Woman began own fitness class after feeling like 'token disabled person'

A woman has said she began her own fitness business after always feeling like the "token disabled person" in classes when she tried to take part.

Sam James, from Swindon, Wiltshire, has cerebral palsy and has since won a national award for her business.

Her experience is not unique, with Laura Horton from Disability Rights UK saying many disabled people reported feeling a "little bit burdensome". "Finding suitable, accessible and welcoming fitness opportunities seems to be a reoccurring issue that disabled people tell us," she said.

Sam said there was a "lack of information out there, or a lack of awareness of instructors, on how to include disabled people into mainstream classes".

Sam had always wanted to dance, she said, but never found a school that would take her. When she also got an injury and went through some rehab for it, she found other things improved too.

"I actually found out my balance improved, I was falling over less and I had more stamina, less fatigue, less pain and that's when I decided to actually do it for myself."

When she tried to find classes, she found many personal trainers and instructors did not know how to adapt well and there was a lack of information on how to include disabled people in mainstream classes.

Irene Tucker, who joined Sam's workouts after discovering similar issues, said: "I just felt very uncomfortable and people were like just looking at me."

She said people saw "the wheelchair first" rather than her and she did not "feel like I could exercise in a safe way".

Irene has not had the same problem joining Sam on her InclusFit groups and says she is a much "happier person" with them.

There is a social aspect too, which some find "more beneficial than class," said Sam.

Horton, of Disability Rights UK, said "some reported that they kind of get eyes rolled at them when they ask if they can explain something differently or, you know, can you adapt this session?"

She explained there could be "attitudinal barriers" with many not feeling "like they belong there".

The charity has spoken to providers before, with some saying they are worried about getting it wrong.

"There's a fear that they might ask the wrong question or get the language wrong," Horton continued.

"So there's a lot of work to be done there around actually providing confidence and skills with the providers of services," she added.

When the organisation works with providers, she said it recommends "co-production", in which disabled people are involved in developing classes from the beginning so that the providers know what their audiences need.

"Rather than developing a class asking why disabled people are not attending, providers should first ask about what people want," she said.

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