disability fi tness
Katherine Selby looks at ways in which clubs could better cater for disabled people
TIME TO ACT
“F
itness is not just about looking good – it’s about what’s inside too. Your self-esteem, sense of self-worth and emotional
strength can all be improved through exercise and sporting achievement. It’s the same if you’re blind, in a wheelchair, have lost the use of your arms or if you’re non-disabled. The fitter and healthier you are, the better you can work and live your life to the full. “Why should anyone be denied this
opportunity of achieving a sense of wellbeing? Many disabled people need to be stronger in certain areas to compensate for their impairment, so gym and sports are the perfect way to achieve fi tness.” This is the view of Danny Crates, 800m gold medallist at the 2004 Athens Paralympics. With 20 sports in the Paralympic
programme for London 2012, it’s clear there are plenty of sporting opportunities that disabled athletes
Danny Crates,
Paralympic gold medallist, is a champion of
inclusive fitness
could pursue. However, 93 per cent of disabled people do not currently take part in regular activity (Active People Survey, Dec 09). There’s surely an opportunity for the fi tness industry
– indeed, an obligation – to provide facilities, training and encouragement for this population group. It can be daunting to know where to start, but there are a growing number of organisations on- hand to help. We ask for their advice.
integration not segregation Disability fitness is about inclusion and integration. “Disabled and non-disabled elite athletes train side-by-side and share coaches, trainers and facilities. There’s no reason why recreational athletes can’t do the same,” says Crates. Dawn Hughes, equipment manager
for the Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) at the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS), wholeheartedly agrees.
“The way forward is for facilities to provide an inclusive environment comprising equipment that can be used by both disabled and non-disabled members,” she says. Crates adds: “A good coach is a
good coach and they should be able to motivate everyone who comes to them.”
40 Read Health Club Management online at
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital
But disabled customers need to be open and honest with their trainer too: “Just as a non-disabled customer will share their fi tness history and goals with a personal trainer, so too should a disabled customer: it’s a two-way partnership.”
people power New-build sport and leisure facilities must conform to the Equality Act, which requires them to be compliant and able to receive anybody, with full accessibility for all impairment groups. However, although many existing facilities are perfectly good for people with minimal impairment, to really improve someone’s fitness and skills you need to look beyond the building and ensure that all staff, personal trainers and coaches are trained to help every customer maximise their activity. “The receptionist is the fi rst point
of contact for visitors and can make or break the exercise experience for people with impairments,” says Nick Heyworth of Parasport. “If they or other staff are anxious or can’t relate to these customers, a wall immediately goes up.” “Training staff to ensure disabled people
receive a safe, effective and valuable experience is a key requirement of IFI
june 2011 © cybertrek 2011
PHOTO: INCLUSIVE FITNESS INITIATIVE
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