The fitness industry thanks to instructability has many disabled fit pros, with this in mind many like me are specialists in there field. Why have not fitness companies picked up on this and using us experienced disabled instructors as trainers or presenters? Especially when certain companies do low impact specialties as part of there brand. Why cannot a disabled fitpro not get on stage and present? If they can teach a group exercise class then why stop them from presenting on stage? Have them presenting along side other non- disabled presenters. You will then get to showcase your brand in a unique light. You will be showing how versatile & adaptive your brand is which is needed to capture those people who do not exercise who will be the main people you want to attract to your brands classes. 
 

It also shows that your company is positive about disabled people as a whole and shows that you are an equal employer. 
How would you like it if you were a disabled fitness specialist yet people were dismissive of you and not putting you on stage because you are disabled? 

1) you would not like it – can be saying your not good at what you do.

2) it’s discrimination and you may feel strongly to take it further. 

Non disabled people often don’t realise disabled people are the same as them, they feel everything the same but they just have a health condition that stops them from being able to do certain things. 

 
It’s my dream to get up and present at big events like IFS, the big weekends, LIW and fitness weekends in the UK and beyond. Why should my disability stop me? I am most likely more down to earth and approachable and take the time to talk to the particpants more so than an able bodied instructor. They don’t have to think about adapting routines or steps to make it easier for them to teach. They don’t have to worry about repeat clientele as much at there classes. 

If more fitness and fitness promotion brands put themselves in a disabled body for a day then they will realise how much more challenging daily life is, from getting up to getting dressed, doing the shopping, cooking etc and all of these can be improved by regular exercise which can also in turn help improve the disability itself.  

I have had a few big named companies ignore my request about training as I say I’m disabled! Why would they do this? My theory is they are uneducated in disability and think it means you cannot do nothing or have no feelings. And yet they are not using valuable resources like myself to make there brands or events disability friendly for participants and instructors. Or they bring non disabled professionals in to adapt for disabled – surely this is going to be better from a disabled professional than a non disabled professional. It is also discriminating the actual disabled specialist by saying they do not know what they are doing but In fact they are better at coming up with ideas and how to adapt for different disabilities. When I have had these so called specialists adapt for me, they talk to you in basic English in a very demeaning way and not like a human being talking to another human being, then they cannot adapt for me. They think slow is best but actually for me, I’m better at a faster pace, to name one of a few. 

Part of my job is to do just this – and I’m not being used the way I should be.

The only company who have got me on board to working with them are Clubbercise. I am now a pro-trainer for disabilities and I have designed seated Clubbercise so wheelchair users can take part and all instructors are aware that Clubbercise is an fully inclusive brand. 

I have offered to talk on fitness and disability at many big events like LIW and similar events yet keep being ignored. After LIW I saw lots of reports on social media there was nothing over 2 days for disabled people. There was only the matrix challenge run jointly with InstructAbility on one day. 

Why not get me up talking and presenting on stage how to adapt group exercise classes for disabled and rehab clientele? There is so much need for this and big brands are ignoring it as they prefer to have there perfect looking model presenters presenting on stage instead. This does not attract the normal instructor to train with you nor the normal participant.

The disability fitness area is the most untapped population in the industry and one that can make you more money than any other area. 

So what are you waiting for, get disabled fitness specialists who have a disability to present and talk at your event, get them working for your brand, get them in your advertising, modelling clothes, use them as sponsored athletes etc and reep the rewards. 

My classes have both able body and disabled participants. How many classes do you see this in? And be honest!!?? 
Why not take this time to not think about it but to contact me to see how we can work together.
Www.facebook.com/samjfitness