LARGO, Fla. — A gym in Largo is dedicated to adults with disabilities. It’s the Me & U Abilities Academy and the co-owner works very hard to make the therapy and exercise as fun as possible.
What You Need To Know
- Anne Holdsworth opened the academy in 2020 with Tina Tallman
- The academy sees about 50 adults with disabilities each week
- Holdsworth tries to keep activities and therapy as fun as possible
- Many clients become friends and do things together outside of the academy
Physical therapist Anne Holdsworth opened the academy in 2020 with Tina Tallman. They have about 50 clients who come every week.
The academy not only provides needed physical activity but also a lot of opportunities to make friends.
Holdsworth often leads a one-hour drum circle that is great for coordination.
“We get three breaks for a couple of minutes for water,” she said. “We go for a whole hour and everybody does amazing.”
Holdsworth works with Wesley Harvelle on his ability to catch a large beach ball while sitting in a wheelchair and then his ability to stand and keep his balance.
“I’m working. Making progress,” said Harvelle. “I should have done this when I was younger, but I was stubborn. I didn’t want to do nothing when I was younger.”
Holdsworth wants to make sure the activities and therapy don’t become a drudgery.
“That’s one of the goals. I ask, 'What do you want to do?' I want to make this fun for you, so you are happy here and want to be here instead of oh gosh it’s therapy again,” she explained.
Holdsworth often does things with the clients outside of the academy. She went with one woman to a recent Tampa Bay Buccaneers game. Many of the clients have also become friends and go bowling as a group.
There is lots of encouragement at the academy. Holdsworth writes down achievements on a whiteboard.
“We write down when people do amazing things at our gym. We have Karen, who was able to stand on the bosu (ball) for 45 seconds,” she said.
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