Through our specialized adapted fitness centre, we provide adults and children with physical disabilities a safe and encouraging place to move their bodies, reach their mobility goals, and improve their quality of life. At MOVE we work with people of all abilities, including but not limited to: spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, brain injury, paralysis caused by stroke, heart attack, and more.
OUR VISION
To provide accessible and therapeutic exercise to empower people of all physical abilities to experience the enjoyment of moving through life.
OUR MISSION
We are dedicated to making physical activity accessible for all members of our community who need assistance reaching their mobility goals. Our commitment to decrease physical and financial barriers is demonstrated through our provision of specialized equipment, trained support, and affordable services.
There are approximately 19000 individuals living in Victoria with one or more disabilities. Adults with disabilities are three times more likely to have heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or cancer than adults without disabilities. Aerobic physical activity can help reduce the impact of these chronic diseases, yet nearly half of all individuals with disabilities get no aerobic physical activity due to barriers in their community. A disability can affect walking, seeing, speaking, hearing, or thinking to varying degrees. It can be temporary or progressive, visible, or invisible. The number of people who experience one or more disabilities during their lifetime increases as the population ages. This creates a growing need for fitness facilities to ensure they provide the same level of access for all their members. Accessibility is more than just a ramp into the building and a larger toilet stall. Exercise equipment, health programs, and policies themselves need to be modified to contribute to an environment that promotes equal access and use by all members.
Exercise and healthy lifestyles are important for the physical, mental, and overall well-being of all individuals in promoting overall health and preventing unnecessary disease, yet individuals with disabilities are less likely to engage in regular moderate physical activity than people without disabilities.
Individuals with disabilities have historically faced personal and environmental barriers that have limited their regular exercise participation. Barriers include but are not limited to:
the built and natural environment: community exercise facilities are not always accessible and can limit access for individuals with disabilities.
economic issues: marginalized individuals and individuals with low income do not have the means to attend regular community programs offering support from certified kinesiologists, registered athletic therapists, and trained staff.
emotional and psychological problems: Social perception can often inhibit an individual’s willingness to exercise, and often negative emotions can reduce engagement.
equipment inaccessibility: equipment in community facilities is not always accessible or user friendly for an individual with a disability.
MOVE Adapted Fitness believes in providing a supportive space and appropriate, adaptive equipment so that all individuals have access to physical activity and exercise. MOVE aims to ensure individuals of all abilities have access to adaptive equipment and assistance from trained staff and volunteers. MOVE offers the development of individualized exercise programs, subsidized memberships for individuals with low income, one-to-one support from a certified kinesiologist, athletic therapist, or physiotherapy assistant, group classes, nutrition coaching and social engagement activities for everyone.
What we offer
We are open 5 days a week for people who experience barriers attending general fitness facilities
Our facility is fully accessible and designed with enough space for individuals in wheelchairs to use equipment
We have specialized equipment available for individuals that may have challenges using general gym equipment
Our facility is designed so that individuals can transfer out of their wheelchair to perform their exercises
Financial assistance is provided for those who qualify. For further information please call or email us at move@neuromotion.ca
One-on-one therapy with our kinesiologist or athletic therapist is available
Individualized exercise programs are created by our kinesiologist or athletic therapist
Trained volunteers are available, as needed, to facilitate your individualized exercise program
We provide students with a valuable hands-on experience that is necessary to enter post graduate programs
Individual progress and milestones are recorded
MOVE is a safe, supervised, encouraging, and energizing environment