On Lorain Road, Medicore gutted a building down to the studs and rebuilt it from scratch — including a gym fully sponsored by Planet Fitness, made entirely of ADA-accessible equipment.

"It's actually faceted to look exactly like a Planet Fitness," said Mike Lea, Vice President of Operations at Medicore. "They gave us the flooring, the wallpaper, the equipment, the lockers... when you walk in, it smells and feels like a Planet Fitness, and that's what we try to create. We shouldn't have different things for our people. They're the same."

Lea said the timing lines up with the message of Disability Pride Month — a time he says is about showcasing partnerships like the one between Medicore, Planet Fitness, and the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

"Just because people have disabilities, that doesn't necessarily define them," Lea said. "There are people with feelings, they're people with intentions, and they're people with skills that are marketable."

Beyond the gym, Medicore's centers — located in Cleveland and Parma Heights — include sensory rooms for individuals who need a quiet space to decompress, residential-style kitchens and laundry rooms for teaching life skills, and media and game rooms.

Lea didn't always work in this field. He spent years in corporate America before his wife, who founded Medicore, invited him to see her work firsthand.

"She's like, 'You wanna see what I do?'" Lea recalled. "And I did, and I literally was like, 'Whoa.' I resigned. And I joined."

Asked why the work means so much to him, Lea said it comes down to advocacy for a population that's often overlooked.

"Just underserved, right?" he said. "They need somebody who's time to fight, time to advocate, right? Ready to go the distance."

Medicore's next project is opening ADA residential facilities for individuals who require specialized, dedicated care.

Families interested in touring a Medicore center or learning more about its services can reach out directly through the organization.