Breaking Barriers: Fundamentals of Training Clients with Physical Disabilities

This interactive webinar provides fitness professionals with practical strategies for creating more inclusive exercise environments and adapting training for clients with physical disabilities. Participants will explore common barriers to accessing exercise, communication strategies, scope of practice, and key considerations for adapting exercises and programming.

The session will introduce practical considerations for working with clients with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, and amputations, including common symptoms, exercise considerations, equipment needs, and approaches to assessment and program design. Participants will also explore how to modify exercises and use adaptive equipment while maintaining client safety, autonomy, and individual goals.

The webinar will emphasize practical, client-centred strategies that fitness professionals can apply immediately in their own coaching environments.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify common physical, environmental, and knowledge-based barriers that may prevent people with physical disabilities from accessing exercise.

• Apply appropriate communication strategies and recognize the importance of asking clients about their individual needs rather than making assumptions.

• Identify key exercise considerations for clients with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, and amputations.

• Apply basic assessment and exercise-modification strategies to develop more appropriate and individualized training programs.

• Identify ways to improve accessibility and inclusion within fitness facilities and coaching environments.

Megan's Bio: 

Megan Williamson, BA, CPT is an adaptive fitness and rehabilitation coach, educator, and the owner and Head Coach of Ocean Rehab & Fitness. With over a decade of experience working with people with physical disabilities, Megan specializes in adaptive exercise, individualized program design, and helping fitness professionals and organizations create more inclusive training environments.

Megan develops and delivers adaptive fitness education and staff training for gyms, recreation centres, schools, and other organizations. She is the creator of Breaking Barriers, an adaptive fitness education program designed to give fitness professionals practical tools for working with clients with physical disabilities.

Megan also works with the Rick Hansen Foundationand has contributed to disability inclusion initiatives within the fitness and rehabilitation community. 

Through her work, Megan combines practical coaching experience with education to help fitness professionals move beyond simply providing access and develop exercise environments where people with disabilities can participate safely, confidently, and meaningfully.