Experiences of Individuals With Visual Impairments in Adapted and Nonadapted Group Exercise Programs.

Abstract

Physical activity is vital for health, yet individuals with visual impairments face barriers in conventional fitness settings. This study aimed to understand the perceptions and lived experiences of exercisers with visual impairments (EVI) who participated in an adapted group exercise program (AGEP) and to identify the perceived barriers and facilitators to exercise participation among EVI in both AGEP and non-AGEP settings. Thematic analysis of focus-group interviews with nine EVI identified four themes; therein, participants described meaningful facilitators in AGEP (i.e., accessible instruction, accessible support, and socialization). However, they also reported barriers in both non-AGEP (i.e., inaccessible instruction, activity exclusion) and AGEP (i.e., untrained support staff) settings. These findings underscore the need for collaborative efforts between EVI and program staff to create supportive physical activity environments in both AGEP and non-AGEP settings. Future research could seek to explore this coproduction process to foster greater inclusivity for EVI.