Kyra kliman

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Fit Buddies

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Acknowledgements I would like to thank Freestyle Academy for helping me create this book, and the members of Buddies in Action for being so friendly and helpful to work with. Lastly, I want to thank my family and Georgia Watson for always encouraging me to follow my dreams and for supporting me in all aspects of my life.

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TAble Of Contents

Preface Introduction Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Conclusion Works Cited

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Preface e c a f e Pr

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As I began writing my paper, the biggest problem I faced was figuring out what exactly to write about. I first thought, “I could write about different disabilities and the positive and negative aspects of each disability and then compare them to each other.” After I started gathering information, I realized I knew very little about people with disabilities. Before I researched I thought that people with physical and mental disabilities could not do high-level physical activity. I never knew that one person working beside a person with disabilities could have such an impact and push them

to their full potential. Through my research I found Buddies in Action and I changed the whole theme of my paper. Instead of comparing different disabilities, I focused on the benefits of nutrition and physical fitness for young adults with disabilities. The most shocking evidence I found was that with the exception of Buddies in Action, there are not a lot of effective programs for disabled young adults. The first time I observed Buddies in Action, I was shocked to see the participants and their high level of strength and fitness. It was really moving to see these young adults working hard and sup-

porting one another. The coolest feature of this program is that everybody is so close and they are bonded like a family. I can definitely see the positive influence Jen has on the participants. When I interviewed each participant and asked about their favorite foods, they all responded with healthy food choices. After learning about Jen and her program I was really excited to write about this subject because it has transformed her clients’ lives. I’m excited to see what the future holds for Buddies in Action as it strives to eliminate the stereotypes of disabled people. 7


“I signed him up for a race and I thought he would just walk he began running” -Eric’s Dad

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Introduction

Can children and young adults with disabilities lead a more active life? Jen Pilemn, owner of Buddies in Acton in Los Altos, California describes what motivates her to help those with disabilities: First is the physical side... Eric started three years ago, and I’ll never forget grabbing his hands when he first walked into the door. My heart sank. He walked in with no muscle tone whatsoever. I had been running the program for a couple

of years, and that was the first moment I questioned myself. I thought, ‘I don’t know if I can help him.’ Three years later he’s running 5k’s and he’s doing pull ups and burpees like you wouldn’t believe. He is doing everything the rest of us

are doing and he has had the biggest physical transformation where I question myself when he started.

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a healthier life with more confidence. Frequently Buddies in Acpeople with differtion is a program ent types of disabilithat helps young adults with intellec- ties are stereotyped tual disabilities lead as being less intela healthier and more ligent, physically fit active lifestyle. This and healthy than the general population. program has workshops to educate the Many times because of their physical limicommunity on how tations they appear exercise and nutrition will help people less motivated or unwith disabilities live able to do what an

able-bodied person can do. Buddies in Action helps break this misconception by making the participants with disabilities feel better about themselves and feel stronger and more confident.

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Chapter 1 The Problem

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A family friend of mine, Bob, has Aspergers, and is often stereotyped because of his physical appearance and disability as he looks and acts differently than others; in fact, he is stereotyped in a way that some may perceive him as “mentally retarded�. This disability divides him from everyone else, and he is treated differently. When Bob tries to play sports, people think he’s weak and not able to play. Bob starts to believe what others are saying and stops trying to push himself to become better even though his family and friends support his efforts.

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“When I’m older I want to be a racecar driver” -Aoran

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People who have disabilities face many problems in day to day life. Autism, one form of disability, is a disorder caused by genetic mutations passed down in family gene pools. Autism affects the brain, and manifestations of this disorder include social impairments and often times physical weakness. There are many different opinions about people who have disabilities and their c a p ab i l i t i e s . Jen believes that children who have disabilities should start exercising at a young age and be taught proper nutrition so they will feel better and be more confident. She feels when people who have disabilities work out, they are encouraged by working beside an able-bodied person. This gives them the confidence to know

they can work out and get results. Eliminating the stereotype that people with disabilities lack the ability to get physically fit and make good choices is the first step towards changing the problem. The Department of Education has made an attempt

to provide for children with physical disabilities so they are given the same opportunities as other students. Schools have programs that help kids with educational purposes but

they’re significantly lacking in the area of physical fitness. The Rick Hansen Foundation raises awareness and funds for people with disabilities. The Foundation provides resources for schools and teachers to bring awareness about the potential of students with disabilities. This foundation, with free resources and education, is attempting to bring awareness to communities to help break down the stereotypes (“What we do�). Although this foundation is headed in the right direction, I found the most the effective way for kids with disabilities to have more confidence, while becoming physically fit and understanding proper nutrition, is to work one-on-one with another peer rather than in a group situation. 15


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Buddies in Action is a successful program with kids working together oneon-one with peers on nutrition and physical fitness. Educating the public about the value of this program is important. Working out helps increase endorphins, making people feel more positive and energetic, which has helped some kids with severe depression. Also, it has been shown that people who eat healthier notice an increase in their mood and energy level. It is com-

monly believed that medication is the only alternative for people with disabilities. However, proper nutrition can possibly reduce the amount of medication a person needs. It has been shown that a routine of exercising and a healthy diet helps people stay more focused. Buddies in Action is designed to help young adults with disabilities have the tools to work out and eat right for a lifetime.

