Woman Starts Fitness Class After Feeling Like ‘Token Disabled Person’
Why everyone deserves the opportunity to exercise, feel welcome and belong.
For many people, joining a fitness class is a straightforward way to improve their health, build confidence and meet new people. However, for some disabled people, finding a welcoming and accessible exercise environment can be a significant challenge.
One woman from Swindon, Wiltshire, is determined to change that.
Sam James, who has cerebral palsy, decided to establish her own fitness business after repeatedly experiencing exclusion and feeling like the “token disabled person” in mainstream exercise classes. Her experience highlights a wider issue within the fitness industry: the need to make exercise genuinely inclusive for people of all abilities.
Turning a Personal Challenge into a Positive Change
Sam had always dreamed of dancing but struggled to find a dance school willing to accommodate her needs.
Following an injury and rehabilitation, she began noticing unexpected improvements in her physical wellbeing. Her balance improved, she experienced fewer falls and she developed greater stamina. She also noticed reductions in fatigue and pain.
These positive changes inspired her to pursue fitness more seriously and eventually establish her own inclusive fitness business, InclusFit.
However, finding suitable classes was not easy. Sam discovered that many personal trainers and fitness instructors lacked the knowledge, confidence and information needed to adapt their sessions for disabled participants.
Rather than accepting these barriers, she decided to create an environment where everyone could participate.
Her business has since received national recognition, demonstrating the positive impact of challenging traditional approaches to fitness.
Feeling Welcome Matters as Much as Exercise
Sam’s experience is not an isolated one.
Irene Tucker, who joined Sam’s fitness sessions after encountering similar difficulties, described feeling uncomfortable in mainstream classes.
She explained that people often noticed her wheelchair before recognising her as an individual. She also struggled to feel confident that the exercises were safe and appropriate for her needs.
Since joining InclusFit, however, Irene has experienced a very different atmosphere. She feels more comfortable, supported and included, describing herself as a much happier person.
Her experience highlights an important point: accessibility is not simply about whether someone can physically enter a gym or exercise studio. It is also about whether they feel accepted, respected and confident enough to participate.
An inclusive fitness environment should allow people to concentrate on their health and enjoyment rather than worrying about being judged or treated differently.
The Barriers Facing Disabled People
Laura Horton from Disability Rights UK has highlighted how disabled people can feel burdensome when asking instructors to explain exercises differently or make adjustments.
Some participants report negative reactions, including impatient responses or dismissive attitudes when requesting adaptations.
These experiences can discourage people from returning to fitness classes altogether.
There are also barriers on the provider’s side. Some instructors worry about using inappropriate language, asking the wrong questions or making mistakes when supporting disabled participants.
However, uncertainty should not become an excuse for exclusion.
Fitness professionals need access to appropriate training, practical guidance and opportunities to develop their confidence when working with people with different disabilities and requirements.
Creating an inclusive environment requires more than good intentions. It requires understanding, preparation and a willingness to adapt.
Why Disabled People Must Be Part of the Conversation
One of the most important recommendations from Disability Rights UK is the concept of co-production.
This means involving disabled people in designing and developing fitness opportunities from the beginning rather than creating conventional classes and attempting to make adjustments afterwards.
Instead of asking why disabled people are not attending their sessions, fitness providers should start by asking what those individuals actually want and need.
This approach can help businesses understand practical requirements, identify barriers and develop classes that genuinely reflect the needs of their communities.
It also recognises that disabled people are experts in their own experiences and should have an active voice in decisions that affect them.
Fitness Is About More Than Physical Health
Although physical improvements are an important benefit of exercise, the positive effects extend much further.
For many people, fitness classes provide opportunities to develop friendships, build confidence and become part of a supportive community.
Sam recognises that the social element of her sessions can sometimes be just as beneficial as the exercise itself.
Feeling connected to others can improve motivation and make physical activity something people genuinely look forward to.
When participants feel welcome, they are more likely to return, develop healthy routines and enjoy the wider benefits of being active.
How the Fitness Industry Can Become More Inclusive
Sam’s story provides valuable lessons for gyms, personal trainers, leisure centres and fitness organisations.
Some practical steps include:
- Provide instructor training: Give fitness professionals the knowledge and confidence to support people with different disabilities.
- Improve accessibility information: Clearly communicate available facilities, equipment, class formats and potential adaptations before people book.
- Listen to disabled participants: Involve disabled people in planning and developing fitness programmes.
- Offer flexible exercise options: Recognise that people have different abilities, preferences and physical requirements.
- Build a welcoming culture: Encourage respect, patience and understanding among instructors and participants.
- Focus on individual potential: Avoid making assumptions about what someone can or cannot achieve because of their disability.
These changes do not simply benefit disabled participants. They can help create better, more welcoming fitness communities for everyone.
A Future Where Everyone Belongs
Sam James’ journey demonstrates how personal challenges can inspire meaningful change.
Her decision to establish InclusFit was about more than creating another fitness business. It was about challenging an industry where disabled people can sometimes feel overlooked and providing an alternative where everyone has the opportunity to participate.
Her story also reminds us that inclusion should never be treated as an optional extra.
Everyone deserves access to opportunities that support their physical and mental wellbeing, regardless of disability or ability.
The fitness industry has an opportunity to rethink how it approaches accessibility, listen more closely to disabled communities and create environments where nobody feels like an outsider.
Ultimately, fitness should not be about fitting people into existing systems. It should be about creating opportunities that work for people.
Because exercise is for everybody, and everybody deserves to feel that they belong.
