Future Fit for Business has announced the launch of an industry-first Visual Impairment Course developed in partnership with Accessercise.

This pioneering course will equip fitness professionals with the essential skills and knowledge to effectively communicate and coach across a spectrum of visual impairments. This will help support their disabled clients and ultimately mark a significant step towards greater inclusivity in the health and physical activity industry.

Last year Accessercise, the world's first complete fitness app designed specifically for the disabled community, announced their partnership with Future Fit, the UK’s foremost provider of education, and learning and development solutions in the health and physical activity sector. This collaboration made the Accessercise app available to every learner enrolled in a Future Fit course, providing valuable insights into adapting exercises for disabled clients. While this was a significant step forward, it was recognised that fitness professionals needed more comprehensive education on a wider range of disabilities to develop inclusive training environments.

Speaking on the announcement, Ali Jawad, Paralympic Silver Medalist and Co-Founder of Accessercise said "Our partnership with Future Fit marks a pivotal moment in advancing inclusive fitness education. By introducing impairment-specific courses, we're equipping personal trainers with the essential knowledge and skills to confidently and effectively support their disabled clients. This initiative not only breaks down barriers but also sets a new standard for the fitness industry, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their abilities, have access to quality, personalised fitness guidance."

Inclusivity in physical activity is crucial, yet according to the See Sport Differently Report, blind and partially sighted people are twice as likely to be inactive, and there is a lack of confidence and training among coaches. Over 2 million people in the UK live with sight loss, so as the health and fitness industry pivots to active wellbeing, it is more important than ever to ensure fitness professionals are equipped with these skills to ensure inclusive exercise provision.

Hazel Goudie, Head of Teaching and Learning said “The launch of this course is a significant step towards making physical activity more inclusive and accessible. By equipping fitness professionals with the necessary knowledge, we aim to break down barriers and create a more supportive environment for visually impaired individuals. Our goal is to ensure that everyone, regardless of their abilities, has the opportunity to lead a healthy and active lifestyle.”

The course offers a comprehensive curriculum on various aspects of visual impairment and promotes a more inclusive and supportive environment. Participants will learn how to support and engage individuals with visual impairments on their physical activity journey, understanding the factors causing visual impairment and their impact on activity. The course covers safeguarding practices, including guiding clients around facilities and the importance of assistance dogs, conducting initial consultations, health and fitness assessments, and goal setting tailored for visually impaired clients.

Future Fit has a robust history of supporting EDI initiatives and remains dedicated to elevating educational standards and challenging the fitness sector to enhance its educational standards regarding PT knowledge of the disabled community. As part of their ongoing work with ukactive, they sponsored the Everyone Can report and supported the development of the ukactive self-assessment tool. Future Fit also actively participates in the steering group for the employability guides, further showcasing their commitment to inclusivity and diversity in the fitness industry.

The launch of the Visual Impairment Course is just the beginning. Future Fit for Business and Accessercise will expand its suite of impairment-specific CPD courses to include training on working with clients who have amputations and spinal cord injuries later this year. These courses aim to increase levels of participation and opportunity to engage in physical activity among individuals with disabilities, ultimately striving to create a more inclusive and accessible fitness environment.

To learn more about the Visual Impairment Course and how it can enhance your teams' skillset, visit the course page and start your journey towards making your fitness training more inclusive, accessible and impactful.