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YMCA's special needs members shape up

Bonita facility offers user-friendly machines

By KEVIN JOHNSON (Contact)

Friday, March 2, 2007

Diane Dix is sore.

She's not mad, but she's sore all right.

In fact, the 52-year-old Naples resident is glad her shoulders ache.

"It's a good sore. I haven't had that kind of good muscle sore in a long time," Dix said Tuesday night before starting her workout at the Bonita Springs YMCA.

Multiple sclerosis has forced Dix into a wheelchair, but her drive to remain active is as vibrant as her bubbly personality.

Photo by KEVIN JOHNSON / Banner

With assistance from staff member Colleen Hussey, John O'Lalor works out Tuesday night at the Bonita Springs YMCA on Kent Road. The facility's FreeMotion equipment accommodates all members, including those with special needs.

So five weeks ago, when Dix discovered that she could use the same exercise machines at the YMCA afforded to anyone else, she quickly signed up. To boot, Dix receives complimentary one-on-one sessions twice a week with the YMCA's Colleen Hussey.

"I couldn't be happier," said Dix.

The YMCA only has a few members with special needs and currently doesn't offer group programs, but that could change if more participants join.

"We are exploring the opportunity of developing various special needs programs. Right now we're in the infant stages of seeing what the needs are within our community," said Executive Director Ryan Smiley.

Potential programs include fitness, basketball and aquatics. Most of the tools are already in place.

"Our zero-depth entry pool makes it very functional for anybody to get into the water," said Smiley.

In the fitness center, FreeMotion machines allocate flexibility so that anyone - including those in wheelchairs like Dix- can work their legs, arms and other areas. Swiveling grips allow users to work their muscles in front of a machine or on the side.

"The machines enable us to provide training to special needs participants," said Smiley. "Traditional equipment doesn't have the flexibility that this FreeMotion provides."

And it's more motion that Dix has generated in her arms and shoulders since she started working with Hussey.

"She's helped me get a lot of that range in motion back," said Dix.

The partnership never would have materialized had someone from the YMCA not spoken up when Dix visited the facility with her husband.

"My husband wanted to get a membership. I didn't think there was much I could do here," said Dix.

But before the Dixes left, a YMCA staffer told her about how FreeMotion machines can accommodate those with special needs.

"I came back the next day," said Dix, "and I've been coming ever since."

A smiling Irishman from Boston has been attending the YMCA for more than a year. John O'Lalor, 60, needs a wheelchair to move around, but his maneuverability with the FreeMotion machines isn't hampered.

Like Dix, O'Lalor exercises twice a week under the guidance of Hussey. While other members sweated away on nearby step machines, O'Lalor performed arm and leg curls Tuesday.

"He's improved so much," said Hussey.

O'Lalor said the machines at the YMCA here allow him to do exercises that he was unable to do at facilities in Boston.

Perhaps in the future O'Lalor and Dix will have more company.

"It's been so productive for John and Diane that we're interested in seeing if there are any other needs out there," said Smiley.

"I'd really like to expand on this and seek from the community other individuals who may have those kinds of needs so that maybe we can help them here," added fitness coordinator Steven Slachta. "That's what the Y is. We have a very close family and we really like to help people."