James H Rimmer1, Barth Riley, Edward Wang, Amy Rauworth. 1. National Center on Physical Activity and Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center Rectech, Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago, 60608-6904, USA. jrimmer@uic.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We sought to examine the accessibility of health clubs to persons with mobility disabilities and visual impairments. METHODS: We assessed 35 health clubs and fitness facilities as part of a national field trial of a new instrument, Accessibility Instruments Measuring Fitness and Recreation Environments (AIMFREE), designed to assess accessibility of fitness facilities in the following domains: (1) built environment, (2) equipment, (3) swimming pools, (4) information, (5) facility policies, and (6) professional behavior. RESULTS: All facilities had a low to moderate level of accessibility. Some of the deficiencies concerned specific Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines pertaining to the built environment, whereas other deficiency areas were related to aspects of the facilities' equipment, information, policies, and professional staff. CONCLUSIONS: Persons with mobility disabilities and visual impairments have difficulty accessing various areas of fitness facilities and health clubs. AIMFREE is an important tool for increasing awareness of these accessibility barriers for people with disabilities.
OBJECTIVE: We sought to examine the accessibility of health clubs to persons with mobility disabilities and visual impairments. METHODS: We assessed 35 health clubs and fitness facilities as part of a national field trial of a new instrument, Accessibility Instruments Measuring Fitness and Recreation Environments (AIMFREE), designed to assess accessibility of fitness facilities in the following domains: (1) built environment, (2) equipment, (3) swimming pools, (4) information, (5) facility policies, and (6) professional behavior. RESULTS: All facilities had a low to moderate level of accessibility. Some of the deficiencies concerned specific Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines pertaining to the built environment, whereas other deficiency areas were related to aspects of the facilities' equipment, information, policies, and professional staff. CONCLUSIONS:Persons with mobility disabilities and visual impairments have difficulty accessing various areas of fitness facilities and health clubs. AIMFREE is an important tool for increasing awareness of these accessibility barriers for people with disabilities.
Authors: Paula C Rhode; Katherine Froehlich-Grobe; Jill R Hockemeyer; Jordan A Carlson; Jaehoon Lee Journal: Disabil Health J Date: 2012-04-20 Impact factor: 2.554
Authors: Katherine Froehlich-Grobe; Andrea C Betts; Simon J Driver; Danielle N Carlton; Amber Merfeld Lopez; Jaehoon Lee; M Kaye Kramer Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2020-11-05 Impact factor: 5.043