The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #62238

James H. Rimmer, PhD, Edward Wang, PhD, Barth Riley, PhD, and Amy Rauworth, MS. Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1640 West Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, IL 60608, 312/4139651, jrimmer@uic.edu

This study evaluated the degree of accessibility of 59 fitness facilities in various geographic regions across the United States. Thirty-four individuals with mobility impairments and 26 fitness/recreation professionals were asked to visit multiple fitness facilities within their region to evaluate the degree of accessibility using the AIMFREE (Accessibility Instruments Measuring Fitness and Recreation Environments) instrument. Of the 20 identified accessibility domains pertaining to fitness facilities, staff attitude, staff knowledge/behavior, information services, and equipment (i.e., hot tub, sauna, swimming pool) were rated as least accessible by consumers, while professionals rated telephone, access route and equipment with the lowest accessibility scores. While the general fitness areas such as parking, elevator, water fountain, and bathroom were considered accessible, domains beyond ADA regulation including professional behavior (knowledge of disability and attitudes toward working with people with disabilities), equipment, and information services received a low accessibility rating and remain major environmental barriers to participation in various types of physical activities by people with disabilities.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the various domains of accessibility related to fitness facilities and their use by people with disabilities.
• Identify differences in accessibility by facility domain.

Keywords: Disability, Access

Related Web page: www.aimfree.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.