Adults With Developmental Disabilities Find an Outlet for Fitness at the Sollar Wellness Center

By SYDNEY SCHWARTZ

ONE OF A KIND

PEMBROKE

When Frank Kelley started fitness classes at New England Village a few years ago, he could hardly get out of his wheelchair to do the exercises.

But over time, and with increased stretching and strengthening exercises, the 28-year old Braintree resident made it onto an exercise ball, his instructors said.

This week, in the village’s year-old Sollar Wellness Center, he and about a half-dozen classmates sat on the balls, stretching resistance bands above their heads, throwing small medicine balls around a circle and singing along to the energizing music.

"I like being down here because it gives me another opportunity to find out what other opportunities are out there for me to do," said Kelley, who lives with his family and works as a receptionist at the village once a week.

For Kelley and others adults with developmental disabilities, New England Village’s new Sollar Wellness Center is an outlet for fitness, swimming, art, music and skill building – on their own level.

The center provides programs for 73 adults with developmental disabilities who live on the 80-acre campus on School Street. Programs are also open to others who live elsewhere on the South Shore.

Unlike other gyms

An open house to showcase the programs was held Thursday.

"We want to show the community what we do offer here," said Lisa Drennan of Pembroke, the center’s director.

The 14,000-square foot center, dedicated in 2005, includes a large swimming pool, fitness rooms, a massage therapy room, an art room and a wellness education center – all surrounding a 1/16-mile interior walking track.

Unlike other gyms and fitness facilities, it is designed specifically to accommodate the residents of the nonprofit village – adults with disabilities such as Down syndrome, autism and mental retardation.

Drennan, who won a state award for her work at the wellness center, said she believes the center is the first of its kind in the nation.

She and others designed the center to provide health and fitness opportunities that they believe are paramount for all adults but were lacking for New England Village residents, to help them remain active as they get older.

"We’ve realized the importance of not just fitness, but the overall enrichment of their lives is crucial," Drennan said. "That’s the beauty of this. Trying to accommodate everyone’s ability and need."

"It’s just daily living. … It’s to be able to keep on going, still have your agility," fitness teacher Kim Lowman of Pembroke said.

A healthy lifestyle

The founders of New England Village planned a recreational center when the facility was built nearly 35 years ago. Interest was revived in October 2000, when New England Village supporters Arthur and Seima Sollar of New York, whose son David lives on campus, sponsored a conference at the village on promoting a healthy lifestyle for the residents.

The couple, for whom the $3.5 million facility is named, were frequent visitors to the Canyon Ranch Health Resorts and brought Canyon Ranch employees to Pembroke for workshops ranging from exercise and diet to herbal supplements.

During design and construction, the village consulted with Dr. James Rimmer of the University of Illinois’ Rehabilitation Research Institute, director of the National Center of Physical Activity and Disability.

In addition to fitness resources, the center contains an art room, a pottery kiln and a kitchen for cooking classes. By the front desk, the center sells postcards with artwork by residents.

Most rooms are handicap accessible, including locker rooms and showers. The women’s locker room is purple and decorated with participants’ artwork and a small tiled table designed by staff.

During the day, the center caters to participants of New England Village’s day program in Hanson. Each participant comes for two- courses: fitness and another activity, such as music, art or life skills.

At night, the center opens its doors to residents of the village for fitness classes, clay exploration, winter crafts and bingo.

"I go in the swimming pool once a week," said resident Bobby Poth, 48. "I like the hot tub too."

This week, before one fitness class started, 10 participants and staff sang "It’s time for music class," and "I like to eat apples and bananas," to the sound of teacher Sean Carr’s guitar.

"They’re allowed to be themselves which is what they need," said Carr of Plymouth.

"It just gives them an outlet, something to do that’s productive," added Lowman, the fitness teacher, who remembered the first day Kelley sat on an exercise ball.

"The smile on his face was incredible," she said.

Sydney Schwartz may be reached at sschwartz@ledger.com.

(c) 2007 Patriot Ledger, The; Quincy, Mass.. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.