Exploring the inclusion of people with disabilities in gyms: organizational capacity needs

This study investigates people with disabilities as a potential target group for gyms from the providers’ perspective and examines organizational capacity needs of gyms for developing the inclusion of people with disabilities. The study draws on the organizational capacity model, which was adapted to gyms as for-profit organizations. Data were collected with qualitative, semi-structured interviews with 14 gym managers. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis including both inductive and deductive coding systems. The results indicate that gym managers perceived the inclusion of people with disabilities as an important societal issue, but did not consider people with disabilities a relevant target group for four reasons (size of the target group, lack of demand, lack of profitability, image). While capacity needs were perceived differently in the human resource and infrastructure/process capacity dimensions, gym managers were concerned about financial capacity and did not see the development of inclusion as a business case. Furthermore, they highlighted the need for improving relationships and networks, especially with the healthcare sector. Practical implications arise for politicians and policy makers, since (financial) support by political bodies as well as improved partnerships with local institutions were considered pivotal for developing the inclusion of people with disabilities in gyms from the providers’ perspective.