yes. If you would like to specify where your contribution goes, email brendan@adaptx.org.

Yes. AdaptX accepts gifts through donor-advised funds using its EIN, 92-0688377, through employer matching gift programs, and through direct stock donations. For help with any of these, email brendan@adaptx.org.

Donations fund AdaptX's four programs: equipment grants for athletes with disabilities, free race registration for adaptive athletes, coach education, and adaptive fitness research. To direct your gift to a specific program, email brendan@adaptx.org.

Yes. AdaptX accepts gently used adaptive sports equipment, such as racing wheelchairs, sports chairs, and handcycles, and matches it with athletes who need it. Email brendan@adaptx.org with photos and a description before shipping or dropping off in Lancaster.

Companies can sponsor individual Unified 5K races, the full series, or AdaptX programs year-round. Race and event sponsorships have different monetary levels with varying incentives. To discuss sponsorship, email justin@adaptx.org.

AdaptX speakers present on inclusive fitness, adaptive coaching, disability in endurance sport, and building inclusive organizations, for conferences, universities, companies, and fitness teams. Request a speaker through www.adaptx.org/speaking or email brendan@adaptx.org.

The Rick Hoyt Research Lab is AdaptX's research program. It studies barriers to inclusion in fitness and sport and develops best practices for adaptive fitness and inclusive events. Its findings feed directly into the AdaptX curriculum, and its posters, presentations, and published work are listed at www.adaptx.org/research.

AdaptX welcomes research partnerships with universities, clinicians, and student researchers, and gives access to adaptive athletes, inclusive events, and practicing coaches. The AdaptX team also mentors capstone projects for graduate students. To propose a collaboration, email brendan@adaptx.org.