Sheena Leedham

https:linktr.eeSHEENAinc

Author of The Power of a Note and I Can Jump Rope!, Sheena Leedham earned her master’s degree in education at Edinboro University with a concentration in elementary education and recreation administration. Through the Ohio State University’s Nisonger Center, she coordinates Men’s Aspirations, a social support group event for teens and young adults with autism to experience the Greater Columbus Area. As a licensed teacher, Sheena serves as an education consultant for OSU’s Autism College Experience (ACE!) and Postsecondary Access to Transition after High School (PATH) programs, where she educates college students with autism on the importance of habitual fitness and proper nutrition. Sheena is also the Senior Content Manager at elitefts.com—educating and outfitting the strongest athletes around the world. She spoke at the elitefts SWIS Symposium and OCALICON in 2022.

 
The Student Guide to Grocery Store Navigation
The Student Guide to Grocery Store Navigation
For autistic college students, these guidelines can be instrumental in minimizing stress at the grocery store.
12-Week I Can Jump Rope Program
12-Week I Can Jump Rope Program
In a traditional gym class, how will the concept of jumping rope look for an autistic child? Considering that 79–83 percent of the autistic population does not display the appropriate motor skills for their age group, their needs will likely not be met. Until now…
18 Exercises Your Child Wants To Do
18 Exercises Your Child Wants To Do
Somewhere between a child eloping, having a meltdown, or worse, associating everything miserable toward training, circle back to play with these exercises.
Connect By Entering Their World
Connect By Entering Their World
Where does a child go when their physical world is too loud or quiet, bright or dim, uses jargon that makes no sense? Somewhere worth visiting.
Write for elitefts!
Write for elitefts!
As an Outside Submission Author, climb the writing ranks for a chance to become a Featured Writer or Columnist. Write for elitefts today.
Why "The Power of a Note" is Empowering
Why "The Power of a Note" is Empowering
The Power of a Note is an outreach tool for parents, educators, and personal trainers to help a child with autism reach his highest potential through movement and health.
Social Skill Integration Through Movement and Strength: Home Training
Social Skill Integration Through Movement and Strength: Home Training
Now at home, this is a great opportunity to get the family involved by creating new healthy habits using indoor and outdoor space.
What To Do When Your Thyroid Fails You
What To Do When Your Thyroid Fails You
Slowly each week, I was getting bigger and bigger — and not the good kind. I exploded from a 130-pound fitness chick to a 200-pound walrus. After a solid three years of impeccable blood lab results, it’s time to dabble in my sob story and ultimately share the phases I undertook to regain my health and life.
Dave Tate, A Mother's Perspective
Dave Tate, A Mother's Perspective
Marge Tate could have allowed labels, sickness, and loss to paralyze her legacy. Instead, through passion, tradition, and communication, her commitment to human connection and service is alive — and she passed it on to Dave.
The Poopy Raccoon
The Poopy Raccoon
In preparation for our next training session, I knew I needed the help of my coworkers. The next morning they all received the following email blast…
What's Right About "Rain Man"
What's Right About "Rain Man"
Begin the motion to expand upon the public’s perception of autism with an educational application. How? Try filling in the blanks by using the movie “Rain Man” as your springboard.
A Program Progression for an Alternative Use of Basketballs and Volleyballs
A Program Progression for an Alternative Use of Basketballs and Volleyballs
It would’ve been easy to create another brand-new workout with different recreational equipment. But a more powerful lesson rather than starting at ground level in terms of skill, was for the students to observe their strengths and weaknesses and then create a plan to reach a new level of skill mastery.
An Alternative Use of Basketballs and Volleyballs for Exercise
An Alternative Use of Basketballs and Volleyballs for Exercise
The cool thing about this setup is we had a high possibility of creating new benchmarks and brand-new levels of mastery, which were more valuable than throwing a ball in a hoop or hitting a ball over a net (two activities by which these students have experienced failure through participation).
Milestones National Autism Conference — Presenting Men’s Aspirations
Milestones National Autism Conference — Presenting Men’s Aspirations
Rather than attending another highly acclaimed conference centered on helping individuals with autism, it was time to present at one.
2018 Zoo Run Run: Team Not Team Old Man vs. Team Old Man
2018 Zoo Run Run: Team Not Team Old Man vs. Team Old Man
This was more than a 10-week prep geared to beat our previously recorded race time of 52 minutes and 32 seconds while flying past a self-proclaimed mashed-up meathead.
