Case Study: AdaptAble Fitness, an Inclusive Gym for Individuals with Disabilities
This case study explores the creation of Adaptable Fitness, an inclusive gym that removes barriers by prioritizing accessibility, staff education, and a supportive community environment. This project aims to design a fitness space that not only meets the physical needs of individuals with disabilities but also encourages confidence, independence, and social engagement.
Introduction
1 in 4, about 28.7% of adults in the United States, have some type of disability. That is 70 million Americans (CDC, 2024). Individuals with disabilities continue to be underserved across many aspects of daily life — from education and employment to transportation and healthcare. One specific area where this inequity is especially pronounced is physical fitness. Physical activity is a key component of a healthy lifestyle, yet individuals with disabilities face significant barriers when trying to access fitness spaces. Despite the well-documented benefits of exercise, such as reduced pain, improved mobility, and enhanced mental well-being, adults with disabilities are three times less likely to engage in regular physical activity compared to their able-bodied peers (CDC, 2024).
Identifying Barriers: Key Research Findings
Physical Barriers:
Inadequate accessible entrances, locker rooms, and workout spaces
Lack of adaptive equipment suited for various disabilities
Poor facility design—narrow spaces, stairs without ramps, and improper restroom accommodations—does not consider mobility constraints
Psychological & Social Barriers:
Fear of judgment and lack of a supportive community
Feelings of exclusion due to a lack of representation and accommodation
Lack of inclusive branding, reinforcing the idea that gyms are not meant for disabled individuals
Knowledge & Training Gaps:
Gym staff and trainers often lack education on working with individuals with disabilities
Limited knowledge of adaptive fitness programs and exercises
Absence of structured support or guidance for disabled gym-goers
Why Inclusive Gyms Matter:
These barriers contribute to the persistent health disparities experienced by individuals with disabilities, increasing their risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, and stroke (Rimmer et al., 2004). The need for an inclusive, fully accessible gym is clear.
By designing a gym that prioritizes accessibility and inclusivity, we can improve physical health, confidence, and social engagement for individuals with disabilities. The goal is not just to make fitness possible—but to make it empowering and welcoming.
Approach: Designing an Inclusive Gym Experience
In developing the model for AdaptAble Fitness, extensive research was conducted to gather insights from individuals with disabilities. Key findings indicated that individuals prioritize gyms that emphasize physical accessibility, knowledgeable staff, and a supportive community. These insights were instrumental in guiding the design process.
Physical accessibility is prioritized within the gym’s layout, featuring adaptive equipment and accessible locker rooms and restrooms. The adaptive equipment is tailored for a variety of mobility levels, such as machines designed specifically for wheelchair users and resistance-based exercises. To contribute to psychological safety, the gym promotes a judgment-free culture, ensuring all individuals feel welcome and included, which is reflected in the language used. The gym also prioritizes mental security, promoting community-building through group classes and creating social spaces conducive to peer support and shared experiences.
Final Deliverables
Brand Identity and Visual Design
The logo and typeface were specifically designed to maximize clarity and accessibility.
High-legibility sans-serif fonts like Calibri and FF Info were chosen for their modern, friendly appearance, featuring rounded edges that convey approachability. The logo mimics the letter A as well as a human figure. The goal was to make it dynamic and loose, in conjunction with the free-flowing design of the space.
Collateral and Equipment
AdaptABLE Fitness uses branded weights and adaptive equipment featuring brand colors, patterns, and logos. Custom water bottles would be given to each member upon sign-up in order for them to represent the brand and spread the word. These elements serve not just as merchandise, but as quiet affirmations of belonging and pride.
Staff T-Shirts
The gym functions through the integration of adaptive equipment, well-structured class formats, and comprehensive accessibility features, with staff available and easy to find to provide assistance to members.
Environmental Graphics
The final design of AdaptAble Fitness showcases an open and uncluttered layout, facilitating easy movement throughout the space.
Wayfinding
High-contrast, easily readable signage assists with wayfinding. Signage features braille and audio play to help every person navigate the space seamlessly. The design choices reflect a commitment to making information accessible. A clear hierarchy is established through bold headlines and straightforward body text, ensuring essential information is easily absorbed. High-contrast color combinations enhance visibility, with dark text set against light backgrounds for optimum readability. Additionally, the design steers clear of busy textures, contributing to a clean, easily navigable visual experience.
