Creating Inclusive Fitness Spaces: The Essential Role of the Built Environment
Key Takeaways
This article is the first in a proactive series from Lakeshore Foundation aimed at exploring the essential domains needed to create accessible and inclusive fitness programs. We will delve into how the built environment plays a critical role in ensuring that your fitness facility is welcoming to everyone, especially individuals with disabilities. We’ll provide a step-by-step guide for evaluating your current environment and making necessary improvements, right from the moment clients arrive in your parking lot to their experiences within every facet of your facility.
The Importance of Inclusion
As the world turns its gaze toward the upcoming Paralympics in Paris, it’s a poignant reminder of the capabilities and achievements of athletes with disabilities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four adults in the United States lives with a disability. This significant demographic highlights the pressing need for fitness facilities to adapt and become more inclusive. Not only can these individuals benefit immensely from regular physical activity, but their participation has the potential to enrich the fitness community as a whole.
Nevertheless, access to health and wellness programs is often inadequate. Research indicates that individuals with disabilities are three times more likely to suffer from secondary health conditions, including diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. Hence, fitness centers must take actionable steps to ensure that their facilities are not just compliant with regulations but are also genuinely welcoming to everyone.
The Built Environment: Your First Model of Inclusion
When discussing inclusivity in fitness programs, the first domain that requires attention is the built environment—the structural features that define your facility. Equity in access starts long before anyone steps onto a treadmill or into a yoga class; it begins as soon as they arrive in your parking lot.
A fitness center’s built environment is instrumental in determining access. The notion echoes the famous line, “If you don’t build it accessibly, they can’t come.” People with disabilities will not patronize a facility if they cannot even enter it or navigate its interior comfortably.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted over 30 years ago, laid the groundwork for accessible environments. Yet, the reality is that many fitness facilities still fall short of achieving true accessibility. These spaces often represent some of the most challenged areas, failing to meet the needs of diverse populations.
Evaluating Your Facility
The built environment of your fitness center serves as the initial touchpoint for inclusion. It includes critical considerations both outside and inside the facility:
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Exterior Elements: This includes adequate parking spaces, well-lit paths, curb cuts, ramps, and automatic doors, all important for those with mobility challenges.
- Interior Access: Once inside, factors like the height of the welcome desk, clear pathways, appropriate flooring, and signage become paramount. Every area—towel bins, locker rooms, bathrooms, aquatic spaces, and more—should be evaluated through the lens of accessibility.
It is the responsibility of fitness centers to collaborate with the disability community, actively identifying barriers and making necessary adjustments. While the ADA sets a basic standard, the goal should be to elevate your facility to what is known as universal design. This approach ensures environments that are functional for all individuals, from parents with strollers to older adults and people with disabilities, without needing specialized adjustments.
Steps to Improve Accessibility
To create an inclusive fitness environment for members of all abilities, consider the following actionable steps:
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Research Accessible Design: Familiarize yourself with what an accessible fitness center comprises and the principles of universal design.
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Consider All Types of Disabilities: Understand the diverse nature of disabilities—mobility, sensory, cognitive—and think holistically about accommodations.
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Engage with Local Disability Organizations: Partnership with local organizations or individuals with disabilities can provide firsthand insights and recommendations.
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Conduct a Facility Assessment: Use accessibility checkers and assessment tools (find options below) to analyze your current environment and identify areas for improvement.
- Implement Necessary Changes: Collaborate with the disability community for effective modifications and foster a culture of continuous assessment and enhancement.
Conclusion
Creating inclusive fitness spaces takes thoughtful planning, collaboration, and a genuine commitment to serving a broader community. As we strive to build environments that support everyone’s fitness journey, we not only fulfill our responsibilities as service providers but also enrich our facilities and the lives of our members. Stay tuned for the next installment in this series that will explore additional domains crucial for ensuring that fitness programs truly accommodate and welcome all individuals.
Additional Resources
For a deeper understanding of serving clients with disabilities, check out this resource from the American Council on Exercise: Serving Clients with Disabilities: Expanding Opportunities and Access.
Together, let’s work toward a fitness industry where everyone has the opportunity to engage, improve, and thrive.
