With a flick of a switch , that gym became just a little bit more inclusive
co-design sessions we consistently hear the same comments as to how we can be more inclusive as personal trainers and gym staff . “ Treat me like you would anyone else ” “ Be nice to me ” “ Please have patience with me ” “ Look beyond my disability ” It sounds simple until you realise they are saying this because , to date , this treatment has not been their experience . We shouldn ’ t need training to be nice to someone , or to see the person instead of the disability .
Interestingly , what we haven ’ t heard about from people in terms of barriers to gym entry , is cost . The people we speak to would happily pay for a gym membership and PT services but choose not to , as their needs are not being met . My brother has been a paying member of his local Anytime Fitness club for nearly seven years now . He loves it and has developed real brand loyalty . Why ? Because the club manager , Cade , was nice to Jack . Cade checked in on him and spoke to him like he would anybody else . It really can be that simple .
3 steps to improving your inclusivity
So , I ask you , as somebody who likely works in a fitness facility , if someone in a wheelchair came into your gym – would you assume they were there to train ? Or would you ask if they were lost ? Would you think it was out of the ordinary ? Or would you not be fazed that they were in a wheelchair ? You really shouldn ’ t be , because after all , what ’ s the point of the wheelchair ramp if they are not welcome on the inside ? That my friend is a wheelchair ramp to nowhere !
To help you get started , here are three ideas you might like to try to become more inclusive and accessible for people living with a disability .
1 Talk about it
Have you ever mentioned in your marketing or communications that you are open to people with disability ? Over 35 % of households in Australia have someone with a disability living in them . So , when you promote an inclusive gym , you are speaking the language of over 1 / 3 of your current members . Not only is that a very warm lead for new members – it also builds brand loyalty for their family and friends who are already members .
2 Offer sensory-friendly experiences
A few years ago , Woolworths trialled ‘ sensory friendly ’ hours at their stores . Music was turned off and the lights were dimmed to allow people with sensory sensitivities to shop with more comfort . What they found was these hours became really busy , as they were preferred by a lot of people who didn ’ t even have those sensitivities . Considering the majority of people at the gym train with headphones on , would many people even notice this simple change , let alone be upset by it ?
3 Make your website accessible to all
Most people with disabilities and their families will research your facility online in advance of visiting . By having one of the many Google Chrome extensions , such as
UserWay , that allows for accessibility features , you can show potential customers that you are keen to meet their unique needs .
Inclusion is at the heart of WeFlex , a business I recently founded to improve the length and quality of life for those living with disability . We all know the power of regular exercise and improved fitness , and it is my life ’ s mission to help connect people with unique needs to the immense benefits that the fitness industry has to offer . More importantly , this will help create somewhere people with disabilities can go and feel included as part of society . Sometimes , I feel that my brother ’ s world is very small and by making the gym a more inclusive place , his world gets that little bit bigger .
Tommy Trout Tommy is passionate about creating a more inclusive world after personal experience seeing the health inequality for people with disability . Seeing a clear gap in the market , Tommy founded WeFlex , a business that connects people with disabilities with mainstream health and fitness providers and aims to create a more inclusive fitness industry .
22 | NETWORK SUMMER 2021