EASTON — John-Edward Health, a professional paralympic runner, coach, veteran and founder of The Adaptive Athletics Foundation of Maryland, is on a mission to change the limited access Maryland’s disabled community has to health and fitness.
Health is working with gyms throughout the state to help update equipment and trainings to be more accessible.
Health, who lost his left leg after being hit by a drunk driver, said he is new to the amputee community but is passionate about everyone gaining the same benefits he was able to receive through his military insurance.
Health has been working hard on changing the way that the disabled community lives in Maryland. In May of this year he advocated and successfully got signed into law the “So Everybody Can Move Act of Maryland.” This law will require insurance companies to approve essential prosthetic devices for amputees come Jan. 1, 2025.
According to Health, prior to this law, if Maryland residents were to become amputees, insurance companies were only required to provide one prosthetic for everyday use.
“Think of shoes, you would not use dancing shoes for running or cowboy boots for weightlifting,” Health said. “It is the same concept for prosthetics and the importance of health and wellness for an amputee.”
Since the passing of the bill, Health said he is working on the expansion of accessibility and fairness in health and wellness for Maryland residents with disabilities.
As founder of The Adaptive Athletics Foundation of Maryland, he is working with gyms across Maryland to turn them adaptive by providing equipment and certifying coaches in active coaching, giving them knowledge to coach members that have disabilities.
Health said he will be turning 10 gyms adaptive and certifying 30 coaches by the end of the year. Ironclad Crossfit in Easton is the central hub for these efforts on the Eastern Shore.
Dressel said the mission of Ironclad Crossfit is to develop individuals, regardless of their athletic abilities, to their fullest potential through fitness, nutrition, mindset and community.
On Aug. 24, Health and Danielle Dressel, owner of Ironclad Crossfit, are hosting an outreach event to bring together members of the disabled community. They hope to show that “every body deserves to move,” according to Dressel.
In partnering with Heath, Ironclad Crossfit is able to raise awareness and educate the community on the center’s capabilities, from adaptive equipment and techniques to the Adaptive and Inclusive certification of the gym’s trainers.
“We want to open our doors to everyone and anyone who is willing to give CrossFit a shot — able-bodied or not,” Dressel said. “Our work is critically important to the general population, as it is imperative that people on the outside understand that we are able to meet anyone where they’re at.”
Health stressed the importance of this upcoming event. To keep these efforts going, donations are essential, he said. But he knows it may be difficult for people to sympathize with the cause unless they are directly affected.
“I just truly need people to feel what change they’re going to make by making donations and by giving us a seat at the table,” Health said. “I’m not asking for handouts. I’m asking for a seat at the table, and I can truly represent and speak for the disabled community in such a positive manner.”
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