Abilis, the nonprofit organization providing services and support to more than 800 individuals with special needs and their families, and HomeField, an online health and wellness company, today announced they are collaborating on a unique study in which 100 Abilis community members, all with varying abilities, will have free access to HomeField programs.

The pilot study, supported by Connecticut Innovations (CI), aims to better understand the benefits of physical fitness for individuals with special needs and is part of CI’s recently launched Innovation Lab, which connects portfolio companies with established corporations and government agencies. 

By tracking metrics and capturing feedback during the study, Abilis and HomeField intend to demonstrate the effectiveness of HomeField programs and implement them throughout Connecticut. Participants will be monitored and measured to gauge improvements in range of motion, levels of independence, overall mood, self-stimulatory behaviors, time-on-task, levels of individual and caregiver confidence, weight loss and BMI calculations. 

“Abilis community members have been participating in HomeField’s programs for awhile now, both in live classes and every day online,” noted Amy Montimurro, CEO and president of Abilis. “HomeField’s live classes are taped for playback and feature many of our Abilis members; it is rewarding and fun to see them be active and have fun as they star in the fitness videos! Everyone loves seeing themselves up on the big screen and are empowered knowing that their dedication to physical fitness is inspiring others. By participating in this specific study with HomeField, we are taking our commitment to optimal health and physical fitness even further by demonstrating and documenting the real, tangible benefits of these programs. We are excited to see what the study reveals.”

HomeField provides a range of fitness and activity classes, all of which are available online and designed to be accessible for all abilities and skill levels. Classes include general fitness, dance, yoga and martial arts, with new workouts every week. There are more than 200 on-demand virtual classes available, each five to 45 minutes long. Participants will soon be able to earn rewards as they move toward their goals. 

“HomeField is committed to promoting wellness for people of all abilities,” said Daniel Caridi, co-founder of the program. “We started this program offering volunteer fitness classes for individuals with special needs. When COVID hit, we recognized a great opportunity to move online. Classes quickly grew in size and popularity, confirming the demand for virtual recreational and habilitation programs. Our goal now is to reach as many people as possible and make health and wellness accessible to everyone.” 

In addition to aligning with Connecticut’s health goals for special needs providers, HomeField’s platform is also applicable for K-12 schools. In addition to Abilis, Special Olympics Connecticut also uses HomeField, a further demonstration of its commitment to promoting health and wellness among individuals with special needs, and organizations throughout the world.

HomeField classes are listed on Abilis’s activities calendar at abilis.us/calendar.

Abilis is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that supports more than 800 individuals with disabilities and their families from birth through the senior years. Founded in 1951, Abilis is a leader in providing meaningful support to the community in Fairfield County, Connecticut, in towns including Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Westport and Wilton. The organization has a long-standing reputation for individualized, high-quality supports. For more information, visit www.abilis.us, or follow on Facebook @Abilis, Inc., Instagram @abilis_us or Twitter @Abilis.

HomeField creates fun and meaningful experiences that inspire inclusion and build trust. With trained coaches, live classes and a community of like-minded partners, HomeField has an on-demand library with more than 200+ workouts that are available anywhere and anytime. From dance to martial arts, yoga and meditation, there is a class for everyone. Daily livestreams are also available with live classes. Certified coaches and celebrity guests offer a safe and inclusive environment. Rewards help participants reach their goals. HomeField’s platform also aligns to the state of Connecticut’s health goals for special needs providers and K-12 schools. To learn more, visit homefield.fit or on Instagram at @homefield.fit and Twitter @HomeFieldFit.

Connecticut Innovations (CI) is Connecticut’s strategic venture capital arm and the leading source of financing and ongoing support for Connecticut’s innovative, growing companies. CI provides venture capital and strategic support for early-stage technology companies, financial support for innovation and collaboration, and connections to its well-established network of partners and professionals. For more information, please visit http://www.ctinnovations.com.