Special Strong to Open Location in San Diego

“What drew us to Special Strong was deeply personal,” said Firdose, Balusamy, and Khan in a joint statement. “Sana discovered the program while looking for ways to help her son become more active and quickly realized it was about more than fitness—it offered confidence, connection, and growth. We are thrilled to bring this inclusive program to San Diego, creating a welcoming environment where individuals with special needs can thrive. Securing two additional territories allows us to extend our reach and positively impact even more lives.”

Special Strong was founded in 2016 by Daniel Stern, who began specializing in health and fitness for people with special needs after being diagnosed with a learning disability, mood disorder, and autoimmune disease. The chain provides adaptive and inclusive fitness programs to people with mental, physical, and cognitive challenges, including Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, rare genetic conditions, and more.

“When I started franchising in 2020, I was inspired to not only help Special Strong’s clients, but help people who had a shared passion for empowering individuals with adaptive special needs through fitness,” said Daniel Stein, CEO & Founder of Special Strong. “Sana, Deepa, and Umama collectively share this passion. My team and I look forward to supporting their journey every step of the way, ensuring success as they expand into all three of their territories.”