Exercise is essential to increase independence for people with disabilities, but many find gyms inaccessible and unwelcoming
Exerciser is important for physical and mental health, but people with a disability say if they want to hit the gym their options are limited.
Transcript
00:00 Throwing punches is how Jason Mayweather spends his days and it's more than just about getting
00:07 fit.
00:11 Got addicted, fell in love with the sport, started training at different boxing gyms.
00:16 But it hasn't come without its challenges.
00:19 Going to a quote on quote regular gym, it's very difficult because the equipment might
00:26 not be able to reach it.
00:28 It's a situation many people with a disability face when trying to work out.
00:34 Spinal Life Australia has designed one of its centres to combat that problem.
00:39 All the equipment is modifiable so it does cater for all needs, all impairments and all
00:45 limitations as well. So we haven't had anyone come in here yet that hasn't been able to
00:49 do some form of exercise.
00:50 It's good to have specific gyms for people with disabilities but what we should really
00:53 have is making sure that all gyms are able to cater for people with disabilities.
00:59 She says it's crucial for their wellbeing.
01:02 It's particularly important for people with disabilities who tend to have higher rates
01:06 of mental anxiety, nearly three times the rate of the average non-disabled person.
01:12 Jason Mayweather has his eyes set on becoming a boxing referee.
01:16 There might be limitations or there might be things that we need to modify but it doesn't
01:20 necessarily mean you can't do it.
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