Amputee Question Responses
Robin L. Burton
Description
Collection
Title:
Amputee Question Responses
Creator:
Robin L. Burton
Date:
8/18/2005
Text:
I was asked to post the responses that I received to my question regarding an amputee's difficulty with finding a gym that would allow her to work out, without regard to liability.
Thanks to each of you who took the time to respond. I have forwarded this information on to her.
Responses are unedited.
I've been an amputee for 30 years and have never encountered this problem, nor met anyone who has. I would think this is more an issue of disability based descrimination than a liability issue for the gym. I would be very suprised if their insurance policy explicitly stated that amputees could not join the club.
I am an Ak amputee and have been working out for several years at a couple of different gyms without any such discrimination. I have been working out at a local YMCA for nearly three years. The Y encourages everyone to develop a more physically active lifestyle. Have her look around for gym she is comfortable with. She is hiring them not the other way around. A note from a doctor will help a trainer to develop an workout routine. Consult a lawyer regarding the liability issue. A liability waiver may be an option.
Good luck finding a gym and don't give up.
It's this a human rights issue - In Canada you can't exclude someone because of a disability...
Yes. Have her contact a good attorney. That's against the federal law for them to exclude her.
If she still wants to go to that gym she should write a letter asking for written reply as to why she is denied access. In the letter mention the gym may be in violation of the ADA ( Americans with Disabilities Act). If the gym continues to deny membership she should consider contacting an attorney and filing a federal complaint and suing civilly for damages.
I would be interested in knowing what responses you get - I am both an amputee and a physical therapist and am having the same difficulty finding something suitable.
I THOUGHT THE ADA WAS SUPPOSED TO PUT AN END TO SUCH CRAP. I WOULD HATE TO BE THE PERSON STUPID ENOUGH TO DENY HER ACCESS. BY THE WAY, DID SHE HAVE TO RIDE IN THE BACK OF THE BUS TO GET TO THE GYM?
I saw an AK amputee running on the treadmill with his hi-tech AK prosthesis at one of the local YMCA fitness centers here in Toledo, Ohio a couple of months ago. No one batted an eye, except I did try to check out his componentry without being obvious. Tell her to check and see if there is a Y near her.
Tell her to contact the Media...I thought discrimination went out in the 90's
If you have not yet found a gym for the lady, I am happy to repost your
query to AMP-L, a listserv for amputees at Univ. of Washington.
Phenominal response from the gym. We have fitness centers inside of our medical centers that are open to the public for a small fee. In our community out-patient therapy hospitals, the patient will finish rehab an then go to the fitness center that has a pool and all very state of the art equipment. Very safety conscious so the setup is accommodative to various levels of disabilities. Have the patient contact a medical setting base, perhaps even a local independant out-patient physical therapy company would allow them to attend. Ours PT's will allow certain hours of the day to be for former patients. Early AM and PM. If they continue to have no luck, have them simply ask the hospital based outpatient rehab therapist what they might suggest locally. If nothing else, the local YMCA/YWCA. I have several patients that have no problem working out there. Good luck.
That is bull #@%*! I can't believe that someone can still be discriminated against in this way. Has no one heard of the Americans With Disabilities Act?? Your patient might want to mention that to the gym.
I am an amp and fortunately have not experienced that problem with the gym. In fact, most places think that it is great and encourage it. Don't most place have waivers that everyone signs anyway? And how would an amputee be more of a liability than say a kid who doesn't know anything about lifting, or a diabetic, or a 70 some year old man; all of which I am sure can get a membership without issue?
I would be happy to share a few of my thoughts with that particular facility.
I have a patient who is an amputee and goes to Curves. They are supposed to be all over the US. You may have her try there.
I've been an amputee for 26 years and never heard of such a thing. I would contact the local ACLU and see if they would be of any help.
This is not acceptable.
Robin Burton
Executive Director
Orthotic & Prosthetic Assistance Fund, Inc.
