According to Gabriel Gerbic, MPE, CSCS, the fitness coordinator of Virginia G. Piper Sports & Fitness in Phoenix, Ariz., as a whole, health clubs have overlooked individuals with disabilities as potential members.
By doing so, Gerbic explained clubs are overlooking a large demographic. “About 18 percent of the U.S. population has some form of disability, and it’s a significant population to cater to,” he explained.
Virginia G. Piper Sports & Fitness (SpoFit) was built with exactly this purpose in mind. The 45,000 square foot, one-of-a-kind fitness facility boasts a full-service fitness center, indoor courts, an aquatic center, climbing wall and an indoor jogging track — all of which are completely accessible to individuals with disabilities. “We are a purpose-built facility for persons with disabilities, with unique access points, staff and equipment to assist our members in any way they need,” explained Gerbic.
SpoFit goes above and beyond ADA compliance. For example, all of the cardio and strength equipment is wheelchair accessible, and group fitness classes are tailored to be all-inclusive. In the aquatics center, pool lifts provide easy entry and exit into and out of the pool, and the locker rooms include transfer/dressing platforms, accessible showers and lockers.
As stated, SpoFit goes above and beyond to provide fitness access to disabled individuals. However, Amber Blanchard, CTRS, the manager of SpoFit, believes it doesn’t take much — just asking how you can be more inclusive is the first step. “The number one thing you can do is ask — ask people with disabilities, ask parents, other clubs and care providers,” she said. “Don’t make assumptions and don’t be afraid to make a mistake. The worst thing you can do is not try. Just ask the experts — people with disabilities.”
Gerbic said one of the things he wishes club operators knew is that being ADA compliant doesn’t necessarily mean you’re disability-friendly. “Doors and bathrooms are not the only things that need to be accessible,” he said. “These allow access, but people do not join a fitness facility solely for the access — they want avenues for activity and exercise. Proper spacing, heights and types of equipment make things accessible.”
SpoFit’s equipment is one of the main features of the club. “We have accessible fitness equipment, which allows wheelchair users to access machines without having to transfer,” explained Gerbic. “It allows universal accessibility, thus a person with or without a disability can use the same equipment. We arranged our fitness center with lots of room between equipment to allow users ease of access and [less] hazards.”
Provide easier access to persons with disabilities, and Gerbic believes you’ll see an increase in membership. “Clubs that offer more classes for those with disabilities, provide equipment that can be universally utilized, and make users feel more welcome, will see an increase in membership,” he said.
In addition to short-term benefits, such as an initial increase in membership numbers, Gerbic explained there are long-term benefits as well. “Providing access is relatively easy, costs very little and yields long-term benefits not only to the club, but to the population it serves,” he said. “Families want to exercise together. Clubs that only allow access for part of the family do not serve their needs well. Buying universally-accessible equipment will be the future of access, and consulting someone with a disability or an organization that serves this population will help to ensure that equipment, classes and access are what is needed.”
“Inclusion is easy,” continued Blanchard. “All it takes is an open mind and the willingness to ask and try. In fact, feel free to ask us!”
For questions on how to be more inclusive to individuals with disabilities, contact Loren Worthington, the communications and marketing manager for SpoFit, at lorenw@abil.org.
Rachel Zabonick is the assistant editor for Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@clubsolutionsmagazine.com. Reach out to her about exciting events or programs your club has implemented, or to share the amazing accomplishments of a member.
Yes, wheelchair accessibility is important, and focusing on it is a huge leap forward. But “disabilities” is a term that includes much more than mobility impairments. I am totally blind and love being physically active. Unfortunately, home or commercial gym equipment is rarely if ever fully accessible to me not because of how I might navigate its setting, but because the vast majority of how users access its functionality and features is done via a visual interface. Tactile markings are a start, but only afford access to the most basic features like speed, incline, etc. What if I want to use WiFi-available software to track my workouts and progress? What if I want to customize a workout or select a program? I can’t do any of these things independently. Progress messages about pace, calories, heart rate, etc. are nonexistent to me as a person who is blind. Accessibility is about using the machines for their designated features and purpose, not just about getting to and onto them.