ARLINGTON, Texas—From tumbling on the mats to balancing on the balance beam, the Gymmie Kids program at ASI Gymnastics gives children ages 3-17 the opportunity to improve their physical strength and their confidence in that strength.
Business Supervisor Eleanor Gardner has been with the gym for seven years and said she hopes to grow the program through the inclusion of all children with any disability, adapting the sport of gymnastics to their needs.
“We want to try and match what level of development they’re at and what assistance level they need,” Gardner said. “At the same time, we want them to be independent.”
Gardner has a degree in Sign Language Interpreting from Tarrant County College and has been actively involved in deaf education in both Dallas ISD and Crowley ISD. She uses her skills as an interpreter to coach deaf and non-verbal students in the program.
There are three class options for Gymmie Kids: Shadow, Private and Mainstream. Private classes are ono-on-one with the student and coach, Shadow classes let kids go into a mainstream class with their own coach to help with their physical needs and Mainstream classes let the child participate with others and do more with gymnastics.
There’s also a Ninja class that Gardner said is beneficial for kids with high-energy levels.
“It’s not just one-fits-all,” Gardner said.
Currently, the program has about 10 students, less than half the number it had before the pandemic.
“We’re getting back there,” Gardner said. “That’s what we’ve kind of been working on, growing the program back to what it used to be.”
Gardner said that she has a waitlist of about 20 children who want to participate in the Gymmie Kid program, but there aren’t enough coaches to meet their needs. Coaches who want to work with the program must undergo an intensive training and certification process.
“The coaches actually laugh because the Gymmie Kids certification is the hardest to complete,” Gardner said. “But that’s how I want it because I want us to be able to take care of these kids.”
The main thing Gardner looks for in hiring new coaches is how much they love kids.
Kimberly Gallardo, 29, has been coaching for the Gymmie Kids program for three years and said she doesn’t plan on quitting any time soon.
“They are the most-loving kids ever,” Gallardo said. “They’re willing to learn and overcome their fears and doubts of their abilities to do something. It’s very rewarding.”
Gallardo has grown up with children with special needs, including her cousins, and has always wanted to help them, so coaching for the program was a perfect fit.
Gardner said that communication with parents is crucial when letting children with disabilities participate in Gymmie Kids.
“We work with the parents because we want to be all-inclusive,” Gardner said. “We want everybody to have the ability to do what they want here at the gym.”
When asked what advice should be given to parents who are cautious in letting their child be involved in adaptive sports, both Gardner and Gallardo reassure that safety is the No. 1 priority and that it’s OK to feel cautious, but it’s also OK to give the program a chance.
“The more communication that happens between, the more comfortable everybody feels,” Gardner said.
“We always take things step-by-step,” Gallardo said. “Have faith in [your] kid, don’t be afraid and let them come and experience it.”
ASI Gymnastics was founded in 1991 by David and Debi Holley, and the first gym opened in Mesquite. ASI operates eight locations in the North Texas area along with two locations near Houston.
