Quality of Life Grants Spotlight: Move United

Staying active and engaged in sports or fitness activities benefits people's mental and physical well-being. During the beginning of COVID-19's impact on social activities, Move United recognized the need to provide adaptive fitness classes whenever or wherever possible. Therefore, in September of 2021, Move United founded Move United OnDemand, adaptive fitness classes.

Dave Simonson, Development Director of Move United, explained why there is a need for the OnDemand program,"Many people do not live near in-person adaptive sports programs or do not have access to a gym, making in-home quality adaptive fitness programming vital. In addition, in-home digital fitness programming is much easier to access as it requires no travel and offers the flexibility of being available anytime. Unfortunately, current commercially available online fitness platforms do not allow people with disabilities to search for workouts with specific adaptations. A small minority have representation from an instructor with a disability, but this is more visual than substantive modifications to the workout. OnDemand offers a wide variety of adaptive sports fitness classes, taught by some of the country's best adaptive fitness instructors, making health and fitness classes available to an individual with a disability whenever they want from wherever they are."

Dave, a retired US Air Force Sergeant and three-time Ironman Triathlon finisher has a brother who has a spinal cord injury, uses a wheelchair, and is an adaptive athlete. For Dave, OnDemand gives him the chance to help those with disabilities" experience the life-changing power of adaptive sports and fitness."

The Move United OnDemand program, funded by the Reeve Foundation's COVID-19 grant of $34,225, provides free, digital access to a vast selection of adaptive sports and fitness classes led by adaptive instructors. Specifically, classes were developed for individuals with spinal cord injuries by instructors with spinal cord injuries. However, the platform, found on Move United's website, is inclusive and engages people of all abilities, sizes, or shapes.

Finding the time to squeeze in a workout can be challenging. OnDemand instructors realize people may have time constraints. However, recognizing that any time spent engaging in sports or fitness is vital to a person's overall health, OnDemand offers yoga, dance, HIIT, strength, or cardio classes that range from 10 to 45 minutes. The wide range of classes, length of time, and ease of accessibility create an engaging opportunity to stay fit. Also, since there are options for times and classes, getting or staying in shape is a realistic goal.