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Basic Takeaways
This blog is the first in a series from the Lakeshore Foundation that will move through the five areas necessary to provide a comprehensive approach to ensuring that you offer accessible fitness programs and that your gym is inclusive and welcoming to all individuals, including those with disabilities. Read on to discover how the built environment can be the key to an inclusive and equitable physical state—starting when customers arrive in your parking lot and continuing through every area of the facility. And, use the step-by-step process to assess your current environment and make improvements to design a space that works for all people.
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You watched the Olympics. Now is the time to tune in to the Paralympic Games which will be held in Paris at the same venues, with the Opening Ceremonies on 28 August. Speaking of the Paralympics, have you ever wondered what it would take to train a Paralympian, or someone with a disability for that matter? The facilities, the equipment, all the extra knowledge — could you do it? One in four adults in the US has a disability, which means that if you are not equipped and trained to serve people with disabilities, you are missing out on reaching a large portion of the population.
When it comes to access to health and wellness programs, the need is great. People with disabilities are three times more likely to experience secondary health conditionsincluding diabetes, stroke and heart disease. Of course, people with these conditions can benefit greatly from regular physical activity. Unfortunately, people with disabilities are often not included in health and wellness programs due to lack of access to the built environment or inadequate exercise program design.
The Built Environment
The first area necessary to provide a comprehensive approach to accessibility focuses on the built environment, those structural features embedded in a facility or landscape.
Lack of access to the built environment is a guaranteed solution for people with disabilities. With a nod to the famous film series and our focus on inclusion, “If you don’t make it accessible, they can’t come.” If people with disabilities can’t enter your premises or can’t access places once inside, they simply won’t come.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed more than 30 years ago, providing access to people with disabilities. However, the unfortunate truth is that access is still not guaranteed, and gyms tend to be some of the most guilty when it comes to not doing enough to make their spaces usable for everyone.
Your gym’s built environment is the first model of inclusion your members will encounter, and it begins when clients enter your parking lot, including lighting, curb cuts, clear sidewalks, ramps, and an automatic front door. Once inside, considerations include reception desk height, clear walkways, appropriate floor surfaces and proper signage. Make sure you see every area of the facility through the lens of accessibility, including the towel racks, changing rooms, bathroom counters, water area, machine area, free weight area, aerobics room and everything in between .
As a gym, it is your responsibility to work with the disability community and constantly assess your environment to make the necessary changes to ensure everyone can access your facility. While the ADA exists as a basic standard, it covers only the bare minimum in terms of need. The gold standard would be universal designwhich ensures that environments are designed to be usable by all people, including mums with prams, grandparents and people with disabilities, without the need for adaptation or specialist design.
Integration Solutions
- Take the following steps to assess and improve the accessibility of your facility:
- Do some research to find out what an accessible gym looks like and universal design elements.
- Consider all the different types of disability.
- Work with a local disability organization or people with disabilities.
- Rate your space using an accessibility check (see below for options).
- Work with the disability community to make the necessary changes to your facilities.
Resources
Check out this blog to learn more about the Lakeshore Foundation and Customer Service with Disabilities.
