[Sportsandrec] the ADA and Gyms

[Marana Vradenburg]

Reasonable accommodation does not mean anything other than the fact that you’re able to navigate the gym freely. Knowing where everything is is a completely different matter. If you taken some braille dots, they will mark them for you so you can use the cardio equipment independently. The problem is, other members like to peel these things off. I have found that chain Jim’s are not typically staffed well enough to provide sighted assistance. If I were you, I would search your area for a facility that is owned by A local hospital, or other medical facility. It seems like these places have more staff and have a bigger interest in the health and well-being of their members, rather than the chain Jim’s that care more about dollars. The gym where I train is owned by our local hospital and every time I go in, they have somebody that will help me navigate around people and machines, help me get my weight selected and show me how to operate the machine if it’s new to me. That’s basically it. You also have the option of getting an oh and M instructor to go in with you and help you figure things out. Good luck.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 7, 2018, at 5:07 PM, Sherri Brun via SportsandRec <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> My name is Sherri.  I live in Orlando.  I am a 63-year-old female who has
> battled weight all my life.  I finally determined to try to lose it once and
> for all.
> 
> 
> 
> In the last 6 months, I joined Weightwatchers, started walking with a friend
> as much as 3 miles per day and now, this friend has talked me into joining a
> gym.  We used the treadmill and some other elliptical machines some, but I
> got offered a significant discount to get a personal trainer, which I have
> done.  This is quite a financial obligation.  She has shown me a lot of
> resistance equipment and taught me several exercises on these machines.  We
> have now started learning the machines in the order they are in the gym so
> hopefully, I can do this myself.  
> 
> 
> 
> I am on a limited income and cannot have the expense of a personal trainer
> for long, but I do not see how I am going to learn much of anything about
> the equipment or exercises without her.  
> 
> 
> 
> I know this gym offers classes, but mostly, they are watch and learn type of
> classes, which would definitely leave me at a disadvantage.
> 
> 
> 
> I am determined to lose the rest of the weight and do not want to give up.
> Does anyone on this list know what the ADA would require a fitness center to
> do in terms of accommodation for a blind person?  Any help or advice would
> be appreciated.  Thank you so much!
> 
> 
> 
> Sherri Brun
> 
> flmom2006 at gmail.com
> 
> President NFB of Central Florida
> 
> NFBF Newsline Marketer
> 
> Phone:  1-844-827-7371
> 
>                                The National Federation of the Blind knows
> that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future.
> Every day we raise the expectations
> 
> of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind
> people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what
> holds you back.  
> 
> Together with love, hope, and determination, we transform dreams into
> reality.
> 
> 
> 
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