May ACTION Leader of the Month: Ari
May ACTION Leader of the Month: Ari
What do you love most about FITBuddies?
I like the friendships that have been created. Even though I don’t know everyone, I like how everyone’s been nice to everyone else.

What's your favorite music?
Hip-hop and rap.
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These are a few of my favorite things…
I like going out for walks and playing golf.
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What FITBuddies exercise move do you love most?
I’m pretty good at planks.
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Why are you proud to be a FITBuddies ACTION leader?
Because the word leader I’d say perfectly describes me and even though people haven’t always told me that, I’ve always been one.
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How does spending time at FITBuddies make you feel?
I feel pretty good. It actually depends — I’m normally pretty happy but sometimes I get kind of frustrated. I don’t show my frustration as much. It’s mostly before I go to FiT that I get frustrated; once I get there, I usually feel much better. Exercise makes me feel good.
More from Ari's parents and coaches!
What do you love most about FITBuddies?
I like the friendships that have been created. Even though I don’t know everyone, I like how everyone’s been nice to everyone else.

What's your favorite music?
Hip-hop and rap.
​
These are a few of my favorite things…
I like going out for walks and playing golf.
​
What FITBuddies exercise move do you love most?
I’m pretty good at planks.
​
Why are you proud to be a FITBuddies ACTION leader?
Because the word leader I’d say perfectly describes me and even though people haven’t always told me that, I’ve always been one.
​
How does spending time at FITBuddies make you feel?
I feel pretty good. It actually depends — I’m normally pretty happy but sometimes I get kind of frustrated. I don’t show my frustration as much. It’s mostly before I go to FiT that I get frustrated; once I get there, I usually feel much better. Exercise makes me feel good.
More from Ari's parents and coaches!
As a parent, what goals have you observed being achieved through FITBuddies?
Our goal is for Ari to be physically fit and active and for Ari to have more social interactions. His fitness sessions address both goals. He has come to enjoy exercising, interacting with the coaches and having fun with his friends during the monthly Friday Social Hour.

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As a parent, what goals have you observed being achieved through FITBuddies?
Our goal is for Ari to be physically fit and active and for Ari to have more social interactions. His fitness sessions address both goals. He has come to enjoy exercising, interacting with the coaches and having fun with his friends during the monthly Friday Social Hour.

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What skills learned at FITBuddies does Ari use in his daily life?
Ari is stronger which has really helped his golf game. He has learned to be more patient with different types of social interactions.

What skills learned at FITBuddies does Ari use in his daily life?
Ari is stronger which has really helped his golf game. He has learned to be more patient with different types of social interactions.
Health & Wellness programs for ALL abilities
ABOUT US
OUR TEAM
Jennifer Pleimann | Founder
The Facts:
Founder of Vidapost, Co-Chair of the College of Adaptive Arts, University of Wisconsin-Madison grad, Behavioral Therapist, Personal Trainer and a believer that every individual should have the everyday opportunity to grow and improve.
To read Jen's full story, click here.
Carly Port | Self Care & Mindfulness Coach
The Facts:
Part of the BuddiesInACTION family since 2019. Syracuse University graduate. Certified Personal Trainer. Human lover, dog mom, outdoor enthusiast, runner and believer in humanity.
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To read Carly's full story, click here.
BuddiesInACTION was started after several years of working with individuals with intellectual disabilities in a variety of settings and learning the resources (or lack there of) surrounding their health & wellness. It was started not only because the quantity of professional health & wellness resources was scarce but also because the quality of resources lacked an important component that all programs should encompass: continued growth and improvement.
While working as a behavioral therapist, home health aide, and teacher's aide, Jen also began personal training on the side. In 2006, she started her first special needs program, FITBuddies, at FIT in Los Altos in an effort to combine multiple passions as well as fill a need that she had experienced as a provider for individuals with Autism. FITBuddies, professional small group training for teens and adults with disabilities, is now going on seven years and has helped shape BuddiesInACTION.
BuddiesInACTION was establisted in 2011 in an effort to expand health & wellness programs for teens and adults with disabilities. Our programs follow the ACTION mission and are built off of several core beliefs and initiatives:
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Our goal is NOT to open one special facility. We believe that integrating our programs into already existing gyms, schools and wellness sites is one of the most important components to our program and is part of our efforts to help provide our participants with a safe, inclusive environment
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We believe in continued growth & development, regardless of diagnosis. We celebrate every little success, welcome failure and build programs that continuously challenge an individual in an effort to promote continued growth and improvement.
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Our goal is to build a community. We believe in building a give and take community, that we all have roll to play, and that we can all learn from each other.