Naples, FL – October 19, 2026 – Special Strong, a specialty fitness provider serving individuals with mental, physical, and cognitive challenges, is proud to announce the opening of Special Strong SWFL, serving Lee and Collier Counties, owned and operated by Brandon and Natasha Hipwell. They will also host a “Meet Special Strong” event on October 24th from 1 to 4 p.m. at the North Collier Regional Park Rec-Plex gymnasium, giving families, caregivers and community members a chance to learn more about the programs offered.
When Brandon’s son Payton, who has Fragile X syndrome and autism, needed fitness training built around his specific activities of daily living, with real structure and a way to track progress, the standard options came up short. Basketball, bowling, and yoga programs for adaptive athletes are excellent, but none were built to measure and build the specific skills Payton needed. Then Brandon found Special Strong, which offered exactly what he had been looking for in an adaptive fitness training program, providing individualized progress tracking and coaches trained specifically for athletes like Payton. Using his experience with building systems, managing risk, and scaling business, he filled a gap in his area and opened a Special Strong location in his community.
“Twenty-five years in insurance taught me how to build a business the right way,” said Hipwell. “Payton taught me why it mattered. Every athlete who walks through our door is seen as an individual with potential, not a diagnosis to manage. That is the measure of success we are building toward here.”
Special Strong was founded in 2016 by Daniel Stein, 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 company provides adaptive and inclusive fitness programs to individuals around the world with mental, physical, and cognitive challenges, including Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, rare genetic conditions, and more.
“When I began franchising in 2020, I was inspired to not only help Special Strong’s clients, but also leaders who share a passion for empowering individuals with special needs through fitness,” said Daniel Stein, CEO & Founder of Special Strong. “Brandon saw a need in his own community and did something about it. This is exactly what we look for in a Special Strong owner, and we cannot wait to see all that Brandon accomplishes.”
To learn more about Special Strong SWFL, visit their Location Page.
