Discover how to make your exercise and fitness services more inclusive for clients with disabilities and impairments. This is an industry-leading qualification for fitness professionals wanting to work with clients that have disabilities.
A highly sought-after qualification that promotes inclusion and enables you to safely and effectively work with disabled clients.
Home study
2-4 weeks
Level 2 fitness instructing
Learn how to make exercise inclusive, safe, and effective for clients with disabilities in this highly sought-after exercise for disabled clients qualification.
Recent reports have revealed that 1 in 5 people in the UK has a disability, which equates to around 19% of the total population. It’s also estimated that only 18% of disabled adults undertake physical activity for more than 30 minutes a week, compared to 38% of non-disabled adults. It’s clear that more can be done and as an industry, we all have an obligation to see that changes are made.
Our Level 3 Award in Programming and Supervising Exercise for Disabled Clients, or simply Level 3 Exercise for Disabled Clients, is designed specifically to help fitness professionals be difference-makers. It’s an essential qualification for those looking to better serve an increasingly unrepresented special population.
This Level 3 course provides a great progression route for those who have achieved a Level 2 qualification (Exercise to Music or Gym Instructor). As with all of our exercise specialist courses, this is also a valuable CPD opportunity for personal trainers, Pilates instructors, yoga teachers and other fitness professionals to greatly expand the scope of who they can work with.
In order to enrol on this course, you must possess either Level 2 Fitness Instructor qualification, either in the context of Gym or Exercise to Music, or qualification in personal training, yoga or Pilates. We also strongly recommend that you have a minimum of three months of teaching experience.
This Level 3 Award in Supporting Participation in Physical Activity: Disability and Impairments is fully accredited by the YMCA Awards, CIMSPA and the Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) operated by Activity Alliance. These accreditations mean your qualification is recognised worldwide, so you have a career to last a lifetime, wherever you go.
This course is entirely home study, so there's no practical attendance required, however this does not reduce the quality of the content. With expert-developed eLearning content and the finest quality textbooks in the industry, we provide you with all of the facts and evidence-based knowledge you need to have the confidence and skills to support clients with a range of disabilities.
While this exercise for disabled clients course is entirely online, you're never alone as you're supported by your personal tutor to help you achieve during your course and beyond. That's why you'll be able to have as much contact with them as you wish, with our tutors being available via:
This Level 3 Award is more than just a qualification, it’s a career enhancer. It will allow you to work a wider client base, while making you considerably more adaptable, marketable and versatile. Working with disabled clients will also prove to be an incredibly worthwhile and rewarding experience.
During your learning journey, here’s just a small selection of what you’ll encounter:
Models of disability
Learning disabilities
Limb impairment
Spinal injuries
Visual and hearing impairment
Legislation, initiatives and policies
Visual and verbal screening
Risk stratification
Major signs of cardiovascular, pulmonary and metabolic disease
Risk stratification
Assessments of physical function
Assessing current level of physical activity
Aerobic exercise and muscular fitness
General exercise guidelines for disability
Adapting the guidelines to the specific client needs
Exercise intensity and monitoring
Ratings of exertion
Risk assessments for disabled clients
Planning exercise for clients with disabilities
Recording exercise
Managing the exercise environment
Chair-based exercise
Transitioning between exercises
Health and safety
The stages of change model and it's application
Assessing a client's stage of change
Goal setting and SMART goals
Relapse prevention
Physical activity counselling
Motivational interviewing
*Images and videos are for illustration purposes and may not depict specific course materials.
Join our special populations graduates working with some of the world's leading gyms and health clubs, making a positive difference to the lives of clients with a range of specific needs and challenges.
In order for you to stand the best chance of passing the course first time, you’ll be continually assessed by our dedicated support tutors and a team of assessors.
The course is assessed in the following ways:
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