You enter through the familiar double doors of the gym lobby. The woman behind the front desk sees you out of the corner of her eye. She turns to you immediately and her face lights up. You can’t help but smile back. You scan your membership card and she calls you by name, telling you she is so happy to see you.

Even though you see her regularly at the gym, her affirming words always give you a warm sense of belonging. As you walk toward the locker room, your mind remembers something so thrilling that you must share it with your friend at the front desk. You spin around and shout, “Guess what? I lost 5 pounds!” She runs around the front desk with her arms wide open. You embrace and she tells you, “I knew you could do it. I’m so proud of you.”

She is beaming and you notice your smile only gets bigger. You are relieved you remembered to tell her, secretly hoping she will share the big news with the rest of the staff. You start walking to the locker room again. Your chin is up and you feel taller -- already more confident. As you walk past the treadmills, the bikes and the weights, you feel capable. You are no longer afraid of these machines. You take a deep breath as you visualize yourself walking fast, biking hard and lifting strong. I am going to crush today’s workout, you think to yourself. You quicken your pace into the locker room, more eager than ever to accomplish your next fitness goal.

This anecdote illustrates the kind of gym experience Special Olympics Virginia athletes should have every day. Many people with disabilities, however, struggle with access to these spaces. This lack of accessibility can come in the form of three major areas:

1) A lack of awareness

2) Programs that aren’t inclusive to people with disabilities

3) Financial disparities

With limited options in their communities, people with disabilities face extreme health outcomes compared to their nondisabled peers. The good news: Special Olympics Virginia is helping with solutions.

Our Affiliate Gym partnership program is tackling the first two barriers: 1) lack of awareness and 2) programs that aren’t inclusive to people with disabilities. We are equipping gym partners to provide more disability-inclusive classes and spaces, and training their staffs to ensure athletes have a safe and welcoming environment to exercise. The result: gyms across the state are learning how to be inclusive partners to people with disabilities.

Still, that leaves the 3) financial weight of gym membership as a problem. High costs often keep people with disabilities from obtaining gym memberships. The good news: some health insurances offer a solution.

People with disabilities who are on Medicaid with a specific MCO (Managed Care Organization) insurance plan can receive free gym membership as part of their benefits. What does this mean? Local gyms, Boys and Girls Clubs, Planet Fitness locations and other fitness centers can provide a full membership without fees!

Gym membership is one of the greatest benefits, but it doesn’t stop there. Some of the Wellness benefits listed directly in the Health Plan Chart on the Cardinal Care website include:

· United Healthcare: “free gym memberships to 300+ gyms and local YMCAs”
· Anthem: “$120 for Weight Watchers”
· Aetna: “12-week personalized weight management program”
· Several of the plans include general wellness rewards that can cover a variety of areas

Many people are not aware of these and other Wellness benefits their insurance offers, even though they can save them hundreds of dollars annually and improve their quality of life.  Moms in Motion, a service facilitation provider that works with 12,000+ Virginia families, noted how these amazing benefits are generally not known or utilized by their clients.

Because of this, we encourage you to review the Health Plan Comparison Chart to see what your insurance offers as part of its Wellness benefits. Once you review the chart, we recommend calling your insurance to learn the details of your Wellness benefits and record your health insurance ID number. The ID number is what will allow you to, if eligible, secure a free gym membership.

Last month, Special Olympics Virginia and Moms in Motion celebrated together as 14 Virginia Beach athletes gained free gym memberships at Planet Fitness Virginia Beach through their insurance plans. Now, we see a future where those 14 athletes use the gym regularly, just as described at the beginning. We know they will be greeted by staff who underwent disability sensitivity training and will exercise alongside gym members who volunteer to be their workout buddies.

We encourage you to access the health benefits available to you. Please use Special Olympics Virginia and Moms in Motion as a resource in your journey. We are here to partner with gyms and guide you to getting access you rightfully have in order to use those spaces. For more information, reach out to Casey Henderson, Director of Fitness & Events.

Leaving the gym, you wave goodbye to the front desk team. As you walk out through the double doors, they call out “See you tomorrow!” You pause and smile. You can’t wait.