The Ability Center of Southern Nevada offers specially designed physical capability programs
The Ability Center of Southern Nevada is a nonprofit organization offering a sensory gym with a structured environment. People with special needs are guided to develop their communication, motor skills, mobility, and wellness through physical fitness.
April is National Autism Month with a spectrum of varying degrees of complex developmental conditions affecting interaction, communication, and progress, including physical fitness. The Ability Center of Southern Nevada offers access to physical exercise to the special needs community, including those on the spectrum.
“It is so important for those on the autism spectrum to gain physical fitness in an environment designed to make them more comfortable and excited for exercise,” says Founder Chris Salas, a personal trainer. “We have created an imaginative gym with sensory settings to make each experience a pleasant one so that our clients on the spectrum will want to return and continue their progress.”
The Sensory Fitness Center is a unique gym with imaginative backgrounds, tailored equipment, and motivating coaches focusing on each individual’s natural abilities. Clients are guided safely through workout-style activities involving costumes, dance, music, and sports with fun lighting, inspiring themes, and backdrops. Most members with special needs will require other services such as occupational, speech, or other medical therapies.
Most members with special needs will require other services such as occupational, speech, or other medical therapies. The Ability Center of Southern Nevada does not replace those treatments but seeks to increase their effects. Sensory gyms and exercises help with fine motor skills, body awareness, and social skills as well as improve muscle strength, coordination, and balance. Sensory gyms benefit the special needs community in gaining exercise independence, improved communication, strengthening self-care habits and attention spans.
The board of directors of The Ability Center of Southern Nevada includes founder Chris Salas, a personal trainer; Desiree Jimerson, vice president of Assured Partner Consulting, certified wellness coach and licensed insurance consultant; and Sandy Marsh R.N., Utilization Review Services. Also serving on the board is Tom Boeckle, founder, former creator and chairman of the board of Square Panda; founder, PT Innovation Group (PT’s Pub); founder, chairman of the board and CEO/President of Tower Entertainment Las Vegas.
To learn more about The Ability Center of Southern Nevada, follow them on Facebook: The Ability Center of Southern Nevada, Instagram @ability_center_nv ,call (702) 525-8453 or visit www.abilitycenternv.org.
