Let’s get social

Gyms can be a social space.

Invite young adults with disability to participate in social activities or events at the gym.

Show them where they can find information on what’s happening in the gym and wider community recreation centre.

This is a great way for young people to connect socially and feel like they belong.

Social activities

Dedicated time and space for social activities after exercise

    • Member events

    • Events that facilitate inclusion, for example, World Disability Day, condition specific days and Carers week

    • Fundraising events for special causes

    • Socialisation after internally run groups, often organised by the group leader, for example, coffee and cake in the on-site cafe

    • They have busy lives

    • They work or study

    • Their disease is unpredictable, for example, they may easily fatigue, and they may not be able to commit to a formal event

    • Not all young adults with disability have the capacity or the ability to join in organised community activities due to the complexity of their disability, cognitive, sensory or behavioural disabilities.

    • Supportive

    • Fun

    • Outgoing

    • Inclusive

    • Attentive to the needs of others

    • Adapting to the needs of people with disability

Young adult, aged 18 years

“There’s a lot of people at the gym, so we have to get used to being around people…I find it a little bit more challenging because it’s hard for me sometimes and I just feel like I’m challenging myself with new people. It’s helpful to me, but it’s a little bit challenging.”

Young adult, aged 19 years

“It’s also about the social, that’s a big part of it for me.”

Given the opportunity, most young adults enjoy the informal and organic social opportunities that arise from participating and exercising in a community gym with people around the same age and with similar interests.

Lived Experience

Our research could not happen without the individual and collective contributions of those with lived experience of neurodivergence, and those who love and care for them.

We acknowledge and value their unique expertise. Their perspectives are crucial to our mission to enrich the lives of Autistic people, their families and their carers through high-quality scientific research, innovation and translation and our vision for a world where Autistic people, their families and their carers thrive.

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge that we work on the unceded lands of many traditional Indigenous custodians in Victoria and across Australia.

We recognise their ongoing connection to the land and value their unique contribution to our research, and to wider Australian society.

We pay our respects to Elders past and present and thank them for their ongoing care of this beautiful country’s land, skies, and waterways.

Diversity

We are committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination. We welcome all people irrespective of neurotype, ethnicity, lifestyle choice, faith, sexual orientation or gender identity.