The Health and Fitness Clubs workgroup has gathered together the following materials which can be used to remove barriers and increase inclusion at health and fitness clubs.
Over time the Health and Fitness Clubs workgroup aims to create a resource library with different guides dedicated to:
-
Educational materials for Personal Trainers
-
Educational materials for Front Desk and Floor Staff
-
Built Environment / Facility Design
-
Advocacy materials for Consumers with Disabilities
Feel free to download and use any of the materials listed below. You are welcome to email Carolyn Lullo at clullo2@uic.edu with information on other resources you would like to see added to the toolkit, or to share your experience using an item and removing barriers.
General Resources:
Inclusive Fitness Coalition Call to Action
-
Health and Fitness for People with Disabilities a National Priority
-
People with Disabilities Have Low Levels of Physical Activity Participation
-
Poor Access to Fitness and Recreation Facilities and Programs
Inclusive Fitness Coalition Factsheet: Making Your Health and Fitness Center a Welcoming Facility
Inclusive Fitness Coalition Factsheet: Facts, Statistics & Key Changes Needed in Communities and States
Coming Soon!
BE SAFE... Fitness Equipment Safety Guidelines for Persons Using Mobility Devices
This is a freely downloadable poster on strength training safety guidelines for wheelchair-users. The poster is being developed by Beneficial Designs, Inc. through the RERC-RecTech D4. Development of Uniform Standards for Accessible Fitness Equipment project. Visit www.beneficialdesigns.com for more information on the project, and follow up with IFC to receive the updated poster.
The Conspicuous Absence of People with Disabilities in Public Fitness and Recreation Facilities: Lack of Interest or Lack of Access?
An article in The American Journal of Health Promotion by James H. Rimmer, PhD. May/June 2005, Vol. 19, No. 5.
American College of Sports Medicine Certified News - Volume 16, Issue 4; October-December 2006
-
Disability Awareness and Customer Service, Page 2
-
Designing a Fitness Facility for All, Page 5
-
Adapting Exercise Programs for Persons with Physical Disabilities
Inclusive Fitness Initiative Report - Inclusion Works Out: Creating inclusive fitness and sport environments to increase participation
-
For further information please contact: The Inclusive Fitness Initiative, c/o MLS, 4 Park Square, Newton Chambers Road, Thorncliffe Park, Chapeltown, Sheffield, S35 2PH
-
Email: info@inclusivefitness.org
-
Web: www.inclusivefitness.org
Universal Design: Accessible Exercise Equipment is Available
The principle of universal design is to build equipment that can be used equally by all people to the greatest extent possible. Since 2001, the Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) in England has been working with the fitness industry to create universal design standards. IFI is the first systematic attempt to develop universal design standards for exercise equipment. In the U.S., design standards for exercise equipment are promulgated by ASTM. In 2008, a special ASTM committee was formed to draft Universal Design Fitness Equipment Guidelines for the U.S.
This document provides details and images of the various access aids, cross trainers/ellipticals, lower body resistance machines, miscellaneous aids, multistations, recumbent cycles, small equipment packs, treadmills, upper body ergometers, upper body resistance machines, upright cycles, and vibration training machines that are being manufactured today.
Educational Materials for Personal Trainers:
American College of Sports Medicine/National Center on Physical Activity and Disability Certified Inclusive Fitness Trainer
-
Commonly referred to as ACSM/NCPAD CIFT
-
This certification is an industry-first for professionals working in the health and fitness field, specifically to assist in fully including individuals with disabilities into various exercise environments, including health club, outdoor and home-based settings.
-
For more information please contact the ACSM National Office by calling 317-637-9200 ext 115 or e-mailing certification@acsm.org
The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability Factsheet: Person-First Language and Disability Awareness: Interaction Tips for the Fitness Professional
-
Guidelines for Working with Persons who are Blind or Visually Impaired
-
Guidelines for Working with Persons who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
-
Guidelines for Working with a Person with a Mobility Disability
-
Guidelines for Working with a Person with a Speech Disability
-
Guidelines for Working with a Person with a Cognitive Disability
Built Environment / Facility Design:
North Carolina Office on Disability and Health in collaboration with The Center for Universal Design:
Removing Barriers to Health Clubs and Fitness Facilities A Guide for Accommodating All Members, Including People with Disabilities and Older Adults
The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability: Before & After Fitness Center Makeover
-
Use this tool to look closely at various components of a fitness center and learn how to make each component accessible.
-
This interactive document also contains reference materials for more in depth follow up.
Addressing Barriers to Fitness and Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities
-
Resources for Addressing Facility Accessibility and ADA-Related Issues