Fuel GRIT: Give to the Max 2025

GRIT Adaptive provides athletic, social, and vocational opportunities for youth and adults with disabilities to discover and nurture their unique abilities and passions. At the heart of our community is GRIT- Growth, Resilience, Inclusion, and Transformation.

We believe that all people have passions and gifts that are meant to be shared and celebrated. GRIT Adaptive was created with the vision of a community without barriers for people with disabilities to pursue their passions, wellness, and a fulfilled life. Belonging is a basic human need, and the precursor to learning and growth. We are seeking the support of like-minded visionaries to move us forward in doing a part to resolve the deep-seated issues of social isolation, identified by the CDC as the loneliness epidemic. The physical and mental health impacts of social isolation greatly impact all of our families and children, and are especially magnified for those with disabilities. Together, we want to ensure that neighbors with disabilities and their caretakers are using their GRIT, resolve and strength, to pursue passions and meaningful connections, and not have to fight to gain access to inclusion.

Over the past 4 years, GRIT Adaptive has provided adaptive and supported classes for youth with disabilities in gymnastics, ninja, and dance. We also provide affordable social, recreational, and physical fitness opportunities for special education programs and adult day programs for field trips and community outings. We have been able to provide adapted equipment, specialized instruction to fit multiple abilities, additional instructor to athlete support, ASL interpreters for families with hearing impairments, and one-on-one support for youth in mainstream recreational programs. 

Café GRIT, opened in March 2024, serves the 1,000+ families that attend programs through Jam Hops (our host site) and GRIT Adaptive. The Café employs teens and adults with special needs, filling a major need for vocational opportunities for people with disabilities and serving as a hub of inclusivity for athletes, employees, and families.