People experiencing disability should now be able to participate in safer, more inclusive workouts, thanks to new recommendations developed in part at the University of Alberta.
The Essential Competencies for Qualified Exercise Professionals Working with Persons Experiencing Disability framework provides guidance on the knowledge, skills and attitudes that certified personal trainers, kinesiologists and clinical exercise physiologists need to support people living with physical, developmental and sensory disabilities.
“Currently, disability-specific education and training opportunities are often inconsistent, meaning qualified exercise professionals may enter practice without the preparation or confidence needed to effectively support these clients,” says project co-lead Dr. Alexandra Walters.
“The framework helps address this gap, and can support more consistent education, training and professional development,” she notes. “It brings inclusion to the forefront of the profession and provides a clear understanding of the essential competencies needed when working with people with diverse disabilities.”
Those competencies include offering appropriate exercises, promoting barrier reduction and discussing physical activity goals with the person experiencing disability.
Believed to be the first of its kind, the framework was developed under the Canadian Disability Participation Project (CDPP) 2.0 through a collaboration of more than 30 partners, including The Steadward Centre, people living with disability, qualified exercise professionals, industry partners and researchers.
The model uses four guiding values including person-centered care, working in partnership, safety, and communication, to create supportive environments “where everyone feels welcomed and able to participate,” says Walters.
Education resources, training modules, videos and other tools are now being developed to help professionals put the recommendations into practice.
Designed to be practical and accessible, the framework is useful not just for exercise experts, but also for educators, employers and accrediting bodies, as well as for people experiencing disability to advocate for themselves, Walters says.
“This is a starting point for creating meaningful change,” she adds. “Our goal is to help make inclusive exercise the standard, not the exception.”