Autism Health and Fitness Center

What Autism Health and Fitness Center does

Autism Health & Fitness Center (AHFC) is a private, founder-owned adaptive fitness center founded in 2014 by Adam and Dedra Leapley and headquartered at 307 Racebrook Rd, Orange, Connecticut. The company operates a sensory-friendly facility purpose-built for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other special needs, serving clients from approximately age 5 through senior adulthood. Its core methodology is the Individual Fitness Program (IFP), modeled after the Individualized Education Program (IEP) framework used in special education, which sets short- and long-term goals across core strength, upper/lower body, agility, cardio, sports skills, coordination, balance, hand-eye coordination, and gross motor skills.

AHFC generates revenue through a mix of unit-priced and recurring streams: one-on-one personal training sessions (30/45/60 minutes), group classes (Cardio Dance, Sports Club, Social Club) sold as 5- or 6-week series, membership-based access with discounted member pricing, school-district Adaptive Physical Education contracts (e.g., North Haven Public Schools), and seasonal day camps held during school breaks. Pricing is partially transparent on the website (e.g., $150/$180 for Cardio Dance series, $50/$75 for Social Club) with personal-training rates quoted on inquiry. Customer acquisition is community-led, relying on word-of-mouth, parent advocacy webinars, earned media, school partnerships, and a free initial physical assessment as the entry point; a mandatory intake process (questionnaire plus scheduled meeting) precedes enrollment.

AHFC is a program of The Kennedy Collective, a disability-services organization (evidenced by the [email protected] email domain), and maintains an advisory board drawing on Yale Child Study Center, Southern Connecticut State University, Quinnipiac University, Chapel Haven, and Planet Fitness leadership. The company employs 11–50 staff including ISSA-certified trainers with backgrounds in adaptive fitness, speech-language pathology, special education, and exercise science. Geographic reach is regional (Connecticut and surrounding areas), with no documented external funding, acquisitions, or geographic expansion in its operating history.

Name

Autism Health and Fitness Center

Legal name

Autism Health & Fitness Center

Website

https://autismhealthandfitness.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Autism Health & Fitness Center operates a sensory-friendly fitness facility in Orange, Connecticut, providing adaptive personal training, group classes, school-based adaptive PE, and day camps for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other special needs. Founded in 2014, it operates as a program of The Kennedy Collective.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Fitness Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Adaptive & Special Needs Personal Training (HSADAAAL)

Keywords

• Adaptive fitness programs
• Autism fitness services
• Sensory-friendly gym
• Adaptive physical education
• Special needs training

Headquarters

HQ city

Orange

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Personal Training Sessions: One-on-one personal training sessions with certified trainers who have backgrounds in adaptive fitness. Sessions available in 30, 45, or 60-minute durations targeting specific areas based on each member's IFP program.
2. Group Classes: Small group fitness classes including Cardio Dance, Sports Club, Social Club, and more. Classes are offered in series (typically 6-week series) with separate pricing for members and non-members.
3. Individualized Fitness Program (IFP): Comprehensive intake-based exercise program with ongoing personal training sessions. Members receive personalized programs with short and long-term goals, progress tracking, and regular updates based on sessions.
4. Adaptive Physical Education Services: Structured, organized, and personalized physical education classes conducted within schools or at the facility. All programs supervised by licensed Connecticut PE teachers.
5. Day Camps: Adaptive day camps scheduled during school holiday breaks throughout the year. Available to kids and adults, offering structured activities including fitness, sports skill development, and social connection activities.
6. Membership: Center operates as a membership-based fitness facility with members receiving benefits such as discounted class pricing compared to non-members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Autism Health and Fitness Center operates a sensory-friendly fitness facility in Orange, Connecticut that provides adaptive fitness programs for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other special needs. The center delivers Individual Fitness Programs (IFPs) modeled after IEPs, one-on-one personal training, group classes, Adaptive Physical Education services for schools, and seasonal day camps, all led by ISSA-certified trainers with adaptive fitness backgrounds.

Product overview

Autism Health & Fitness Center operates as a service-based fitness center providing adaptive fitness programs for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other special needs. The core offerings consist of Individual Fitness Programs (IFP) and One-on-One Personal Training, supplemented by group classes including Cardio Dance, Sports Club, and Social Club, plus Adaptive Physical Education services for schools, and Day Camps during school breaks. The center uses ISSA-certified trainers and creates personalized programs modeled after IEPs to track and monitor member progress.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Fitness Program (IFP) A personalized exercise program modeled after an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that evaluates each member's challenges and abilities to ensure specific goals and needs are met. Covers core, upper body, lower body, agility, cardio, sports skills, coordination, balance, hand-eye coordination, and gross motor skills. Targets individuals with autism and special needs.
• One-on-One Personal Training Personal training sessions of 30, 45, or 60 minutes led by ISSA-certified trainers with adaptive fitness backgrounds, targeting specific areas based on each member's Individual Fitness Program. Available for individuals ages 5 through senior citizens.
• Adaptive Physical Education (APE) Structured, organized, and personalized physical education classes for students with disabilities who have difficulty engaging in traditional PE settings. Conducted within schools or at the facility, supervised by licensed Connecticut PE teachers.
• Day Camps Adaptive day camps scheduled during school holiday breaks throughout the year, running from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Include fitness, sports skill development, and social connection activities. Open to kids and adults.
• Cardio Dance Class A group fitness class combining choreographed dance moves with music. Offered as a 6-week series for $150 (members) or $180 (non-members). Held Wednesdays 6:00-6:45 pm.
• Sports Club Class A group class teaching sports basics through rotating skill stations and group games, covering basketball, football, floor hockey, volleyball, and soccer. Held Mondays 5:30-6:00 pm as an ongoing 6-class series.
• Social Club

