Break the Barriers Gymnastics Program
Break the Barriers, Inc., 8555 N Cedar Ave, Fresno, CA 93720
About
Break the Barriers Gymnastics Program offers gymnastics classes that use equipment such as the trampoline, tumble track, parallel bars, uneven bars, high bar, spring floor, vault, rings, and balance beam. The program also includes a Toddler & Me gymnastics class that introduces young children and their adults to basic gymnastics skills.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
• Schedule: Office hours are Monday–Thursday 8:30am–7:15pm, Friday 8:30am–6:15pm, and Saturday 8:30am–12:15pm, with phones turning off 30 minutes before closing; a Gym Spring 2026 program schedule is available for download, and Break the Barriers will be closed March 30–April 4 for Spring Break.
• Price: Monthly fees are $75 per month for one hour per week and $150 per month for two hours per week; fees are due at registration, are nonrefundable, and no credit is given, and these fees do not apply to classes through Yosemite/Monarch, Central Valley Regional Center, or Self Determination.
All classes are taught by accomplished gymnasts who are described as experts in teaching gymnastics technique, spotting, and building students’ self-esteem. Staff complete an ability awareness class with co-founder Deby Hergenrader, are familiarized with ASD, learn to use PECs, structured schedules, social stories, and the Timed Timer, and co-teach spectrum classes with a trained staff member. The program groups students by age and gymnastics experience rather than ability level, and each student is taught skills for his or her individual level. Students who need more time or adaptive equipment receive additional attention, and a student may be transferred to a different class at the Director’s discretion. The Toddler & Me class focuses on proper class etiquette and basic gymnastics skills, and has specific rules such as one adult per enrolled child, adults assisting but not going on equipment, and coaches spotting any skill where the child goes upside down.
The program has a dress code that includes no bare midriffs, no low-cut shirts, no spaghetti straps, a minimum 1-inch shoulder strap on tank tops, shorts with at least a 6-inch inseam, no gum, optional sweatpants in winter, bare feet or gymnastics shoes, and long hair tied back. Registration requires a Child Liability Waiver for students under 18 or an Adult Liability Waiver for students 18 and older, and sometimes a doctor’s release is required for specific physical or medical conditions such as heart conditions, epilepsy, or bone and joint issues. Break the Barriers has a zero tolerance policy for drugs, tobacco, alcohol, threats, bullying, fighting, and physical or verbal assault at events and programs.
Break the Barriers states its mission as “Celebrating awareness and victories of all abilities, ethnicities, and ages through exceptional programs, outreach, and inclusion education.” The organization promotes integrated sports, health and fitness, performing arts, and education programs, and describes its gymnastics program as fully integrated, with students of all abilities trained together. The outreach of the Barrier Breakers was named “The National Role Model for Inclusion” by the U.S. Department of Education. In a parent testimonial, one gymnastics parent reports that “Fidel gets so excited to go to Break the Barriers every week and it has really kept his spirits up during such a challenging year.”
In 1982, “Gymnastics by Deby” was created, and the Hergenrader family set up a dance studio in their home and gymnastics equipment in their backyard. In October 1984, Break the Barriers was incorporated as a nonprofit corporation, and in 1986 the Barrier Breaker team was formed. Effective June 2019, Steve and Deby Hergenrader passed the torch to their oldest son, Jared Hergenrader, who became Chief Executive Officer.
Break the Barriers reports global and local community involvement that includes visits to 12 countries, 276 community partners, 152 schools and partners in education, 8 foreign government partnerships, service to more than 6,300 veterans and active-duty military, and an estimated impact of over 300 million people worldwide. The organization holds free gymnastics, Taekwondo, dance, and English classes for Afghan refugee children, and reports that over 10,000 individuals come through its doors weekly, including students from multiple school districts, inner-city outreach, and veterans.
Last updated March 16, 2026.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
• Schedule: Office hours are Monday–Thursday 8:30am–7:15pm, Friday 8:30am–6:15pm, and Saturday 8:30am–12:15pm, with phones turning off 30 minutes before closing; a Gym Spring 2026 program schedule is available for download, and Break the Barriers will be closed March 30–April 4 for Spring Break.
• Price: Monthly fees are $75 per month for one hour per week and $150 per month for two hours per week; fees are due at registration, are nonrefundable, and no credit is given, and these fees do not apply to classes through Yosemite/Monarch, Central Valley Regional Center, or Self Determination.
All classes are taught by accomplished gymnasts who are described as experts in teaching gymnastics technique, spotting, and building students’ self-esteem. Staff complete an ability awareness class with co-founder Deby Hergenrader, are familiarized with ASD, learn to use PECs, structured schedules, social stories, and the Timed Timer, and co-teach spectrum classes with a trained staff member. The program groups students by age and gymnastics experience rather than ability level, and each student is taught skills for his or her individual level. Students who need more time or adaptive equipment receive additional attention, and a student may be transferred to a different class at the Director’s discretion. The Toddler & Me class focuses on proper class etiquette and basic gymnastics skills, and has specific rules such as one adult per enrolled child, adults assisting but not going on equipment, and coaches spotting any skill where the child goes upside down.
The program has a dress code that includes no bare midriffs, no low-cut shirts, no spaghetti straps, a minimum 1-inch shoulder strap on tank tops, shorts with at least a 6-inch inseam, no gum, optional sweatpants in winter, bare feet or gymnastics shoes, and long hair tied back. Registration requires a Child Liability Waiver for students under 18 or an Adult Liability Waiver for students 18 and older, and sometimes a doctor’s release is required for specific physical or medical conditions such as heart conditions, epilepsy, or bone and joint issues. Break the Barriers has a zero tolerance policy for drugs, tobacco, alcohol, threats, bullying, fighting, and physical or verbal assault at events and programs.
Break the Barriers states its mission as “Celebrating awareness and victories of all abilities, ethnicities, and ages through exceptional programs, outreach, and inclusion education.” The organization promotes integrated sports, health and fitness, performing arts, and education programs, and describes its gymnastics program as fully integrated, with students of all abilities trained together. The outreach of the Barrier Breakers was named “The National Role Model for Inclusion” by the U.S. Department of Education. In a parent testimonial, one gymnastics parent reports that “Fidel gets so excited to go to Break the Barriers every week and it has really kept his spirits up during such a challenging year.”
In 1982, “Gymnastics by Deby” was created, and the Hergenrader family set up a dance studio in their home and gymnastics equipment in their backyard. In October 1984, Break the Barriers was incorporated as a nonprofit corporation, and in 1986 the Barrier Breaker team was formed. Effective June 2019, Steve and Deby Hergenrader passed the torch to their oldest son, Jared Hergenrader, who became Chief Executive Officer.
Break the Barriers reports global and local community involvement that includes visits to 12 countries, 276 community partners, 152 schools and partners in education, 8 foreign government partnerships, service to more than 6,300 veterans and active-duty military, and an estimated impact of over 300 million people worldwide. The organization holds free gymnastics, Taekwondo, dance, and English classes for Afghan refugee children, and reports that over 10,000 individuals come through its doors weekly, including students from multiple school districts, inner-city outreach, and veterans.
Last updated March 16, 2026.
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