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Home » Exercise Programs » Berkeley mom: state cutback puts disabled son at risk – Asbury Park Press

Members of the "Future Problem Solvers" club at Millstone Township Middle School developed educational video games for kids with autism. Jerry Carino

Johnny Falotico (right) with his mom Patricia Falotico.(Photo: Patricia Falotico)

Berkeleyresident Pat Falotico tried to take her developmentally disabled son Johnny to a local gym, so he could get some exercise. Instead, he got overwhelmed.

It was too loud, too many people, too much stimuli, Pat said. The machines were a little intimidating. We had a gym membership for one year, but it didnt work out.

Then she found a one-on-one fitness program sponsored by the states Division of Developmental Disabilities. Twice per week, Johnny gets a home visit from a trainer who leads him through a one-hour workout.

Its really helped him a great deal, Pat Falotico said.

Finding work for the disabled is their mission

Johnny Falotico (left) with his mom Patricia Falotico(Photo: Patricia Falotico)

Now that program is being discontinued, and the Faloticos are exasperated.

Its devastating, Pat said. Hes not going to have anything else. Theyre recommending that we get gym memberships.

Johnny Falotico, 23, is speech-impaired, has difficulty processing sounds and needs help walking up and down steps because his legs are different lengths.As the gym experiment failed, Johnnys triglyceride level ballooned past 600, a high number that increased his risk for heart disease. The one-on-one therapy has reigned that in.

Hes lost 10-15 pounds, his triglyceride level is down to 220 and hes drinking at least three bottles of water a day, Pat Falotico said. Before, the only thing he drank was iced tea.

Brick daughter struggles to support disabled mom

In Hamilton Monday, protesters demonstrate against the Division of Developmental Disabilities dropping its one-on-one fitness program.(Photo: David Stehman)

As parents of the developmentally disabled will tell you, the burden of care falls on them after formal schooling (which includes physical therapy) ends at age 21. The one-on-one fitness program was a progressive stroke begun nine years ago to help alleviate that.

Some people with developmental disabilities cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome they cant join the gym like you and I, said Howard Schulze, president of Hometown Trainers LLC, a home-fitness company that has29 trainers working with more than 100 participants inthe DDD's one-on-one program. This is some of the only physical activity they get.

In its place, Schulze said, the DDD is offering paid gym memberships and integration intoexercise classes for peoplewithout disabilities. A spokesperson for New Jerseys Division of Human Services, which oversees the DDD, did not respond to an Asbury Park Press inquiry on the matter.

In Hamilton Monday, protesters demonstrate against the Division of Developmental Disabilities dropping its one-on-one fitness program.(Photo: David Stehman)

Some people with developmental disabilities will benefit from this, but the one-on-one programs are vital for others," Schulze said. "For them, their functionality will regress.

That is Pat Faloticos concern about Johnny, whose one-on-one visits are scheduled to end in September. Its also the reason why a few dozen protesters demonstrated outside of DDD headquarters in Hamilton Monday.

What were fighting for are the people who will fall through the cracks," Schulze said. "The state is just pulling the rug out from under their feet.

Staff writer Jerry Carino: jcarino@gannettnj.com.

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Berkeley mom: state cutback puts disabled son at risk - Asbury Park Press

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Home » Exercise Programs » Berkeley mom: state cutback puts disabled son at risk – Asbury Park Press