Accessercise’s app makes it easier for people with disabilities to exercise
In a world where exercise is often seen as inaccessible for people with disabilities, Accessercise is breaking barriers and empowering individuals to embrace physical fitness. Founded by British Paralympic powerlifting champion, Ali Jawad, and his former agent, Sam Brearey, Accessercise is a fitness app designed specifically for individuals with disabilities. Through a personalized onboarding process, the app tailors workout videos and exercise plans to accommodate each user’s specific impairment. With a strong focus on empowerment, Accessercise allows users to build their own training plans, schedule workouts, and connect with a supportive community. Additionally, the app includes an “Explore” section that maps out accessible fitness facilities, encouraging more gyms to prioritize the needs of people with disabilities. With the goal of making exercise inclusive for all, Accessercise is not only revolutionizing the way people with disabilities exercise but also promoting a more inclusive fitness industry.
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Overview
Accessercise is a revolutionary fitness app designed to make exercise more accessible for people with disabilities. Co-founded by British Paralympic powerlifting champion Ali Jawad and fellow athlete Sam Brearey, Accessercise aims to empower individuals with disabilities to create customized workout plans tailored to their specific needs. The app offers a variety of features, including social interaction, mapping of fitness facilities, and partnerships with fitness professionals to provide adapted training advice. With a user-friendly interface and a focus on inclusivity, Accessercise is revolutionizing the fitness industry by breaking down barriers and providing equal opportunities for people with disabilities to achieve their fitness goals.
About Accessercise
Accessercise was founded on the belief that exercise should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their impairment. Ali Jawad, a Paralympic powerlifting champion, and Sam Brearey, a former athlete and sports agent, joined forces to create the app. Their shared passion for inclusion and empowerment drove them to develop a platform that would cater specifically to individuals with disabilities who want to engage in physical activity. Accessercise gained recognition when it was selected to participate in the Startup Battlefield 200 cohort at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023, further highlighting the app’s potential to impact the fitness industry.
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Onboarding Process
Accessercise’s onboarding process is crucial in personalizing the user experience for individuals with disabilities. By collecting detailed information about each user’s impairment, the app ensures that the content provided is relevant and safe. Through a series of questions, users are able to communicate their specific needs and limitations. For example, if a user has a missing upper or lower limb, they will only see videos that have been scientifically validated and are demonstrated by someone with a similar impairment. This tailored approach sets Accessercise apart from other fitness apps and creates a supportive environment for users.
Building Customized Workouts
Accessercise puts the power in the hands of its users by allowing them to create and customize their own workout plans. With a wide range of videos to choose from, users can select exercises based on their preferences, available equipment, and desired difficulty level. The app also provides scheduling and reminder features, ensuring that users can stay on track with their fitness goals. This flexibility in choosing exercises and scheduling workouts allows individuals with disabilities to design a training plan that suits their unique circumstances and abilities.
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Social Features
Accessercise recognizes the importance of social support and interaction in motivating individuals to maintain an active lifestyle. The app incorporates social features that allow users to share and like comments from other members. These features create a sense of community and provide a platform for users to connect with like-minded individuals who share similar disabilities or training goals. By joining groups within the app, users can access additional support and motivation from a network of individuals who understand their challenges and can offer valuable insights and encouragement.
Explore Section
One of Accessercise’s standout features is its Explore section, which provides a mapped view of fitness facilities in the UK. This section offers basic information on the accessibility level of each facility, helping users find gyms and fitness centers that cater to their specific needs. Accessercise has plans to expand this feature by adding more detailed information and global coverage. By promoting inclusivity in the fitness industry, Accessercise hopes to encourage more gyms to consider the needs of people with disabilities and create a more inclusive environment.
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Barriers to Exercise for People with Disabilities
Accessercise aims to address the barriers that people with disabilities face in accessing exercise resources. Globally, an estimated 1.3 billion to 1.85 billion people live with some form of disability. Despite a strong desire to be more active, individuals with disabilities often encounter challenges in finding suitable exercise options. Lack of adapted training advice and inclusive resources further compound these difficulties. Accessercise aims to bridge this gap by providing tailored content and partnering with fitness professionals to ensure that individuals with disabilities receive the support and knowledge they need to engage in physical activity.
Partnership with Future Fit
Recognizing the lack of adapted training advice for coaches, Accessercise has formed a partnership with Future Fit, a fitness education company. This collaboration aims to equip coaches with the necessary qualifications and knowledge to support individuals with disabilities. By providing specialized training, Accessercise and Future Fit hope to increase the number of coaches who are proficient in offering adapted training advice. This partnership is a significant step in improving inclusivity in the fitness industry and ensuring that individuals with disabilities receive appropriate guidance and support.
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The Impact of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of accessible fitness resources for individuals with disabilities. During lockdowns, many able-bodied individuals could easily find workout routines and training content online. However, individuals with disabilities faced limited availability of qualified training content that catered specifically to their needs. Accessercise emerged as a response to this challenge, with Ali Jawad and Sam Brearey recognizing the need for a platform that offers scientifically validated training videos. By providing original content and partnering with qualified trainers, Accessercise aims to fill this gap and offer inclusive fitness solutions.
Conclusion
Accessercise has already garnered a significant user base and has the potential for further growth. With its user-friendly interface, tailored content, and emphasis on inclusivity, the app provides a unique opportunity for individuals with disabilities to engage in exercise. As the app continues to expand and develop new features, such as nutrition, e-commerce, blogs, and podcasts, Accessercise aims to diversify its revenue sources and ensure the sustainability of its operations. Through its innovative approach to fitness and unwavering commitment to inclusivity, Accessercise is making a lasting impact on the lives of individuals with disabilities, empowering them to achieve their fitness goals and lead active, fulfilling lives.
Subscription pricing for Accessercise starts at £11.99 for one month ($14.61) and decreases to £5.41 a month ($6.64) with a 12-month plan. This pricing structure ensures affordability and accessibility for users, further supporting Accessercise’s mission to make exercise inclusive for all individuals, regardless of their disabilities.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2023/10/16/accessercise-fitness-app/