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduction in negative self-stimulating behaviors and aggressive behavior through regular fitness participation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Southern Connecticut State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with multiple touchpoints. Dr. MaryJo Archambault serves as Assistant Professor on the advisory board. Dr. Joe Bertolino serves as University President. Dr. Ruth Eren serves as Professor Emeritus and former Dorothy W. Goodwin Endowed Chair in Special Education. Dr. James MacGregor serves as Department Chair of Therapeutic Recreation. SCSU logo appears in professional affiliations.
• North Haven Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool district partnership providing Adaptive Physical Education services. North Haven Public Schools logo appears in professional affiliations section alongside AHFC branding.
• Yale Child Study CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical/academic advisory board partnership. Dr. Roger J. Jou serves as Instructor of Clinical Child Psychiatry. Dr. James McPartland serves as Associate Professor of Child Psychiatry and Psychology and Director of Yale Developmental Disabilities Clinic. Dr. Fred R. Volkmar serves as Irving B. Harris Professor and Director of Child Study Center at Yale University School of Medicine.
• Quinnipiac UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic advisory partnership. Dr. Tara J. Glennon, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA serves as Professor of Occupational Therapy and Owner of Center for Pediatric Therapy.
• CASDD (Connecticut Autism Spectrum Disorders Division)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional affiliation. CASDD logo appears in professional affiliations section indicating formal organizational partnership within Connecticut autism services network.
• The Kennedy CollectivecoreOthersParent organization affiliation. The center's email address ([email protected]) and contact information indicate AHFC is part of The Kennedy Collective organization, likely serving as a program or division.
• Chapel HavenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory board partnership. Michael Storz serves as President of Chapel Haven, which provides residential and educational services for adults with autism and developmental disabilities.
• Planet FitnessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory board partnership. Jerry Mastrangelo serves as President of Planet Fitness, bringing fitness industry expertise and potential operational knowledge to the advisory board.
• Center for Pediatric TherapyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory board partnership. Dr. Tara J. Glenon serves as Owner of Center for Pediatric Therapy, a pediatric therapy provider.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Special Strong: National adaptive personal training franchise serving individuals with autism, Down syndrome, and other special needs. Most direct comparable: same autism/special-needs personal-training model, also 1:1 and group formats, but operating at national scale rather than single site.
• Autism Fitness: Provides adaptive fitness programming and educator certification specifically for the autism community. Directly comparable methodology-focused peer — sells a system for working with autistic clients rather than running a single facility.
• Fitness for Health: Therapeutic and adaptive fitness center serving children, teens, and adults with special needs including autism. Closest single-site comparable in operating model: adaptive equipment, individualized programs, sensory accommodations.

Broad incumbents

• Special Olympics Fitness Programs: Largest global organization providing fitness and sports training for individuals with intellectual disabilities including autism. Not a single facility, but the most recognized scaled incumbent in special-needs fitness programming.
• Gersh Academy / Gersh Organization: Operates K-12 schools and services for children with autism and behavioral needs. Adjacent peer serving overlapping population but in an educational rather than fitness setting; comparable in being autism-specialized.
• Easterseals: Large national disability services nonprofit offering adaptive recreation, fitness, and therapy services across many affiliates. Comparable in serving autism and special-needs populations with structured physical programs.
• Ivy Rehab for Kids: National pediatric therapy network offering OT, PT, and speech therapy including for autistic children. Competes for the same family's therapeutic dollar with a broader service portfolio and scale.

Regional players

• Chapel Haven: CT-based provider of residential and educational services for adults with autism and developmental disabilities. AHFC advisory board partner (Michael Storz, President). Comparable population and CT footprint but residential/educational rather than fitness.

Others

• The Kennedy Collective: Parent organization of AHFC (per AHFC's use of thekennedycollective.org email domain). Provides disability and human services across CT — useful ecosystem peer and potential acquirer/funder of AHFC.

Emerging players

• Catalyst Sports Medicine: Emerging multi-site provider of sports medicine, hyperbaric, and adaptive recovery services. Partial overlap with AHFC's adaptive-physical-activity positioning but broader clinical scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Autism Health and Fitness Center