The Gatekeepers to Fitness: Fitness Industry Barriers to People with Disabilities

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This podcast features Dr. Sean Healy from the School of Nursing, Psychotherapy, and Community Health at Dublin City University in Ireland. Dr. Healy has studied around the world, receiving his Master’s Degree in Adapted Physical Activity (APA) in Belgium, and PhD at the University of Virginia. Before recently returning back to Ireland, he also worked for 3 years in the APA program at the University of Delaware. Discussed in today’s episode is Dr. Healy’s article, The Gatekeepers to Fitness: A Correspondence Study to Examine Disabling Practices Among Fitness Center Personnel. This article examines the discrimination faced by disabled people in the fitness industry, along with physical and social barriers, and how these differ throughout different types of disabilities. Listen in for more information on the results of Healy’s study and theories as to why this problem occurs.