In an unassuming strip mall in a suburb west of Richmond lies a small but important slice of the community. It’s called River City Inclusive Gym. Their mission is to answer two very important but often neglected needs in the disability community: the need for recreation, exercise and movement; and the need for social opportunities.

Here, children over two years old, teens, and adults, who “happen to have disabilities,” can have a safe space to build muscle mass, improve coordination, and boost confidence while “making friends and having fun” through group gymnastics classes and fitness training.

Participants cannot age out of the program, which is an important point, because finding services for adults with disabilities can be more challenging. Gym members have a wide variety of physical and cognitive disabilities. They receive one-on-one instruction as they work their way through an obstacle course made specifically with their needs and abilities in mind.

But this idea might never have taken off if it weren’t for founder and CEO Mike McGrath seeking opportunities while his nephews were enrolled in gymnastics.

One of the first things Mike did was observe preschool classes to see how new skills were introduced to students. From sliding to using monkey bars to swinging (and almost everything else children do on the playground), he quickly noticed students often learned new skills best when they received one-on-one instruction. Typically, not having this kind of direct instruction available in a traditional school setting has put kids with disabilities at a social disadvantage early on. They can end up missing out on both physical and social interaction with their peers.

Mike also really liked the obstacle course model because it offers lots of variety with no waiting around. He could design courses where kids could learn skills that are transferrable to the playground, and he could have several people going through the course at one time.

His pilot class took place at that same gym with only four people – three former students and one of his nephews. After six weeks, it was evident that both the parents and kids loved this one-of-a-kind opportunity, and the word spread. His gym and his clientele have been growing ever since.

Families express a lot of enthusiasm and gratitude for the opportunities the gym has created for their loved ones. “River City Gym has been a game changer for special needs children who have issues getting going or being active,” says Mike Depersis, Manager – Cyber Security Operations. His son Andrew, 14, is part of the RCIG community. “Coach Mike has been able to tailor workouts for my child to help improve strength, confidence, and mobility. Over the last three years, my child has gone from hating being active to asking to go to the gym.”

Samantha Costanzo, daughter of Sal Costanzo, Lead Systems Software Engineer – Mainframe System Administration, has volunteered with River City for several years, helping with the clients and helping write grants for the gym. She is an occupational therapist at Children’s Hospital in Richmond, VA, and she regularly refers her own patients to the gym. “I just love that there’s this opportunity for kids and adults of all abilities to take part in a group fitness program that they otherwise would not be able to join due to physical or cognitive limitations,” Samantha says. “It provides them with a safe space to exercise and socialize with others in a way that helps enhance their strength, endurance, and confidence, which then carries over into all other aspects of their lives.”