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Mission
The Fitness Clinic for Individuals with Disabilities is a community outreach program through the School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences at San Diego State University. Founded by Dr. Peter M. Aufsesser in 1983, the fitness clinic serves those from the San Diego region with a wide variety of physical disabilities and offers them the opportunity to reach their fitness and exercise goals. A place is provided which allows clients to develop management skills for their disabilities. Clients' age has ranged from 7 to 97 years.
The fitness clinic also serves as an educational experience for SDSU Kinesiology students, including those majoring in Kinesiotherapy, Pre-PT, Sports Medicine and Fitness, Nutrition, and Health. Students, under the direct guidance and supervision of faculty and staff, work directly with the clients on a variety of exercises and activities.
History
The Fitness Clinic for Individuals with Disabilities was founder by Dr. Peter M. Aufsesser in 1983 with the assistance of a federal grant from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services. Since 1986, the Fitness Clinic has been self-supporting. The program was developed with the goal to provide a dual service-training model, providing service to individuals with severe physical and neuromuscular disabilities and training student majoring in adapted physical education, pre-physical therapy, fitness, nutrition and health.
The 2007-2008 year marks the 25th year of providing service and training without university funding. Since 1983 the Fitness Clinic has provided over 3,000 students with a state of the art hands on training experience in which to hone their skills, and has also provided over 1200 individuals with various disabilities a place to improve their strength, endurance, flexibility and overall health and wellness The Fitness Clinic currently serves about 75 clients each semester and trains over 175 students per year.
The Fitness Clinic is on solid fiscal ground despite the current budget of $100,000, of which about 60% comes from client fees. The rest comes for a fee for service contract with the university and donations. The Fitness Clinic is supported by two endowments ($561,000 (12/07)) started by Dr. Aufsesser in 1988. These endowments need to be increased to ensure the long-term operation of the program. The future of the Fitness Clinic is bright as it embarks on its cooperative agreement with SDSU's Interwork and community partners. The Fitness Clinic is seeking a donor ($2 million) to allow us to move in to its new home in Mission Valley which will provide for better facilities, the ability to serve more clients and finally to train more students entering the health professions.
Palaestra Magazine - Fall 2007
The Fitness Clinic for Individuals with Disabilities Celebrates 25 Years of Service & Training
SDSU Magazine - Winter 2001
Defeating Disability: SDSU Fitness Clinic works out for community clients and student trainers
Reproduced with permission of SDSU Magazine
1998 Recipient of the Channel 10 Leadership Award
View a segment entitled "Following Leadership at the Fitness Clinic" - July, 2000
Click Channel 10 icon to view clip in QuickTime format.
If you do not have a version of QuickTime, download a free version by clicking here.
Fitness Clinic on the Move
The Fitness Clinic for Individuals with Disabilities has entered into a cooperative agreement with the San Diego State University Interwork Institute, California Department of Rehabilitation, Access Center and Sharpe Rehab Hospital and is trying to secure funds to move to a new interdisciplinary facility in the near future. The new facility is located on Camino Del Rio North and will provide clients of the Fitness clinic easier access and a larger facility. The building is being constructed with universal design and will be barrier free for individuals with all disabilities. This new venture is very exciting and should provide an ideal environment for the Fitness Clinic and its community partners.
Staff
Peter M. Aufsesser, PhD
Biographical information:
Dr. Peter M. Aufsesser is a professor at San Diego State University and the Founder (1983) and Director of the Fitness Clinic for Individuals. The Fitness Clinic has served over 1200 individuals with severe physical disabilities. Dr. Aufsesser has been active in the field of physical education and exercise programs for individuals with all types of disabilities for over 36 years. This has included over twenty years working with Special Olympics, adapted physical education credential programs in schools and recreation programs. In addition to the Fitness Clinic Dr. Aufsesser has published over 100 article in professional journals, given presentations to over 300 professional conferences and seminars and serves in various editorial capacities for professional journals including: Associate Editor of Clinical Kinesiology (since 1980) Editor, Fitness for Wheelchair Users for Sports & Spokes (2001-2007), Research Application Editor for Palestra (1991 - 2004) and a field reviewer for numerous journals including APAQ, JOPERD, and International Journal of Biomechanics
Dr. Aufsesser has held leadership position in every organization he has belonged to. He has been recognized with awards from The American Red Cross, Paradise Valley Hospital Rehabilitation Advisory Board, Project Aquatics and the California Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance for his efforts on behalf of individuals with disabilities, and in 1998 he was the recipient of the Toyota Channel 10 Leadership Award. In 2004, Dr. Aufsesser was awarded a “Monty Award“ as the outstanding Professor in the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts. Finally Dr. Aufsesser has served on over 20 community boards in education, non-profit organizations, hospital and foundations.
Jan Thurman, MPH, RKT, NCTMB
Biographical information:
Jan Thurman graduated from SDSU in 2005 with her Masters degree in Public Health, Epidemiology. She also earned her BS degree in Kinesiology from SDSU, and has worked as a registered Kinesiotherapist since 2000. She has worked extensively with disabled individuals as a staff therapist and eventually as the Program Director for the Challenge Center, a post-rehabilitation program. She now serves as Program Director for the SDSU Fitness Clinic for Individuals with Disabilities. At the Fitness Clinic, Jan offers a unique approach to exercise programming that benefits both clients and students.
