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This is episode 08 and today I talk with Brendan Aylward who is working hard to make the fitness industry more inclusive for people with disability in the United States and beyond.
This is episode 08 and today I talk with Brendan Aylward who is working hard to make the fitness industry more inclusive for people with disability in the United States and beyond.
Brendan Aylward is the owner of Unified Health and Performance, President of AdaptX, and Director of The Rick Hoyt Research Lab. His work revolves around making the fitness industry more accessible for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities.
In today's chat, we discuss how Brendan found his way into this work as well as how he engages clients and adapts his programs and the gym environment. We also learn about some of the amazing work he is doing to educate gym instructors and owners to create inclusive gym environments for people of all abilities.
00:00 Introduction
02:13 Brendan's Backstory
06:29 About Unified Health and Performance
09:05 The need for adaptive equipment in the gym
11:28 People with and without disability in the gym
15:37 Engaging clients
21:22 Networks and partnerships
23:04 Adapting training sessions
29:03 Retaining clients
31:58 How clients are funded
34:27 Accessibility in the gym
39:19 About AdaptX
46:46 Quickfire questions
50:28 Brendan top inclusion tip
52:27 How to connect with Brendan
53:22 Conclusion
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/12952451
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCECVtQQFNjuGxE35K_e06Eg
Below is a list of resources related to today's episode plus some of the tools we use. If you think these tools can help you too, please check them out. If you make a purchase via the links below ISD earns a small commission or other benefit. This supports ISD to keep helping inclusion happen in sport.
Special Olympics Unified Sports : https://www.specialolympics.org/what-we-do/sports/unified-sports
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This is episode 08 and today I talk with Brendan Aylward who is working hard to make the fitness industry more inclusive for people with disability in the United States and beyond.
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