Year One with Men’s Aspirations — Developing Social Skills with Substance
Year One with Men’s Aspirations — Developing Social Skills with Substance
This program provides a monthly social outlet for teens and young adults with high functioning autism. As we approach year one, I want to share how I’ve made this program my own.
Skip the Gym — The Scioto Challenge
Skip the Gym — The Scioto Challenge
Bridging the gap between immobility and action, this lesson served as another opportunity to reshape the students’ negative associations with exercise and revamp their workout creativity in OSU’s backyard.
Social Skill Integration Through Movement and Strength — Gym Training
Social Skill Integration Through Movement and Strength — Gym Training
The goal is to get an inactive child on the spectrum socially and physically strong through movement. This initial type of training, the first in a progression of eight, takes place in the gym.
Ocalicon 2017 — Nation’s Premier Autism and Disabilities Conference
Ocalicon 2017 — Nation’s Premier Autism and Disabilities Conference
With more than 50 presentations to attend within a 10-hour time frame, here are the presentations from which I found great applicability to my work in both the private and college settings.
The Student Guide to Grocery Store Navigation — Lucky's Market
The Student Guide to Grocery Store Navigation — Lucky's Market
Moving from theory to practice, this lesson took us from the classroom to Lucky’s Market on High Street in Columbus, Ohio.
Skip the Gym — Create Training Space Indoors and Outdoors
Skip the Gym — Create Training Space Indoors and Outdoors
Listening to a group of college students with high-functioning autism, I learned there was a consensus among many of how they felt in a typical college gym setting — something they didn’t want to feel again.
2017 Zoo Run Run: Blaine Tate Runs a Faster 5K
2017 Zoo Run Run: Blaine Tate Runs a Faster 5K
At 3.1 miles, we cross the finish line in 52 minutes and 32 seconds — four minutes quicker than our 2016-competition time. A success! Beating our previous time was exactly what we came to do.
Social Skill Integration Through Movement and Strength: Program the Cadence
Social Skill Integration Through Movement and Strength: Program the Cadence
You’ll meet Sean, Wesley, and Blaine (three boys on the spectrum) and consider their needs, find a starting place, and create a program schedule using a singular, linear, or overlapping approach.
Social Skill Integration Through Movement and Strength: Play Date with a Friend
Social Skill Integration Through Movement and Strength: Play Date with a...
Make this your chance to verify how training (all our hard work) gives us lots of opportunities to enjoy life.
Meal Prep Basics for the College Student
Meal Prep Basics for the College Student
Why plan? What can food do for me? When should I eat for a workout? — A group of students with Asperger’s asks questions to fulfill big aspirations to look and feel good.
Ocalicon 2016 — Nation’s Premier Autism and Disabilities Conference
Ocalicon 2016 — Nation’s Premier Autism and Disabilities Conference
With the option to pick and choose over 40 presentations to attend within a 10-hour day, here’s how I plan on implementing what I learned within the private and college setting.
Apply Today — Sports and Fitness Journalism Internship at elitefts.com
Apply Today — Sports and Fitness Journalism Internship at elitefts.com
Now's your opportunity to help educate the strongest athletes around the world.
A New Kid Under the Bar
A New Kid Under the Bar
Erasing the zoo schedule from the dry-erase board that served us for a 14-week prep was unsettling. Where our training has gone, is miraculous.
Social Skill Integration Through Movement and Strength: Off-Site Team Training
Social Skill Integration Through Movement and Strength: Off-Site Team Tr...
As we relocate a group of connected individuals outside of the gym, the mindset attached to training evolves.
Social Skill Integration Through Movement and Strength: Team Training at the Gym
Social Skill Integration Through Movement and Strength: Team Training at...
In this type of training, we’re taking things one step further — we share the entire training experience with at least one partner at the gym.
Social Skill Integration Through Movement and Strength: ½ One-to-one, ½ Training Partner
Social Skill Integration Through Movement and Strength: ½ One-to-one, ½ ...
In this type of training, we’re taking things one step further — we share the training experience with a partner.
Zoo RunRun — Blaine Crosses the Finish Line in His First 5K
Zoo RunRun — Blaine Crosses the Finish Line in His First 5K
Two faces in a crowded zoo, here’s our story: a 14-week play-by-play that prepared us for the rigors of race day.
Social Skill Integration Through Movement and Strength — Off-Site Training
Social Skill Integration Through Movement and Strength — Off-Site Training
½ Gym, ½ Off-Site Training leads us here: a full session away from gym grounds. Fit your programming needs within these structures to differentiate skill, meet new people, and have fun.
