Experiences of Individuals With Visual Impairments in Adapted and Nonadapted Group Exercise Programs

Area of Science:

• Health Sciences
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Disability Studies

Background:

• Physical activity is crucial for overall health and well-being.
• Individuals with visual impairments (EVI) encounter significant barriers to participation in conventional fitness settings.
• Understanding these barriers and facilitators is key to promoting inclusive exercise environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the perceptions and lived experiences of exercisers with visual impairments (EVI) in an adapted group exercise program (AGEP).
• To identify perceived barriers and facilitators to exercise participation for EVI in both AGEP and non-AGEP settings.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing thematic analysis.
• Focus-group interviews were conducted with nine individuals with visual impairments (EVI).

Main Results:

• Four key themes emerged from the analysis.
• Facilitators in AGEP included accessible instruction, support, and socialization opportunities.
• Barriers identified in non-AGEP settings were inaccessible instruction and activity exclusion, while AGEP faced challenges with untrained support staff.

Conclusions:

• Adapted group exercise programs (AGEP) can provide valuable facilitators for exercisers with visual impairments (EVI).
• Addressing barriers like inaccessible instruction and inadequate staff training is essential for inclusivity.
• Collaborative efforts between EVI and program staff are recommended to create supportive physical activity environments.