RESNA Standards Committee On Inclusive Fitness
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Need for the Standard
People of all abilities need and want the opportunity to improve their fitness level through regular cardiovascular (i.e., aerobic) exercise and strength training (e.g., weights, bands, body weight strengthening). People of all abilities face obstacles when it comes to turning that opportunity into reality, including cost, location, training, and equipment available, and an atmosphere that empowers them. Most people will go to the local public fitness facility—whether run through the local government or privately owned—that meets their needs. Once a fitness facility is chosen, people face the obstacle of motivation. Often, the ability of friends and family to work out together is a powerful motivation to keep doing the challenging work of improving fitness.
People with impairments or disabilities often find their fitness options limited because local fitness facilities may not have a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere or may not be physically, cognitively, or sensory-disability friendly and accessible. Fitness centers designed specifically for people with impairments or disabilities may meet training and equipment accessibility needs, but may not be the best fit as far as cost, location, and atmosphere. Additionally, people using such facilities do not have the option of working out with many of their friends or family, lowering the motivation to keep going.
Creating an inclusive fitness facility requires going beyond a checklist mentality based on minimum regulatory requirements. The benefits of going beyond the minimum to ensure access for all could be life changing for people in the community. Providing an inclusive place for people of all abilities to work out together will benefit individuals, families, friends, and fitness facilities. RESNA IF-1 provides fitness center owners and decision makers with guidelines about how to create an inclusive center where all are welcome.
Scope of the Standard
This Volume of RESNA IF-1 specifies best practices and existing regulations, standard specifications, and test methods for determining inclusive fitness facility accessibility and the existence of an inclusive fitness culture and approach to policy development, equipment procurement, staff training, programming, user interactions, and marketing.
NOTE: RESNA IF-1 does not apply to private or home fitness environments.
Sections Included in the Standard
Section 1: Providing and Marketing Inclusive Fitness Environments
Section 2: Disclosure of Published Methods and Requirements for Creating Inclusive Fitness Environments and Implementing Inclusive Fitness Practices
Section 3: Specifications, Test Methods, and Best Practices for Facility Accessibility
Section 4: Specifications for Training on and Certification for Working with People with Disabilities for Community-Based Fitness Facility Staff
Section 5: Guidelines for Disclosure of Information about Adherence to Best Practices Related to Inclusive Fitness Environments for Marketing Purposes
Section 6: Policy Topics for Inclusive Fitness Centers
Who Should Participate
- Designers/Policy Creators—equipment manufacturers, gym designers, certification designers, policy makers, advocacy groups, curriculum writers
- Users—people with disabilities, caregivers, consumer groups, facility owners, staff/trainers, sports program providers, PE teachers
- Experts—clinicians, researchers, accessibility evaluators
Meetings are open to anyone; voting on documents requires membership. Each standards committee is required to maintain a balance in membership. Anyone is welcome to join the committee, and we are especially looking for fitness equipment manufacturers and government representatives. If you are interested in participating, please contact one of the committee officers.
Officers
CHAIR
VICE CHAIR
Theresa Tartamella
Duquesne University
Rangos School of Health Sciences, Department of Physical Therapy
tartamellat@duq.edu
SECRETARY
This new committee will develop guidelines and/or technical reports to: (1) disclose standards, guidelines, and certifications that are currently available to the fitness industry to provide non-discriminatory access for people with disabilities, and (2) develop inclusive access marks to identify fitness facilities and fitness equipment in mainstream facilities that meet access requirements for people with disabilities. This will allow people with disabilities to easily identify fitness facilities, trainers, and accessible equipment that meet their specific needs. These standards will increase the opportunities of family and friends of people with disabilities to participate in exercise activities together and will help fitness facility operators, trainers, and staff members to identify materials that are available to them in order to make their fitness environment, including layout, equipment, and programming, more universally accessible to people of all abilities, including those with a disability.
Inclusive Fitness Guidelines will improve accessibility for all persons, regardless of their abilities and will educate people on the standards available, including the accessible fitness equipment standards just passed through ASTM, the fitness facility layout standards being developed through NSF International and guidelines available through the US Access Board, and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)/National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD) Certified Inclusive Fitness Trainer certification.
If you would like more information on how you can participate, please contact a committee officer.