Special Strong Western Chicagoland·La Grange, Illinois
The coach will be responsible for coaching and motivating athletes with special needs in private one-on-one and group training sessions, while also maintaining client profiles and preparing for upcoming workouts. Responsibilities also include regular fitness assessments and communicating with athlete parents or caregivers to ensure scheduling compliance.
Competitive salary Flexible schedule Free uniforms Training & development Turn your passion for fitness into a purpose-driven career.
If you’re a personal trainer who wants more than counting reps and chasing transformations—this is for you.
At Special Strong, you’ll work with individuals impacted by autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, ADHD, intellectual disability, and other cognitive/physical challenges—helping them build strength, confidence, independence, and pride through adaptive fitness.
Every session you coach is an opportunity to inspire… and sometimes truly change a life.
A Reward Like No Other - making a real difference by empowering individuals with disabilities to live fuller, more independent lives.
Competitive Pay Above Industry Standard - We pay trainers 30% higher than typical fitness jobs, because we value expertise, care, and professionalism.
Flexibility That Fits Your Life - This is a part-time role with flexible scheduling—build your schedule around work, school, parenting, or life. You tell us when you are available and we schedule around you.
FREE Training That Sets You Up for Success - We provide comprehensive training from day one, including hands-on instruction and guidance so you feel confident coaching adaptive athletes. We also provide FREE Adaptive Fitness Certification through our learning platform.
Stable Clients + Strong Relationships - Our athletes stay with us 4x longer than typical personal training clients—meaning more consistency, deeper relationships, and more secure hours.
Work Close to Home (Local Suburbs) - All opportunities are in the western Chicagoland area, with continued expansion into new areas. We partner with local gyms and training studios, so we're likely close to home.
We partner with several independent gyms and training studios througout the greater western Chicagloand. Our training locations (Check out our locations here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/R9WXaYxQBv9kz463A) allow us to provide our services in more areas than ever before, including Chicago (northwest and west side) / Downers Grove / Elmhurst / Elmwood Park / Forest Park / Glen Ellyn / Hinsdale / LaGrange / Lombard / Naperville / Oak Brook / Oak Park / River Forest / Villa Park / Westchester / Western Springs / Westmont / Wheaton.
Coach & motivate athletes/clients with special needs in private 1:1 training sessions & in group format Update and review client profiles; prepare for upcoming workouts Maintain communication with athlete parent / caregiver to ensure sessions are scheduled and completed Conduct fitness assessments and re-assessments regularly Work at participating on-site locations within your assigned area Travel within a 15-mile radius of the job posting location
Required: CPR and AED certification Approved Personal Training Certification (NCCA preferred) Ability to travel within a 15-mile radius Comfortable working with our special needs population Preferred (but not required): Prior personal trainer experience Any experience (parent, family member, volunteer or professional) working with individuals with special needs - (This will be highly prioritized.)
Ready for a Trainer Job That Means Something?
Candidates must possess current CPR and AED certification along with an approved Personal Training Certification, preferably NCCA accredited. A requirement is the ability to travel within a 15-mile radius and comfort working with the special needs population.
Market context
In Illinois, campus-based education support roles like this often draw steady interest because schools and learning programs need candidates with strong math content knowledge and reliable local availability. Competition can be shaped by the bachelor’s degree requirement, preferred STEM or education background, and the need to commute to the Northbrook campus. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then confirm your commute and prepare examples showing your math strengths.