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ATA's MISSION

COSTS: Persons with disability (PWD) typically have higher costs of living and effective adaptive fitness training can be expensive.
NOT ACCESSIBLE: Gyms may not be physically nor digitally accessible, and lack adaptive equipment
TRAINERS NOT EDUCATED OR PREPARED: Fitness and sport trainers are not educated nor prepared to work with PWD
NOT NEAR A GYM: PWD may not be geographically near a gyms or a trainer who can provided services or may have transportation barriers

EDUCATION THROUGH THE AIT COURSES SINCE 2017

AIT GRADUATES

COUNTRIES REPRESENTED

2012

First adaptive fitness classes are taught at Fathom CrossFit

2017

First adaptive fitness course taught (CF Specialty Course: Adaptive Training)

2021

Converted to 501(c)3 non-for-profit status

2024

New Board of Directors and mission established!

In 2009, ATA founder Alec Zirkenbach suffered injuries while serving in the Navy that left him unable to walk for nearly ten months. Traditional rehab on his leg and minor spinal cord was tireless and challenging until Alec joined a functional fitness gym with empowering community support.

Alec fought off being medically retired and triumphantly deployed again to the Middle East to support Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). While stationed at Kuwaiti Naval Base, Alec co-founded and ran a not-for-profit CrossFit Affiliate (CrossFit KNB).

When he returned from deployment, Alec founded Fathom CrossFit in San Diego, Calf. The gym was open to everyone but ran a one-of-a-kind recreational therapy program for the local Naval Hospital to serve wounded warriors and veterans.

In 2017, CrossFit commissioned Alec and his team to create a course to teach other trainers how to do what they were doing: adaptive fitness! In 2019, ATA expanded the educational course to include a wider breadth of training methodology.

In 2021, ATA converted to non-profit status. We proudly elected a new Board of Directors to serve the adaptive fitness and sports communities.