The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

Fitness regime breeds confidence in disabled students

By Justin Berton

Lisa Hubbert, like many other Sunnyvale residents, caught a bad case of the workout bug this summer.

For the first time in her life, the 40-year-old developmentally disabled woman is using the treadmill, shooting hoops and lifting a few weights.

"It's helping me with my walking, and my upper-body strength," Hubbert said moments after hopping off the treadmill.

Hubbert, who has cerebral palsy and uses a cane to assist her when she walks, is just one of 32 students who participate in a new physical education class at DeAnza Community College strictly for individuals with developmental disabilities.

For the first time in 15 years, the class is being offered in conjunction with Sunnvyale's HOPE Rehabilitation Services, a center that assists individuals with developmental disabilities prepare to enter the workforce.

Individuals who live with developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy, metal retardation, autism and epilepsy are being introduced to the world of working out as a way to build self-confidence and contribute to their overall sense of well-being, HOPE vocational instructor Monica Sheirich said.

"Working out encompasses your whole sense of wellness, " Sheirich said. "This class is just the first step in doing that."

Mary Bennett, an adaptive physical education instructor for the class, said the goal is to give her students the skills to work out by themselves in any other gym.

"They will be able to go into any weight room and use it independently," Bennett said.

Since the start of the class, Bennett estimates each student has improved his or her physical coordination and cardiovascular health "by at least 100 percent."

Each hour-long class begins with a group aerobic exercise routine and concludes with a basketball game. In between, students rotate from weight machines to treadmills.

Bennett said she also hands out literature on the benefits of a healthy diet and good nutrition. Though most of the students enjoy their workouts now, getting the program off the ground wasn't as simple as walking a treadmill, Sheirich said.

First, she had to convince De Anza administrators that she could get at least 15 students to sign up for the class before they would set aside the class time. Then, she had to organize transportation services for many of the students who cannot take the bus or drive themselves.

Hiring a transportation service for clients is no easy task. With medical papers and special release forms, the process can take up to three months before shuttle vans between the HOPE center and De Anza can be secured.

All are reasons the class was unsuccessful the first time around, 15 years ago.

"You are shooting from the hip, and you hope you don't make mistakes," Sheirich said. To date, only two students have dropped out of the current program, which hopes to continue into the fall quarter--if enrollment stays up.

Between huffs and puffs on the treadmill, HOPE client Holly Sanchez said that she will continue taking the course as long as it is offered.

"It makes me walk faster," Sanchez said. And that's a good thing, too, she added. Sanchez has to catch a bus each day that takes her to her job at a pet store in the El Paseo Shopping Mall.

Patricia Calvert, an instructor with HOPE, said Hubbert's strength has increased tenfold since the class started in the spring.

Calvert said Hubbert has a big week in front of her. Aside from her Tuesday and Thursday workouts, she will be celebrating her 41st birthday and moving into her own apartment--the first time she has been able to live on her own in six years.

The physical education class, Calvert said, has had an impact on Hubbert's life that is truly remarkable.

"She no longer falls," Calvert said, shaking her head as she looked at Hubbert. "The progress is just amazing."

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, July 29, 1998.
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