Brand Messaging and Advertising
A highlight of AdaptAble Fitness is the inclusive branding strategy encapsulated by our tagline, “Strength is For Every Body.” Below features a mural from inside the gym to continue to encourage and inspire people during their workouts. This tagline is also featured on advertising materials to draw people in.
Digital Accessibility & Community Engagement
A dedicated app provides digital accessibility through a high-contrast interface, customizable workouts based on individual ability levels, and features to facilitate online community engagement. Accessibility testing was done on multiple color combinations to ensure accessibility in accordance with WCAG guidelines.
Sign Up and Profile Building
Other accessibility considerations were taken into account during the creation of the app like type size, consistent styles, and clear heading structure. During sign-up, before building your profile, you will be asked if you would like to utilize assistive technology built into the app. After the app will prompt you to build your profile, asking you questions about your impairments and exercise habits to provide the best results for recommended exercises.
The app consists of four main pages, including exercise(home), statistics, calendar, and profile.
Exercises
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Workouts
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Exercises 〰️ Workouts 〰️
The exercise page recommends you exercises based on your abilities. You can filter through exercises by categories like location, goals, muscle groups, difficulty, equipment, and whether you need assistance or not. You can favorite exercises and view them in your favorites or add them to a workout.
Within the workout tab, you can view all of your created workouts or make a new one. Inside a workout, you can view all of the exercises inside it and adjust the reps, sets, and weight. From there, you are able to track the workout by going through each exercise on your phone or Apple Watch.
Watch Workout Tracking
Apple Watch will track your heart rate and calories during a workout, giving you the most accurate metrics. Choose the workout you would like to do and click start. Then play each exercise, and your watch will track metrics and alert you to move onto the next exercise when finished. After completing the workout, click finish to view your overall stats for the workout.
Statistics
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Calendar
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Profile
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Statistics 〰️ Calendar 〰️ Profile 〰️
In the statistics page, you can view metrics like workouts completed, heart rate, active calories, and exercise minutes. Each metric will offer you more information, like on the workouts completed page, where you can view all workouts completed and see specific stats on a certain workout.
On the calendar section of the app, you are able to view your workouts on a specific date and book classes.
The profile section gives users the ability to see their own achievements and connect with others, creating a sense of community. Here is also the leaderboard to see the top achievers within your friends and at your gym.
Full Figma Prototype
Conclusion & Future Impact
AdaptAble Fitness has developed a comprehensive branding strategy centered on inclusivity, accessibility, and community engagement. This approach not only highlights the brand’s core values but also establishes a welcoming environment where fitness is tailored to individuals’ unique needs. The brand actively prioritizes accessibility, ensuring that all facilities and programs cater to a diverse range of physical abilities. The design philosophy emphasizes functionality and aesthetics by creating open, uncluttered spaces that create effortless navigation for all users.
The takeaway from this project is that true inclusivity transcends just compliance with accessibility laws; it necessitates a fundamental shift in how all spaces, not just fitness spaces, are conceptualized and operated. The AdaptAble Fitness model demonstrates how intentional design can influence behavior, challenge systemic exclusion, and ultimately create more equitable spaces. Moving forward, the AdaptAble Fitness model can be implemented in existing gyms through collaborations with fitness organizations, improvements in adherence to ADA policies, and continued research. By establishing a new standard for inclusive fitness, AdaptAble Fitness stands to inspire widespread change across the industry, ensuring that individuals with disabilities have equal opportunities to lead active and healthy lives.
Credits
Class: Thesis
Instructor: Matthew McGlynn, Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University
Photography sourced from ATA
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, November 22). Increasing physical activity among adults with disabilities. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/disability-and-health/conditions/physical-activity.html#:~:text=Adults%20with%20disabilities%20are%20three,leisure%20time%20aerobic%20physical%20activity
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National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. (2024). Disability impacts all of us infographic. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/disability-and-health/articles-documents/disability-impacts-all-of-us-infographic.html
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Rimmer, J. H., Riley, B., Wang, E., Rauworth, A., & Jurkowski, J. (2004). Physical activity participation among persons with disabilities. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 26(5), 419–425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2004.02.002
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2018). Physical activity guidelines for Americans (2nd ed.). https://health.gov/paguidelines/second-edition/pdf/Physical_Activity_Guidelines_2nd_edition.pdf