In a groundbreaking move towards greater inclusivity in the fitness industry, Future Fit for Business has launched a pioneering Visual Impairment Course in collaboration with Accessercise. This industry-first course is designed to equip fitness professionals with the essential skills and knowledge to effectively communicate and coach individuals across a spectrum of visual impairments. By offering this comprehensive training, we aim to make fitness more accessible and supportive for the visually impaired community, marking a significant step forward in the health and physical activity sector.
Last year, Accessercise—the world’s first complete fitness app specifically designed for the disabled community—partnered with Future Fit. This partnership made the Accessercise app available to all Future Fit learners, providing valuable insights into adapting exercises for disabled clients. However, it quickly became apparent that fitness professionals needed more comprehensive education on a wider range of disabilities to develop inclusive training environments, leading to the development of this Visual Impairment Course.
Ali Jawad, Paralympic Silver Medalist and Co-Founder of Accessercise, highlighted the importance of this initiative: “Our partnership with Future Fit marks a pivotal moment in advancing inclusive fitness education. By introducing impairment-specific courses, we’re equipping personal trainers with the essential knowledge and skills to confidently and effectively support their disabled clients. This initiative not only breaks down barriers but also sets a new standard for the fitness industry, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their abilities, have access to quality, personalised fitness guidance.”
Inclusivity in physical activity is crucial, yet according to the See Sport Differently Report, blind and partially sighted people are twice as likely to be inactive, and there is a lack of confidence and training among coaches. Over 2 million people in the UK live with sight loss, so as the health and fitness industry pivots to active wellbeing, it is more important than ever to ensure fitness professionals are equipped with these skills to ensure inclusive exercise provision.
Hazel Goudie, Head of Teaching and Learning at Future Fit said “The launch of this course is a significant step towards making physical activity more inclusive and accessible. By equipping fitness professionals with the necessary knowledge, we aim to break down barriers and create a more supportive environment for visually impaired individuals. Our goal is to ensure that everyone, regardless of their abilities, has the opportunity to lead a healthy and active lifestyle.”
The Visual Impairment Course offers a thorough curriculum that covers various aspects of visual impairment, promoting a more inclusive and supportive environment. Participants will learn how to:
Future Fit for Business has a robust history of supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives. We are committed to elevating educational standards and challenging the fitness sector to enhance its approach to training professionals in working with the disabled community. As part of our ongoing work with ukactive, Future Fit sponsored the Everyone Can report, supported the development of the ukactive self-assessment tool, and actively participates in the steering group for employability guides.
This Visual Impairment Course is just the beginning. With Accessercise, we plan to expand our suite of impairment-specific CPD courses later this year, including training on working with clients who have amputations and spinal cord injuries. These initiatives aim to increase participation and create more opportunities for individuals with disabilities to engage in physical activity, ultimately striving to build a more inclusive and accessible fitness environment.
To learn more about the Visual Impairment Course and how it can enhance your team’s skillset, visit the course page and start your journey towards making your fitness training more inclusive, accessible, and impactful. Learn More Here.