Social Skill Integration Through Movement and Strength — ½ Gym, ½ Off-Site Training
Social Skill Integration Through Movement and Strength — ½ Gym, ½ Off-Si...
The goal is to get an inactive child on the spectrum socially and physically strong through movement. You’re ready to leave the comforts of the gym and move off-site to extend the learning curve.
Take Your Training Day to the Trampoline Park
Take Your Training Day to the Trampoline Park
If you’re looking to explore a gym-training, flying-through-space alternative, make sure you’re aware of these less-advertised details we learned on our trips to Sky Zone and Get Air.
8 Training Types to Progressively Integrate Social Networks
8 Training Types to Progressively Integrate Social Networks
These training types are rooted in movement that naturally progress the child from private training to play dates with a friend.
Take Your Training Day to the Zoo
Take Your Training Day to the Zoo
A trip to the zoo provides the trainer and child a great opportunity to accomplish new challenges and exercise gym lessons. Consider these tips for the planning process.
Adjustable Programming: Using Flexible Goals in an Inflexible World
Adjustable Programming: Using Flexible Goals in an Inflexible World
By rewriting negative associations at the track and field, Blaine and I were able to overcome previous limitations and create new opportunities for growth.
6 Exercises to Engage Your Child's Senses
6 Exercises to Engage Your Child's Senses
Make each training session sensory-rich, personal, and dynamic for the child with special needs. Tweak your approach by considering these six exercises.
12-Week Program to Conquer the Monkey Bars
12-Week Program to Conquer the Monkey Bars
This 12-week training progression is tailor-made to strengthen the mind and body of a child who fears this playground implement.
Throw Out Your Expectations
Throw Out Your Expectations
Avoiding hostility and disinterest by following these communication tips will result in greater engagement and child development.
Off-Site Training: Considerations for Training Children with Special Needs
Off-Site Training: Considerations for Training Children with Special Needs
If done incorrectly, leaving the comfort of the traditional training environment can become chaotic. These basic guidelines will make it a positive experience.
Fitness Fun at Walk for Wishes
Fitness Fun at Walk for Wishes
Make-A-Wish earns funds for local chapter.
Relative Aggression
Relative Aggression
Keeping sibling rivalry from escalating and using it as a motivational factor.
The Power of Observation
The Power of Observation
Expand your abilities through the experience of professionals.
Don't Sweat the NEW Stuff
Don't Sweat the NEW Stuff
Change can manifest disaster for a child with autism. Here are three steps to follow when presenting something NEW in the training schedule.
Five Gray Areas You're Not Considering
Five Gray Areas You're Not Considering
These areas will significantly increase how a child is progressing in the gym.
Four More Exercises Your Child Wants to Do
Four More Exercises Your Child Wants to Do
Harness the power of fun. A child will thank you.
12-Week Progress Report
12-Week Progress Report
Blaine needs this training to help address the stress and frustrations he will have all his life.
Four Exercises Your Child Wants To Do
Four Exercises Your Child Wants To Do
Using some basic equipment from elitefts, here are four easy and inexpensive ways to make typical exercises child friendly.
Meltdown in the Compound
Meltdown in the Compound
Did frustration, failure, and discomfort cause Blaine to quit?
Whoopee Cushion Invasion
Whoopee Cushion Invasion
All fell victim to this except for Matt Goodwin, who has become so accustomed to such wet bugle blasts as to not notice.
Fat Solutions: Baklava Gone Irish
Fat Solutions: Baklava Gone Irish
I’m Irish, but I’m not real big on traditional Irish cuisine.
Talking about Autism with Matt Wenning
Talking about Autism with Matt Wenning
“I like training athletes, but when you can help a child walk or save someone’s life, that’s a big deal.”
I Want You to Sweat Blood
I Want You to Sweat Blood
Leadership can be taught and practiced, and continually developed.
Chris Szorc: Live. Learn. And Pass On.
Chris Szorc: Live. Learn. And Pass On.
Athletes and coaches within the sport, living, learning, and passing on.
Creating the Schedule
Creating the Schedule
Dave and I planned that Tuesdays would be a good day that Blaine and I could routinely work together.
Iron Insights: From Chucks to Heels
Iron Insights: From Chucks to Heels
Sheena interviews Julia before she steps on a national stage!
I Train. You Train. We Train.
I Train. You Train. We Train.
Dave wants the best for his son; he wants the world for his son; a world that also balances movement, strength, exertion, all with a self-motivating willingness to be active.

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