Accessibility Considerations for Choosing a Fitness Centre: Perspectives from UBC Students with Disabilities
Creators: name: Godfrey, Emily
name: Au, Rita
name: Ramos, Vince
name: Chan, Aaron
name: Carino, Colin
name: Zhou, Alex
Publisher: name: The University of British Columbia
Year: 2024

description: As university campuses strive to become more inclusive, it is essential to examine the individual experiences and challenges encountered by students with disabilities (SWD) in fitness centres. While research consistently shows that regular physical activity enhances quality of life, a significant number of people with disabilities do not engage in exercise (Rimmer et al., 2004). This research paper investigates the unique perspectives of University of British Columbia’s (UBC’s) student population living with disabilities and proposes actionable recommendations for UBC Recreation to improve the affordability, accessibility, and atmosphere of their fitness spaces. This study used a Qualtrics survey to collect both qualitative and quantitative insights from students with disabilities. The survey was distributed through social media platforms such as Discord and Instagram, as well as displayed on posters across campus. Additionally, it was shared with the UBC Centre for Accessibility (CfA) student email list, with the endorsement of the CfA co-director, Sarah Knitter. All data analysis was performed using Qualtrics research tools. The study identified three key themes that influence the fitness facility experiences of students with disabilities (SWD): accessibility, atmosphere, and affordability. Accessibility concerns were highlighted by factors related to well-designed spatial arrangements, inclusive and disability-informed staff, and accessible workout equipment and machines. Atmospheric barriers encompassed issues like overcrowding, spaciousness, noise levels, and lighting, which can impact the comfort and enjoyment of physical activity. Affordability challenges arose from the mandatory UBC Athletics and Recreation fee, regardless of facility usage, the lack of gym membership coverage in student fees, and inflexible gym membership plans. Conclusions regarding accessibility highlighted the importance of implementing sensory-sensitive fitness hours. This may involve modifications such as dimmed lighting and reduced noise levels. Such changes will accommodate sensory preferences. We also recommend that the new Student Recreation North Building provide more workout areas, equipment options, and flexible gym hours, easing overcrowding issues and promoting physical activity for SWD. When addressing barriers related to affordability, a sliding scale fee based on income, subsidized memberships based on financial need, flexible payment options such as pay-per-use or month-to-month, the implementation of a trial period, the introduction of off-peak pricing, and the provision of sensory-sensitive hours covered under the annual UBC Athletics and Recreation fee were suggested to provide more equitable access to UBC’s fitness facilities. Finally, our research emphasizes the need for regular inclusivity training for all staff members to ensure that they are well-equipped to create a welcoming environment for all fitness users. Several limitations of this research study were identified. It was reported that certain elements of our Matrix table survey questions may not be accessible to everyone. Additionally, given the short time frame on which the research was conducted, statistical analysis for this study was limited to simple descriptive statistics. A final limitation identified was that the research was not grounded in any particular theory or model as our team had limited experience running theoretically-driven research studies. Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Coordinator about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report.”