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KidiConnect


Down Syndrome Awareness Month: Understanding, Supporting, and Celebrating the Down Syndrome Community
In the 1980s, the National Down Syndrome Society – alongside dedicated organizations and advocates – successfully led efforts to have October proclaimed as Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Thanks to their advocacy, October now serves as a time to celebrate the remarkable abilities, talents, and contributions of individuals with Down syndrome while fostering understanding and inclusion within our communities. What is Down Syndrome? Down syndrome, first identified by Dr. Jérôme L
kcapuano7
Oct 17, 20252 min read


Meet Kidisthenics' President: Ryan Bigelow
When Ryan Bigelow became Chief Operating Officer of Kidisthenics Fitness Company in 2024, he was just 22 years old. His journey to the role began in an unlikely place: the martial arts studio.
kcapuano7
Sep 18, 20253 min read


Why Crossing the Midline Matters for Individuals with Autism
Everyday activities – writing, reading, walking, running, or buttoning a shirt – often feel automatic. Coordinating both hands to slip the button on a shirt through its loophole goes without a second thought. Alternating between each arm and leg when going for a morning jog doesn’t require a conscious effort. That ease comes from bilateral coordination, the brain’s ability to let the left and right sides of the body work together in a controlled, coordinated way. Crossing tha
kcapuano7
Aug 15, 20252 min read


HARBR App Launching Soon to Support Developmentally Disabled Individuals in Emergencies
In early 2025, devastating wildfires tore through Los Angeles, displacing over 200,000 families. But for some, evacuation never came. Rory Sykes , a 32-year-old who was born blind and had cerebral palsy, lost his life in a burning cottage before firefighters could reach him. In Altadena, 67-year-old Anthony Mitchell Sr. , a wheelchair-dependent amputee, died alongside his son Justin, who had cerebral palsy, while they waited in vain for emergency services to assist in their e
kcapuano7
Jul 28, 20253 min read


How Sensory-Informed Training Supports Regulation and Engagement in Individuals with ASD
Client engaging in energy-release resistance band movements. Tito Rajarshi Mukhopadhyay began writing “ The Mind Tree ” when he was just eight years old , chronicling his experience growing up minimally verbal with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Thanks to his mother’s early efforts to teach him to read and write, Tito communicates with remarkable clarity through written word – laying bare the internal experience living with autism. In one passage, he describes feeling “s
kcapuano7
Jul 14, 20254 min read


Rhythmic Movement Training Explained: How Repetitive Motion Supports Regulation and Growth
Rhythmic Movement Training is a reflex integration method based on the natural, rhythmic movements that babies typically perform before birth, in the first months of life, and while learning to crawl and walk. Today, RMT is used to support individuals with autism, ADHD, anxiety, sensory processing challenges and learning disabilities.
kcapuano7
Jun 27, 20254 min read


Sensory-Friendly Gym Design: Behind the Scenes Look at the Kidisthenics El Centro Facility
On May 7, Kidisthenics officially opened the doors to its first-ever physical location: a 4,200-square-foot space designed to serve as a hub to our high-intensity fitness programs. While the Kidisthenics El Centro facility provides a high-energy, engaging environment to build physical fitness – it is also intentionally designed to work toward promoting greater motor control, emotional regulation and independence in our clients.
kcapuano7
Jun 13, 20256 min read


Primitive Movement Training for Autism: What it is and How it Helps
Primitive movement training supports individuals with autism by reintroducing foundational motor patterns like crawling and climbing to strengthen neural connections. These movements help improve coordination, sensory processing, and emotional regulation by addressing retained primitive reflexes that may hinder development.
kcapuano7
May 16, 20254 min read


Building Confidence in Teens With Autism: Noah Roggin’s Journey to Leadership at Kidisthenics
When Noah first came to Kidisthenics, he and his family were seeking a way to boost his physical fitness – and ultimately, his self-confidence. Enna hoped physical activity would help him feel more capable and proud of his achievements. For Noah, however, starting a new program was intimidating.
kcapuano7
Apr 30, 20255 min read


Kidisthenics Set to Host Grand Opening of Imperial Valley Physical Location on May 7
On May 7, Kidisthenics will officially open the doors to its first-ever indoor gym – located in Imperial Valley. The 4,200-square-foot space is thoughtfully designed to support individuals with autism through high-intensity, sensory-friendly movement.
kcapuano7
Apr 23, 20253 min read


Benefits of Fitness for Individuals with Autism
When you engage in a workout, your breathing deepens, and your heart rate rises—delivering a surge of oxygen and nutrients throughout your body and to your brain. This increased circulation fuels cognitive function and triggers the release of powerful neurotransmitters like dopamine and endorphins. Commonly known as the brain’s “feel-good” chemicals, these neurotransmitters promote the sense of relaxation, clarity, and accomplishment you may feel following physical activity.
kcapuano7
Apr 1, 20254 min read


Meet Kidisthenics' CEO: Arlene Lopez Martinez
Just two months shy of her second birthday, Arlene Lopez Martinez was involved in a devastating crash caused by a drunk driver. In an instant, her father, mother, and younger brother were gone—leaving her as the sole survivor. Taken in by relatives, she was quickly moved from her family’s home in Mexicali to San Diego, California. The only connections to her past were the stories passed down to her–tales of her father’s success as an attorney and her mother’s decorated soccer
kcapuano7
Feb 4, 20253 min read


The Science Behind Our Methods
At Kidisthenics, we empower individuals with autism to overcome social, cognitive, and physical barriers through our high-intensity movement programs. By tailoring each session to the unique needs of our clients, we help build emotional strength, self-confidence, and critical life skills that enable greater independence and integration into their communities. Our innovative approach blends Primitive Movement Training, Rhythmic Movement Training (RMT), Sensory-Integration Trai
kcapuano7
Dec 30, 20248 min read
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