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Support sytem Determination Physical sTRENGTH

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CHAPTER Two CHAPTER two

The Solution

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Jen Pilemn, a behavior therapist who works with kids with all different types of disabilities including, intellectual disabilities, autism, and asperger’s, started the organization Buddies in Action. After a year of working as a therapist she found she was limited in helping her clients. She wanted to focus on people who were eighteen and older to give them the skills for a healthier life, using both exercise and nutrition. Also, Jen wanted to change the stereotype to show that people who have autism and other disabilities can work out and can gain physical strength like everybody else. It may be more challenging and take longer for the people with disabilities to get results, but they can do it. She came together with FIT, a gym focused on individualized instruction, and created Buddies in Action, which has small workout sessions based on four to eight participants who are called “buddies”. The main goal of each session is to

work on each individual participant’s fitness to become stronger. Jen describes the program as A.C.T.I.O.N, “A: awareness, C: confidence, T: training, I: independence, O: opportunity, N: nutrition. Basically, the whole program is based on these concepts” (Pilemn). When I first visited the program I was drawn to the fact that all the buddies were so supportive of each other and had such a positive outlook. After observing and interviewing several participants, I realized Buddies in Action is more than just a workout; this noble organization is a support system. Aryan, a participant, said, “Jen has taught me how to run fast and ignore people who bully me. Jen has made me a stronger person on the inside and out.” Another participant, Jeremy, commented, “I’m 29. I have been going to Buddies in Action for nine years. My favorite part of Buddies in Action is they make us work hard and

are so positive and make you feel welcome as a person. Buddies in Action has taught me how to be strong and healthy. Jen makes me feel comfortable. My favorite part of exercise is biking. I love to run, do push-ups, situps – everything.’’ Spencer, another participant, talked about being a teaching buddy: “My position at Buddies in Action is to help and workout with the other buddies. My favorite sports are hockey and baseball. My favorite part of Buddies in Action is being with my friends and helping them workout (counting for them)”. After observing, I knew this program was really special because it not only helped the participants get stronger physically, but also stronger on the inside. I was also amazed how Jen has such an emotional impact on these individuals. Her contribution towards the program and the participants has changed lives. 21


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“Determination isn’t just physcial and a mindset its physical and mental strength” -unknown

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Chapter Three; Why Does It Matter?

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Jen’s main goal for Buddies in Action is to expand into other communities so more people with disabilities can be helped. She believes educating families of people with disabilities and people in communities about eating healthy and exercising will change their future. Social media is also a great way to get the message out. An example of this would be a Youtube video showing participants at Buddies in Action working out. Through Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube, the message can go viral, giving even more awareness to this issue. When people in the communities are informed and learn about different disabilities and what the

people can and cannot do, the social barrier between able bodied people and people with physical disabilities will begin to break down, and eventually they will learn to work together. Opening more programs like Buddies in Action around the country will allow people with disabilities a place to grow both physically and emotionally. This opportunity will give them the tools to go out in the world and be better able to take care of themselves and sustain employment. Buddies in Action’s main goal for their participants is to be able to do all the exercises and understand proper nutrition, eventually allowing them to work beside Jen as the par-

ticipant’s personal trainer. Jen said, “My overall goal or dream of Buddies in Action is when some of the participants are able to teach the other buddies, and that’s when I will take a step back and will be able watch them potentially do what I teach them. Eventually we will be able to give the participants who are teaching a paid job”. Community outreach groups and social media will create an awareness of a much needed service for young adults with disabilities.

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CONCLUSION

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The main goal for Buddies in Action is to support people who have disabilities and give them tools to be healthier and have more confidence, so they can live an independent life and be a productive member of society. When people start seeing the disabled as being able to follow a program and become a contributing member of society, the

barrier between able

bodied and disabled people will become more narrow. Jen Pilemn has devoted her

life, for the past nine years, to this program. Her dedication and determination to help change lives shows as she is observed working with these individuals. For this goal to be reached, Jen’s message needs to reach communities across the United States and people need to get involved and start taking action.She will not stop until everyone in the United States knows about Buddies in Action.

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Work Cited

American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD). “Definition of Intellectual Disability.” Definition. N.p., 2013. Web. 24 Mar. 2015. “About Rick Hansen Foundation.” About Us. The Rick Hansen Foundation, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2015. Buddies in Action. “About Us.” Buddies In Action. Buddies in Action, 2013. Web. 24 Mar. 2015. Creative Commons License. “Overview.” Overview. University of Washington, 2015. Web. 24W Mar. 2015. Oran. Personal Interview. 10 March, 2015 Pilemn, Jen. Personal Interview. 10 March, 2015. Spencer. Personal interview. 10 March, 2015 “Symptoms | Autism Society.” Autism Society Symptoms, The Autism Society, 14 Mar. 2015 . Web. 18 Mar. 2015. The National Institute of Mental Health. “Autism Spectrum Disorder.” NIMH RSS. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Is Part of the National Instit++++==s of Health (NIH),

Component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services., 20 Mar. 2015. Web. 27 Feb. 2015.

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Fit Buddies Kyra Kliman

Kyra Kliman is a Junior attending Los Altos High School and Freestyle Academy. She enjoys riding horses and playing ďŹ eld hockey. She has a real connection to nature and animals. She loves to spend her time hiking and exploring the outdoors. Her family and friends value happiness! After high school she plans to pursue a higher education. Her lifelong dream is to make a difference in the world and help people have better lives by helping people to appreciate the beauty in the world around them.

Fit Buddies


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