Anytime Fitness has looked to challenge stereotypes with its ‘Any Body, Any Time’ campaign.
Normalising disability Tommy Trout shares five ways operators can make people with a disability feel comfortable in a fitness environment
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t’s not uncommon for people to make assumptions about the state of mental health when it comes to people who are living with a disability. A lot of this stigma often revolves around the nature of the disability and the stereotypes it carries. For example, people on the Autism spectrum are often portrayed in the media as robotic and emotionless, therefore they seem unaffected by issues like depression. However, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, a 2020 report by the Australian Institute of Heath and Welfare showed that people with a disability are four times more likely to experience high or very high psychological distress. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve come a long way in our understanding of mental health and how it impacts everybody - it’s significant. The mental health benefits of exercise are also significant and extend to all of us, disabled or not. Typically though, disability communities are often cautious due to their unique needs, sometimes due to compromised immune systems but also because they are rarely included in marketing material which does little to make them feel welcome. However, with around 20% of Australia’s population living with a disability, here lies an exciting opportunity for the fitness industry to make them feel welcome and supported in a fitness environment. This is something that Anytime Fitness Australia have taken on as a challenge in their Any Body Any Time campaign and, more recently, our collaboration with Anytime Fitness has
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taught us about the barriers that keep Aussies living with a disability from engaging with the industry and the opportunities within each. Seven years ago, when my brother Jack (who is on the autism spectrum) and I first walked in to Anytime Fitness Drummoyne, they were very supportive of having us in their gym. The team were very receptive to hearing our suggestions and feedback as to how to make the gym even more welcoming to those with a disability. Over time, I decided to put the WeFlex program together, and Anytime Fitness, the first people who I presented it to, were more than happy to get on board and implement the program. Now, we send their clients to WeFlex accredited trainers who are trained to work with certain disabilities. Here are some of our findings: Accessibility: Is more than just ramps. Accessibility can also cover the volume of the music, the brightness of the lights and the configuration of the door at the top of the ramp. Inclusivity: What good is an accessible fitness environment if the space inside isn’t inclusive? Accessibility is getting inside - inclusion is about how you’re treated once you’re there. Representation: When was the last time you saw someone with a disability in the marketing of a fitness brand? Even better, when did you last see a photo where the disability
