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The Beginning

1/30/2017

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It has been almost five years since I founded Specialty Athletic Training. This morning as I browsed through my phone to look for a photo to post on Instagram, I couldn't help but think about the reason why I created Specialty Athletic Training. Every picture reminded me of the first boy that introduced me to the world of autism nearly ten years ago and who would end up changing my life forever. 

He was a boy that kept to himself, but could tell you anything you wanted to know about Disney movies (voice cast lists, dates movies were released, etc). He had a few foods that he loved, and a lot that he despised. He loved to watch SpongeBob SquarePants, but would rewind and fast forward to watch his favorite scenes over and over again. He was my introduction to the world of autism. 

The boy's name was Benjamin. I was hired to be his 1:1 aide, or as he referred to the position his "worker". I quickly realized that he experienced the world in a completely different way than I did. He experienced the world in a black and white type of way, which is tough when others around you don't. We had to teach him social norms and how his actions affected others. That you can't stare at a girl because you find her nice to look at. That when you go to the restroom, you can't go to the closest urinal if someone  is using the stall next to it because of the unspoken "stall buffer" rule. 

I also learned that society had placed their unfair lower expectations for him because he was "different". He would have behaviors in school that were fueled out of frustration and confusion, which would result in holding him to a different standard than his peers. For example, Ben would only run two laps around the gym for a warm up in PE, as his peers would run four. I knew he could physically run more, but I didn't see why two laps was the point where he would consistently begin to have melt downs and need redirection in PE class. To figure it out, I looked at the situation in a way that I learned from working with Ben and my training, there is always a trigger behind a behavior. So, what was happening at that two lap mark that would cause him to get agitated? One word, sweat.

That's right. It was sweat that caused Ben to feel so uncomfortable that he would flop on the floor and scream for a period of time. But why? It freaked him out and rightfully so. What is sweat? Why is this happening to my body? These were some of the unanswered questions that raced through his head. After explaining the process of thermoregulation, Ben understood what was happening to his body. Sweating still isn't his favorite thing, but he no longer becomes anxious when he sweats.

​ As time went on and we continued to exercise at school and at home, Ben started verbalizing other feelings in his body that he was unsure about. "Ryan, my legs they feel weak" and "Ryan, my heart feels like it is coming out of my chest" are just a couple of examples. This experience became the reason that I created Specialty Athletic Training in 2012, where Ben was our first client.

​Fast forward to the present day, we have now trained over 200 individuals of various ages and disabilities, that like Ben, had previously had negative experiences with exercise. Reflecting on this growth and our recent expansion, gets me excited for the future and our ability to provide the same opportunity to the next 200 clients.
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Do You What You Love

1/23/2017

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Andrew Traver began volunteering with Specialty Athletic Training in 2012 as a peer mentor. Fast forward four years later, he is a lead trainer and has over 4,000 hours of experience working with our clients. I recently asked him why he loves his job. Here is what he had to say. 
Being able to create a fun, interactive environment while at the same time providing one of a kind workout experience has led me to love my job. I am able to do two things that have always been important to me, being physically fit and helping others in their pursuit for a healthier lifestyle. These two come together perfectly at Specialty Athletic Training and is  why I enjoy it so much.  

As I begin my morning commute to one of our Specialty Athletic Training locations , the last thing I feel I am doing is going to work. Having been heavily involved in physical fitness for most of my life, I understand that working out may sometimes not be at the top of everyone’s list of fun. Given that, I know that my job goes far beyond writing up a workout.

Each one of our clients is unique and comes to train at Specialty Athletic Training for different reasons. Most have had some sort of negative experience with fitness in the past and avoid physical activity. I enjoy being the change and catalyst in this area of their lives. 

I have an opportunity to interact on a personal level with our clients and create a positive connection with healthy living that they've never had before. Each day I am not only challenged with creating an individualized workout, but also cultivating a fun atmosphere that ends with a smile on a client’s face. I want clients to feel like they are doing more then just working out. They are obtaining new knowledge, learning more about themselves, forming friendships, and all at the same time giving them something to look forward to!

To me, that is what working at Specialty Athletic Training is all about. Providing a fun and inclusive environment for all of our clients and teaching them to enjoy their fitness journey. Being given the opportunity to be a positive influence in each one of our clients' lives and seeing the impact that Specialty Athletic Training has been able to and continues to make, has truly been a blessing. That is why I love what I do. 

Andrew Traver, CSCS
​Lead Trainer
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    About the Author

    Ryan Lockard, CSCS*D, CSPS*D is the Founder and CEO of Specialty Athletic Training. He is accredited by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a Certified Special Populations Specialist. Lockard is a member of the board of directors for the Autism Society of America and the advisory board for the NSCA Oregon chapter.
    ​Ryan has worked with individuals with disabilities since 2007 and has over 10,000 hours of 1:1 instruction working with individuals of various ages and diagnoses. 

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