Chris Easton, assistant director of the Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI), has warned health club and leisure centre managers that making their sites inclusive for disabled people means much more than just improving access to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

Writing in Health Club Management, Easton said there are definite business benefits associated with all elements of inclusion.

“Don’t be tempted to sit back after making your facility physically accessible,” he said.

“Grasp the opportunity to create additional business from the fact that you offer an inclusive provision. The importance of inclusive marketing strategies cannot be underestimated – after all what is the point of creating an accessible environment if disabled people aren’t targeted effectively?”

He also highlighted that the IFI project had found that fitness staff who attended IFI level two training were enthused by the new dimension added to their work and demonstrated improved confidence.

“Organisations should not view October 2004 as the means to an end,” Easton said. “After all, who knows what exactly ‘reasonable adjustments’ are? What is accessible for one disabled person may be totally inaccessible for others.

“Operators must keep an open mind and be prepared to adapt and develop their provision on an ongoing basis.” To subscribe to Health Club Management call +44 (0)1462 471913 or visit www.leisuresubs.com