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Trainer Marky Oliver helps people with Down syndrome and autism get the fitness training they need

60% of people with disabilities are overweight
Fitness program for special needs adults created
Fitness program for special needs adults created
Posted at 3:08 AM, Oct 09, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-09 06:24:22-04

BRANDON, Fla. -- Trainer Marky Oliver’s mission to help people with special needs get fit started small.

Just a few friends weight-training for the Special Olympics.

“Oh, my life has changed completely,” says Oliver.

In April, ABC Action News aired a story how the 25-year-old USF's grad story created a weightlifting program for children with autism. In the six months since, Marky now heads a region-wide fitness program for hundreds of people with Down syndrome and autism.

He calls his budding mission, Specially Fitness.

The workouts are fast and fun, with quick bursts of punching bags and cardio.

“Over 60 percent of people with disabilities are overweight or obese,” says Marky, who taking is leading dozens of people at the Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center. “Ever since we got launched on ABC, people reached out, sponsors reached out."

Oliver is taking his program to several locations across the Tampa Bay area.

Eventually Oliver would like to eventually open his own center. At this rate, that will be sooner rather than later.