Building Confidence in Teens With Autism: Noah Roggin’s Journey to Leadership at Kidisthenics

Movement Specialist Assistant Noah Roggin reflects on his journey toward building physical fitness and confidence through his time at Kidisthenics.

First diagnosed with autism at two years old, Noah Roggin has navigated a wide range of therapies and interventions over the years. His mother, Enna Roggin, reflects on their journey with pride, crediting Noah’s “over-achiever” mindset for where he stands today: a senior in high school excelling academically, participating in choir, theatre, and art, and serving as the president of the United Nations Club at Clairemont High School — a club he co-founded that now boasts over 40 members.

Among his many accomplishments, Noah has also embraced a mentorship role through his job as a Movement Specialist Assistant at Kidisthenics, helping support other clients with autism in their movement journeys.

On a typical Saturday morning, Noah is one of the first to arrive at Kidisthenics’ group fitness sessions. He greets movement specialists with enthusiasm, sets up equipment, and quickly jumps into the sessions, offering encouragement and hands-on support to his peers. Yet, his leadership today marks a significant evolution from when he first joined Kidisthenics a year ago.

“I’ve noticed a significant change in maturity from him,” said Kidisthenics CEO Arlene Lopez Martinez. “He’s growing into himself and starting to really like the person he’s becoming.”

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.

“The first day I joined, I was extremely nervous about what was going to happen,” said Noah.

He was soon matched with Anthony Thomé, a recent psychology graduate from Point Loma Nazarene University, for one-on-one movement sessions. Their early work centered around sports programs like basketball and kayaking, aimed at building Noah’s fitness and comfort with physical activity.

As the sessions continued, Noah found himself opening up — building both physical strength and trust in his movement specialist.

“Our relationship has evolved significantly,” said Noah. “As we went on adventures together and got to share aspects of our lives, I actually began to see Anthony as a mentor, an older brother, and possibly a friend. I tend to feel safe with Anthony because I know that he’ll always have my back.”

Through gradual encouragement, Anthony pushed Noah to expand his comfort zone. Recalling a past parkour program, where Anthony took the opportunity to encourage Noah to use the monkey bars at a playground, Noah described the experience as “liberating.”

“At a young age I saw most of my friends being able to go on the monkey bars and do tricks, which I felt really nervous about because I didn’t want to get hurt, and it held me back for a long time,” said Noah. “That was until Anthony came in there and helped me get on the bars.”

Movement Specialist Anthony Thomé and client Noah Roggin attend a San Diego Gulls hockey game as part of a Kidisthenics social outing tied to a recent field hockey program.

Their relationship grew not just through fitness, but through social outings — grabbing lunch, hiking, visiting SeaWorld, and even tackling roller coasters together.

“I often encourage him to do something that makes him a little anxious,” Anthony said. “I’ll show him how, stand right beside him as he tries it, and whether he succeeds or not, we talk through it afterward. He’s a very intellectual guy, and those conversations really help him process and grow.”

This encouragement helped shift Noah’s perspective on risk-taking.

“I used to consider myself to not be a risk taker, but nowadays I kind of think it depends on the situation I’m in. Although, I’m changing to a favorable view on taking healthy risks,” said Noah.

That shift, according to his mother Enna, has also come alongside a noticeable increase in Noah’s confidence.

“He calls Anthony his trainer and therapist,” Enna remarked. “Their sessions have given Noah the confidence to open up, and Anthony has been instrumental in helping Noah model the behavior of a 20-something-year-old, preparing him for his next steps as he gets ready to go to college. Anthony’s support and guidance has helped Noah grow emotionally, socially and physically, helping his development and preparing him for new challenges and for the next phase in his life.”

While his sessions with Anthony have helped Noah toward his goals of bettering his physical fitness and self-confidence, his position as a movement specialist assistant has played a key role in that progress as well. Recognizing his leadership potential, Arlene offered him the opportunity to assist movement specialists during sessions, set up equipment, help motivate clients, and even conduct research projects to support Kidisthenics’ expansion — all while earning an income through the Department of Rehabilitation.

Throughout his role, Noah has demonstrated a knack for understanding and accommodating the needs of the clients he has worked with – particularly those who are nonverbal. 

“I tend to recognize their needs through body positions or facial expressions,” said Noah. “My personal experiences have allowed me to connect with the kids in a unique way – I understand their struggles because I can relate to them.”

According to Noah, his job as a movement specialist assistant, and the community he has found in Kidisthenics has shaped him into a more “resilient and empathetic individual.”

"I've found a community where I can truly be myself. Being part of a group that supports and understands me is incredibly rewarding. I've made friends, learned new skills, and grown as a person." – Noah Roggin.

Looking ahead, Noah aspires to continue working with Kidisthenics, further his education and eventually pursue a career where he can help others.

“I’m committed to helping Kidisthenics grow and reach more children and families in need, and show other kids, like myself, that with hard work, we can accomplish anything we set our amazing and unique minds to,” said Noah. 

Looking back on his year in the program, Noah calls his journey one of perseverance, growth, and success. From his hesitant first day to appearing on Fox 5 San Diego to discuss his role, he has embraced every opportunity to grow and lead by example.

Noah Roggin appearing on Fox 5 San Diego to talk about Kidisthenics and his movement specialist assistant role within the company.

Today, as he prepares for high school graduation, Noah is getting ready to deliver a presentation to his communications class titled "Changing the Interpretation of People with Disabilities" — a topic that speaks to how Enna has seen her son embrace his autism with pride.

“This is his way of giving his friends a voice, and I couldn’t be more proud of him,” said Enna. “Since joining Kidisthenics, he has become more confident and self-assured. He has shown incredible compassion toward the other kids, understanding and helping them. This experience has given him a sense of purpose, as he not only relates to them but also helps give them a voice.”

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