750 Bridgeview Road
Langhorne, PA 19053
215-752-5756
FAX 215-752-5759
<Email Address Redacted>
________________________________________________________________
Sent via the WebMail system at mail.opfund.org
Thanks to each of you who took the time to respond. I have forwarded this information on to her.
Responses are unedited.
I've been an amputee for 30 years and have never encountered this problem, nor met anyone who has. I would think this is more an issue of disability based descrimination than a liability issue for the gym. I would be very suprised if their insurance policy explicitly stated that amputees could not join the club.
I am an Ak amputee and have been working out for several years at a couple of different gyms without any such discrimination. I have been working out at a local YMCA for nearly three years. The Y encourages everyone to develop a more physically active lifestyle. Have her look around for gym she is comfortable with. She is hiring them not the other way around. A note from a doctor will help a trainer to develop an workout routine. Consult a lawyer regarding the liability issue. A liability waiver may be an option.
Good luck finding a gym and don't give up.
It's this a human rights issue - In Canada you can't exclude someone because of a disability...
Yes. Have her contact a good attorney. That's against the federal law for them to exclude her.
If she still wants to go to that gym she should write a letter asking for written reply as to why she is denied access. In the letter mention the gym may be in violation of the ADA ( Americans with Disabilities Act). If the gym continues to deny membership she should consider contacting an attorney and filing a federal complaint and suing civilly for damages.
I would be interested in knowing what responses you get - I am both an amputee and a physical therapist and am having the same difficulty finding something suitable.
I THOUGHT THE ADA WAS SUPPOSED TO PUT AN END TO SUCH CRAP. I WOULD HATE TO BE THE PERSON STUPID ENOUGH TO DENY HER ACCESS. BY THE WAY, DID SHE HAVE TO RIDE IN THE BACK OF THE BUS TO GET TO THE GYM?
I saw an AK amputee running on the treadmill with his hi-tech AK prosthesis at one of the local YMCA fitness centers here in Toledo, Ohio a couple of months ago. No one batted an eye, except I did try to check out his componentry without being obvious. Tell her to check and see if there is a Y near her.
Tell her to contact the Media...I thought discrimination went out in the 90's
If you have not yet found a gym for the lady, I am happy to repost your
query to AMP-L, a listserv for amputees at Univ. of Washington.
Phenominal response from the gym. We have fitness centers inside of our medical centers that are open to the public for a small fee. In our community out-patient therapy hospitals, the patient will finish rehab an then go to the fitness center that has a pool and all very state of the art equipment. Very safety conscious so the setup is accommodative to various levels of disabilities. Have the patient contact a medical setting base, perhaps even a local independant out-patient physical therapy company would allow them to attend. Ours PT's will allow certain hours of the day to be for former patients. Early AM and PM. If they continue to have no luck, have them simply ask the hospital based outpatient rehab therapist what they might suggest locally. If nothing else, the local YMCA/YWCA. I have several patients that have no problem working out there. Good luck.
That is bull #@%*! I can't believe that someone can still be discriminated against in this way. Has no one heard of the Americans With Disabilities Act?? Your patient might want to mention that to the gym.
I am an amp and fortunately have not experienced that problem with the gym. In fact, most places think that it is great and encourage it. Don't most place have waivers that everyone signs anyway? And how would an amputee be more of a liability than say a kid who doesn't know anything about lifting, or a diabetic, or a 70 some year old man; all of which I am sure can get a membership without issue?
I would be happy to share a few of my thoughts with that particular facility.
I have a patient who is an amputee and goes to Curves. They are supposed to be all over the US. You may have her try there.
I've been an amputee for 26 years and never heard of such a thing. I would contact the local ACLU and see if they would be of any help.
This is not acceptable.
Robin Burton
Executive Director
Orthotic & Prosthetic Assistance Fund, Inc.
750 Bridgeview Road
Langhorne, PA 19053
215-752-5756
FAX 215-752-5759
<Email Address Redacted>
________________________________________________________________
Sent via the WebMail system at mail.opfund.org
Citation
Robin L. Burton, “Amputee Question Responses,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 6, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/225220.
